Nine former winners headline the entries for the 2019 Oceania BMX Championships to be held January 19, 2019 in Te Awamutu, New Zealand.

2018 Champions Corey Frieswyk (elite men), Sarah Walker (elite women) and Nathaniel Rodway (under 19 men) who steps up to the elite ranks for the first time are joined by former winners Saya and Kai Sakakibara, Leanna Curtis, Maynard Peel, Zoe Fleming and Joshua McLean.

Entry List | Event Website

With over 50 entries in the elite and under 19 UCI categories and more than 500 riders competing across the Challenge Classes the Championships form the marquee BMX event in Oceania providing an important opportunity for athletes in the Oceania region to compete on home soil ahead of the international season. The elite and under 19 categories offer UCI points and qualifying opportunities for the 2019 UCI BMX World Championships in Belgium in July and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Te Awamutu hosts the Championships for the first time and provides local and New Zealand rising star and regular podium finisher Rebecca Petch an opportunity to impress on her home track.

“I think it’s awesome that I get to start the year on my home track, I’m looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd and racing on a top standard track that the club have put a lot of work into,” said Petch.

“BMX in NZ and Oceania is definitely growing and it’s exciting to see the depth of riders improving! A lot of riders are based in Europe and America now so it’s always exciting when we have a decent number of riders to line up against here!

“It’s going to be a challenging Oceania’s because of the number of good riders that are attending but will definitely give it my best shot and see what happens,” added Petch who has claimed four consecutive Oceania Championship silver medals.

President of the Oceania Cycling Confederation and Member of the Union Cycliste Internationale Management Committee Tracey Gaudry said, “With BMX world champions, an Olympic medallist and nine previous Oceania champions we will be sure to witness exceptional performances across the elite and under 19 categories. It is great to see this depth of talent in BMX in Oceania.

“To Cycling New Zealand, BMX New Zealand, Te Awamutu BMX Club and the Waikato District Council, race officials, support services, team managers and crew, and the many community volunteers, we extend our gratitude for your support in organising the 2019 Oceania BMX championships.”

The 2019 Oceania BMX Championships, the second of the 2019 Championships season and form part of a busy two week block of cycling in New Zealand that also includes round five of the 2018/19 Tissot UCI Track World Cup and Gravel and Tar and New Zealand Cycle Classic road races, which form part of the 2019 UCI Oceania Tour.