Northern BMX Shines at Rounds 1 & 2 of the AusCycling BMX National Series

Some smiling Northern BMX Hornets in the pits preparing for day one racing at Shepparton BMX.

What a weekend it was in Shepparton for the opening rounds of the 2024 AusCycling BMX National Series!

On April 26 and 27, riders from across the country descended on the newly resurfaced Shepparton BMX track to launch the national series in style—and Northern BMX was out in full force. With many of our members competing at a national level for the very first time, our riders brought pride, passion, and plenty of pink, black, and yellow to the gate!

The Shepparton track was in top condition following its recent resurface, and the new two-story pavilion, featuring upgraded amenities and a fantastic canteen, provided the perfect setting for a high-calibre event. The sunshine held across both days, making for ideal racing conditions and a brilliant spectator experience. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the Shepparton BMX Club and the Cobras crew for hosting such a well-organised, welcoming, and professional event. From start to finish, it was a standout weekend—and we’re already looking forward to visiting again in the future.

This was a huge and busy event, with a record-breaking 911 entries in Round 1—the largest in AusCycling National Series history! With such a big field, the atmosphere was electric, and the schedule jam-packed with thrilling racing from morning through late afternoon.

Another highlight of the weekend was watching world-class elite riders, including our very own Nathan Glab (Super Coach!) and Josh Swiatek, descend the 8-metre pro start hill, launching into blistering lap times and putting on an absolute show for the crowds. For our young challenge riders, it was inspiring to witness the speed, skill, and power of the sport’s top athletes up close.

The energy on the track matched the buzz around the pits. From the moment gates dropped on Round 1, it was clear our Northern riders came ready to give it their all. Across both rounds, we saw amazing determination, big efforts, and personal triumphs from riders of all ages.

✨ Some Weekend Highlights:

• Kim Lane topped the podium on both days in 60+ Women, showcasing her strength and consistency on the longer and more arduous track!

• Dan March delivered an incredible performance in 40-44 Men at his first national outing, securing his place in the main final on day one (even with a borrowed wheel after a catastrophic blowout!), and built on this momentum to scale his way up the rankings for a podium finish in 3rd for day two!

• Riley Dack had a standout moment in the 8–10 Cruiser Boys, in what had started out looking like his best lap of the weekend. After skillfully avoiding a crash right in front of him mid-race, Riley showed great control and composure. Unfortunately, he took a hard fall on the final straight, but in true Northern spirit, he got straight back up, crossed the finish line, and even fronted up for his next moto with grit and determination. A brilliant display of courage and resilience!

• Geoff and Ingrid Borrell, our determined father-daughter duo, may have missed Round 1, but they certainly made their mark in Round 2. Geoff powered his way to a 2nd place finish in the Cruiser 50–59 Men, showing both strength and style on the track. Ingrid had a tough Moto 3, suffering a crash, but showed incredible resilience to bounce back to line up, having qualify for the semi-finals. In a nail-biting race, she finished 5th in her semi, missing the main final by the narrowest of margins. A true demonstration of effort, perseverance, and family pride!

• And a special shoutout to our mighty Sprockets, who absolutely shone with big smiles, strong pedaling, and fearless racing on the national stage!
  

You can check out full results here: 📊 Round 1 Results – April 26 📊 Round 2 Results – April 27

As Club President, I couldn’t be prouder. From the pit tents to the start hill, the support, encouragement, and camaraderie shown by our riders, families, and supporters was exceptional. It’s moments like these that show what makes Northern BMX so special. Check out some snapshots of the Hornets in action taken by Allira Preston (and mum) over the weekend in the gallery below.

Next stop: Rounds 3 and 4 at Lake Macquarie, coming up at the end of this month. Let’s keep the momentum rolling and fly the Northern colours with pride!

📍 For more information on the series, visit the AusCycling BMX National Series Event Hub

Go Northern! 🐝💥

— Rhiannan Preston, Club President