4 Mar 2017, 11:01 a.m.<\/p>\n
The stage has been set for a cracking Oceania BMX Championships. <\/p>\n
The stage has been set for a cracking Oceania BMX Championships, as Australias Matt Juster and New Zealander Sarah Walker took out victories in the men and womens Probikx UCI Series in Bathurst on Friday. <\/p>\n
Rain had threatened to make life difficult for riders on the behemoth Bathurst supercross track from the outset of racing, and as the finals neared the precipitation fell, turning the track into a slick battleground for competitors. <\/p>\n
In the mens race Juster continued his purple patch of form to claim his second win from three rounds in the Probikx UCI series.<\/p>\n
The Northern Territory local has seemingly entered 2017 with renewed vigour, on Fridayedging out Wollongongs Kai Sakakibara who is still looking for his first win of 2017. <\/p>\n
IN FORM: Matt Juster claimed his second elite men's win from three rounds when prevailing in Bathurst on Friday evening. Photo: ANYA WHITELAW <\/p>\n
After crossing the line, Juster simply said that the opportunity to win only presented itself in the second to last corner when Sakakibara left the door ajar. <\/p>\n
I had a good start, but its been raining so the start was very slick and I was cautious from there, Juster said. <\/p>\n
I had a good lead and came across on Kai at the first corner and I thought I had shut him out, so took the corner cautiously because it was wet. But I left the door open and Kai shot back out from underneath me. Hes great on this track. <\/p>\n
But then he left the door open on the second last turn and I knew that was my chance. I was so close to crossing over the white line and I thought he would come back at me, but I pulled it off. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile the elite womens race looked to be the first of two key encounters between Australian champion Leanna Curtis and London Olympic silver medallist Walker. <\/p>\n
FINAL PUSH: While Leanna Curtis tries hard, she can not reel in London Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker in the elite women's final. Photo: ANYA WHITELAW <\/p>\n
The pair, as well as Australias Tyler-Lea Thorley, who is placed second in the womens Probikx series, raced down the front straight shoulder to shoulder.<\/p>\n
However Walker was able to use her experience to edge ahead and win her first race after a nine-month injury hiatus. <\/p>\n
I have done very hard training on the velodrome in the lead up to this weekend, that helped a lot for the fitness on this track. I have just turned up and done my best, and that was enough to win so Im stoked, Walker said. <\/p>\n
I am still nervous about this track. The wind was very strong this afternoon, so I just focused on doing the best start I could and tried to be smooth around the track. I threw in a few extra jumps and manuals in the final, so that helped. <\/p>\n
Unfortunately I didnt get to race against Leanna nor Tyler-Lea until the final, and I knew they had done fast laps all day. So I had to try my hardest and seeing them by my side down the first straight gave me a rush I have been missing for nine months! <\/p>\n
In the junior elite competition Australias Saya Sakakibara tightened her stranglehold on the women's series lead with her third victory on the trot.<\/p>\n
DOMINANT: Australias Saya Sakakibara was a class above her rivals in the junior elite women's final. Photo: ANYA WHITELAW <\/p>\n
In the junior elite mens race Kiwi Maynard Peel signalled his intentions ahead of the Oceania Championships, beating Queenslands Izaac Kennedy to the line. <\/p>\n
Racing at Bathurst BMX track continues on Saturdaywith the 2017 Oceania BMX Championships. <\/p>\n
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Riders warm up for Oceania BMX battle - Western Advocate<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 4 Mar 2017, 11:01 a.m. The stage has been set for a cracking Oceania BMX Championships. The stage has been set for a cracking Oceania BMX Championships, as Australias Matt Juster and New Zealander Sarah Walker took out victories in the men and womens Probikx UCI Series in Bathurst on Friday Continue reading