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Pacific Oceania Ranking Series #7 - C3
Canberra, ACT, Australia, March 3-4, 2007
Graves gives BMX a serious go
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Queenslander Jared Graves (Toowoomba) got a clear run in the BMX UCI Oceania Round #7 in Canberra to take victory in the elite men's class. The 24 year-old used his early lead to stay out of trouble and win his second UCI race this year.
Graves lead in the first straight and, with a long track by BMX standards, he managed to retain the lead from Billy Joliffe (Tamworth). Joliffe is coming back to form after being the highest placed Australian at the world championships last year.
Third was Khalen Young (Campbelltown) after passing Daniel Johnstone (Terrigal) in the finishing straight.
Grave's fellow Queenslanders were not so lucky with Wade Bootes (Broadbeach) flipping at the gate and Kamakazi (Jimboomba) tangling with Alexander Cameron (Liverpool) in the first straight . Both riders crashed causing them to miss out on vital points.
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Graves' win elevates him to the top of the Oceania Ranking with New Zealand's Matthew Cameron just one point behind. Joliffe's second place moves him up the rankings into a close third just one point further behind Cameron.
After claiming a national title just last month at the Downhill Mountain Bike Championships in Canberra, Graves has turned his attention to BMX in an attempt to make the world championship BMX team and then perhaps an Olympic berth in Beijing.
Elite women's racing was dominated by New Zealand's Sarah Walker. The 18 year-old impressed with a strong lead in the final race of the women's three races. Over the three races she took out the overall points with leading Australian rider Tanya Bailey (Perth) placing second.
Third on points was national champion Krystal Cranfield (Gladstone), who showed a strong return to form. Two time World Mountain Cross Champion Jill Kintner (USA) rode her first BMX race in Australia on the weekend and did not disappoint with a fourth place.
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Walker remains a clear leader in the elite women's UCI Oceania ranking with 73 points. Australia's Melissa Mankowski (Moranbah) is second on 50 points and Tanya Bailey third on 43 points.
Canberra's Caroline Buchanan dominated in the final of the junior women's class and maintains her lead in the UCI Oceania Series with Ziggy Callan in second. In the Junior Men's division Joshua Webb (Terrigal) won with Nerang's Steven Janssen taking himself into second. The performance sees the pair take first and second respectively in the UCI Oceania Rankings with just one point separating them.
Riders line up next week in Papakura, New Zealand for the eighth UCI Oceanina Round.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Renee Junga
- Riders, ready, watch the gate…
- Jared Graves shows his starting technique
- Kamakazi, Daniel Johnstone and Jared Graves (L – R) shoulder to shoulder with Luke Strom flying high.
- 2005 world junior champion Sifiso Nhlapo from South Africa up to speed with Luke Madill.
- Heading into the step up on the first straight
- Dirk Winter railing the berm out in the second moto
- Benjamin Clark leads out Adam Sanderson in the 15 Champbikx
- Lake Macquarie rider Adam Sanderson on the fourth bend.
- Queensland’s Shaun Gray in the 15 Champbikx
- Champbikx 16 girls play follow the leader.
- Lauren Reynolds from Bunbury leads out Townsville’s Rachel Bracken.
- Reynolds too strong all day and rolls in for a first place in 16 Girls.
- World number three Sam Willoughby wears the Hog’s Breath Café Series leader’s jersey for good reason.
- 16 boys Champbikx head into the second straight.
- Kamakazi leads early in the final moto.
- Eventual winner Jared Graves takes it easy at the rear after gaining enough in the earlier motos.
- Port Augusta’s Brian Kirkham hits the front while Khalen Young cruises.
- Junior Men moto action.
- Adelaide’s Matthew Willoughby leading Dirk Winter from the Sunshine Coast.
- 15 girls Champbikx rider Melinda McLeod hits the front with Lacey Oliver in tow.
Results
Elite men 1 Jared Graves (Toowoomba) 2 Billy Jolliffe (Terrigal) 3 Khalen Young (Liverpool City) 4 Daniel Johnstone (Terrigal) 5 Jamie Gray (Beenleigh) 6 Wade Bootes (Nerang) 7 Alexander Cameron (Liverpool City) 8 Kamakazi (Nerang) Elite women 1 Sarah Walker (NZl) 2 Tanya Bailey (Wanneroo) 3 Krystal Cranfield (Centenary Plains) 4 Jill Kintner (USA) 5 Melissa Mankowski (Moranbah) 6 Kylie Patroni (Wanneroo) 7 Serena Kastermans (NZl) 8 Tanya Thiele (Bundaberg)
