NZ BMX champs this weekend

Held in Cambridge on the west coast of the North Island, the 2006 Southern Trust New Zealand BMX National Championships will be conducted over the coming Easter weekend with New Zealand's elite riders vying for national selection.

BikeNZ National BMX Coach Grant White said: "The national championship event serves as the final selection event prior to the 2006 national squad being selected. This event will also be the final selection event prior to the national team being named, which will travel to Australia for the upcoming Australian National BMX Championships."

The national team is selected based on a continuously rolling series of results, prior to any overseas competition. With a prize purse of NZ$6000 and valuable UCI ranking points, joining New Zealand's top riders Marc Willers, Sarah Walker, Hayden de boer and Lisa Horlor are eleven of Australia's best riders including Renee Junga (world number 2), Warwick Stephenson (2004 world champion), current national champion Luke Madill and 2004 national champion Kama Kazi.

Racing commences at 9.30am Saturday at the Cambridge BMX Club, Lamb Street, Cambridge.