BMX champ secures North Island title

Two years of bad luck in the BMX New Zealand North Island Titles has ended for national champion Dion Newth.

Tokoroa-based Newth now holds the North Island title in the Cruiser 40-44 age group category after his successful run during the Labour Weekend event in Whangarei. He also holds the national title in the same category.

After two nasty crashes at the event in previous years, Newth said he couldn’t be happier.

‘‘What made it extra special for me was last year I broke my collarbone when I crashed and the year before I broke my arm so it was good to actually win and not crash,’’ he said.

‘‘For me it all came down to determination. One to actually complete the event and two to stay on and win and it’s great that I have now got another title to add to my collection.’’

He said the win puts him in good stead to go on to defend his national title for a third consecutive year.

My goal for 2018 is to retain my New Zealand title and I am confident I can do that,’’ he said.

‘‘For me I go in with the mindset that I am going to win, you have to, because you put so much time and effort in and I put my body through hell.’’

‘‘I am not going in there to get second place,’’ he laughed.

Newth, who also made it to the quarter final during the UCI BMX World Championships in America in July where he hoped to have a top 10 finish, said he plans to attend the World Championships again in 2018.

‘‘Crashes are a big thing in this sport and when I went to the world champs I qualified through to the quarter final before I crashed but even though I came off I was proud to get as far as I did,’’ he said.

‘‘In 2018 the world champs are in Baku, Azerbaijan which is north of Iran. It is a place I had never heard of so I Googled it and it looks amazing.’’

‘‘It’s a holiday destination for Russians and there are a lot of really really old buildings but then you have also got a lot of really new modern buildings which is obviously from the money that is coming in. Getting there is one of my main goals.’’

He said while he now holds the North Island title for his category he will continue to ride under his national. ‘‘We have just started the 2017/18 season so for now I will continue to ride under it,’’ he said.