Taking on the world on two wheels

BANNOCKBURN’s Jarrah and Jovie Benning are off to Brisbane to compete in the World BMX Championships this month.

The local siblings both qualified at nationals back in April finishing among Australia’s top 24 young BMX riders in their respective classes.

Set for 18-25 July, the upcoming international fixture will be the first time in over 20 years that Australia has hosted a World Championship race, with Jarrah and Jovie counting down the days until they can take on the competition.

Jarrah, 13, is current national series champion for his age group in the boys 20″ bike class, and national series champion for 13-14 boys in the 24″ bike cruiser class.

At Brisbane he will be competing in the 13-year-old boys’ division for 20″ bikes and stepping up an age group to also compete in the 13 to 14 boys age division for 24″ cruiser class.

Jovie, 12, ended in the top 10 at the nationals in April and is getting set to take on the world’s top young BMX talent in both the 12-year-old girls 20″ bike division and also the 8 to 12 year girls 24 “cruiser class.

This follows her taking third at the Victorian State Titles, making her one of the best overall in the state for her age in the 20” bike class.

Additional sprint training and targeted gym sessions are just part of the preparation that both young members of the Geelong Thunder BMX Club have been putting in.

“We get up early and go to the track on Saturday, and do sprints two nights of the week,” Jovie said.

Jarrah said riding a variety of different tracks and a focus on core work in the gym are part of preparations for the Brisbane track which he has encountered previously.

“But I’ve never done Worlds before,” he said.

“It’s a longer track than most.”

Part of Team Twisted Concept, both Jarrah and Jovie said they are particularly looking forward to meeting new people while also catching up with friends they’ve made on the track before – alongside racing to win.