For the second time inside a month, the nervy dreams of Olympic hopefuls look set to be realised in Launceston.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Oceania continental and national championships, not since Hobart played host in 2002 to BMX bikes, will be held in Tasmania this month.
But this time St Leonards will be the focal point of the premier BMX Australia event after a long wait of 26 years.
The Launceston BMX club did get a brief look at one of the seven rounds of the elite national series two years ago.
But the difference BMX Australia national events manager Andrew Matthews explained is that the annual championships attract riders that are willing their chances on towards Tokyo 2020.
"We do have a significantly larger number of riders and many more entries," he said.
"In Launceston, we would have had about 400 entries just a couple of years ago and this year we have 2100 for the national championships over four days. It's about five times bigger - put it that way."
Matthews has counted 71 elite riders planning to race Launceston from 42 different clubs that are in contention for not only Olympic spots, but direct qualification for the UCI BMX world championships at Houston in May.
The world championships are more broad ranging than the restricted numbers at the Olympic Games, covering all competitors from five years of age up to elderly masters.
BMX Australia expect from 250 to 300 riders to qualify.
Olympic finalist at London 2012 and former World No.1 Caroline Buchanan will be attending her first nationals in three years ahead of Tokyo.
Buchanan had qualified second in the 2016 Olympics seeding, but she crashed out during the semi-final rounds and failed to make the final.
The 29-year-old poster girl for the sport will challenge favourite Saya Sakakibara.
Sakakibara will be aiming to return to her country of birth for a maiden Olympics.
Current national champion Izaac Kennedy is set to defend his men's elite class title in Launceston that is expected to attract thousands.
"BMX Australia's strategic view of is that we like to spread the nationals around as much as we possibly can," Matthews said.
"We are a national sport, but we haven't been to Tasmania since 2002 nationals.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"So there was an opportunity there and that's from an ongoing relationship with the Tasmanian government and the City of Launceston."
Tasmanians will be represented by host Launceston club providing 36 riders, Wynyard Park 51 and 50 more from Hobart's Southern City.
The March 24 to 28 event that extends to the second day set aside for the Oceania titles could provide a legacy.
"It has given the club an opportunity of upgrades to the venue," Matthews said.
"Not to say it wasn't up to scratch, but it helps them redo their track to make it up to the standards and align with the rules of our sport.
"[It] has a pretty significant legacy proponent as well for riders week in, week out."
City of Launceston has donated a starting gate at the track, but The Examiner understands $250,000 from the state government does not go directly to the local club.