Driven 11-year-old wins another national BMX title

Lewis Atkinson, 11, holding his winner's trophies at his home track of the Mountain Raiders BMX Club at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga.
SUPPLIED / Eastern-Courier

Super cyclist and East Auckland 11-year-old Lewis Atkinson won again at the BMX New Zealand national championships during Easter.

The competition held this year at Te Awamutu was the sixth nationals Lewis has competed in, and he's now held the title for his age group in the 20-inch wheel race class for three years in a row.

What makes the Farm Cove Intermediate pupil even more proud is that he stood out in a separate racing trial for a place in the NZ Mighty 11 junior test team, made up of four boys and four girls, who ride against Australia next month.

Lewis Atkinson racing in the finals of the BMX national champs.
SUPPLIED / Eastern-Courier

In the nationals final, Lewis had a strong start and rode hard to keep up with the race leader.

He finally gathered enough speed down the last straight to cross the finish line in first place by about a bike length.

"I love the adrenaline rush that goes through my body as I go over the jumps at 40km per hour," Lewis says.

"Making the Mighty's team on the Friday gave me a huge boost leading into Saturday's age-group racing. I'm just happy that I was able to achieve my goal for another year."