When the world’s top riders converge on Auckland at the end of the month for the UCI BMX World Championships, Te Awamutu’s Ryan Lewis and Todd Barry will be among those looking to fly the New Zealand flag proudly.
The St Paul’s Collegiate students will be among 2000 riders of all ages from 30 countries at the event and are ecstatic about putting on the silver fern and riding for their country.
"When you put the New Zealand jersey on raceday it means a lot. Not everyone gets the opportunity to do that in their lifetime – to represent New Zealand – so you might well do New Zealand proud while you're at it, " 17-year-old Barry said.
While the teens are individually determined to perform on the racetrack, the world championships will provide a great opportunity for the duo and many other riders to learn and also seek advice from some of the best in the sport.
With double Olympic champion Maris Stromberg and current world champion Sam Willoughby, from Australia, among those racing at Vector Arena, Lewis and Barry hope to make the most of the rare opportunity.
For Barry, the world championships will be his first time competing in the junior elite men’s category and the event being on home soil is an added bonus as heis looking forward to racing in front of friends and family.
"It’s pretty special for me to race against these guys like Ryan who are a year older," Barry said.
"It’s going to be pretty tough racing but then again in our home country, it’s going to be so much more amazing because all your friends and family are there and it’s live on Sky Sport so everyone will be watching. It’s going to be pretty good."
It will be a memorable experience for Lewis who will compete in the same category.
The 18-year-old will be racing for the final time in the junior elite level as he attempts to make the jump up to the open elite men’s ranks next year.
The year 13 students have come a long way since their early days riding at the Te Awamutu BMX Club where they remember first crossing paths.
However, the passionate riders would love to continue climbing the BMX ranks and it could possibly result in their careers leading them to the United States to ride on the national circuit in the future.
Looking towards to the world champs they have their sights set on trying to finish on the podium.
"I'd just just like to podium, to be honest, it would be mint, I'd love that," Lewis said.
"Ultimately you want to win, everyone wants to win, but podium would be a good start and if I'm in that slot I'd probably just go nuts."
Although the thought of standing on the podium excites Lewis, he’s not willing get too far ahead of himself.
He plans to take each race as it comes, likewise for Barry whose ambition is to finish inside the top eight.
As for the sport of BMX, Lewis and Barry are hoping the world championships will be another step forward in helping the sport grow both here and abroad.
