Shepparton is basking in the glory of having successfully staged the 2026 GWM BMX Racing National Championships.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit, Megan Fisher
Olympics hero Saya Sakakibara has spoken in glowing terms about her experience in Shepparton after retaining her elite women’s title at the 2026 GWM BMX Racing National Championships.
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The spectacle, which concluded on 18 April, proved a major success for the Goulburn Valley region, with an estimated 2000 participants and 5000 visitors having descended on Greater Shepparton to be a part of one of the standout events on the Australian BMX calendar.
The event represented a landmark coup, with the revamped Shepparton BMX track given its moment in lights, as the local economy received a boost in excess of $6 million in the process.
Fans packed out the new-look pavilion in their droves to catch a glimpse of the country’s foremost BMX stars, with participants from ages eight through to the over 60s taking to the track from April 13 onwards.
Olympic gold medallist and back-to-back Australian BMX racing champion Sakakibara spoke highly of the facilities in Shepparton as well as the feel-good spirit in the city last week.
“I’m so grateful, it is what I have always envisioned,” the talent from New South Wales said, in tribute to the thousands of spectators who turned out to watch her in action.
“When I am racing, it’s 100 per cent racing and when I am engaging with the community I am 100 per cent engaging with them.”
The three-time World Cup winner, who won gold for Australia at the Paris Olympics in 2024 prevailed in the elite women’s race in Shepparton yet again, retaining her national title as Sienna Pal and Isabell May also celebrated podium finishes.
Meanwhile, hometown hero Fletcher was just beaten to the men’s elite prize at the venue where he first made his name, as Brisbane rider Jesse Asmus claimed the spoils this time around.
Shepparton’s Hayden Fletcher was a headline draw for the garland event in the city.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“I wanted to show people that I was fast no matter where I showed up,” the eventual winner said, as he too expressed his gratitude towards the Shepparton crowd.
“I push hard, I don’t doubt myself and I believe that no matter what position I come out in, I never doubt I can’t make it back to the front.
“Something about Nationals has a different type of prestige to it. I really pushed hard and I wanted to get to this one, try to win it and prove a point.”
Mayor of Greater Shepparton Shane Sali reflected on the carnival atmosphere in and around Shepparton during what proved to be a week to remember -as he hailed the people of the wider region for embracing the national championships with warmth and excitement.
“The strong turnout at the BMX track throughout the week reflected the community’s support for local talent and excitement around elite-level racing,” he said.
“Driving through the town you can see the impact that the event has had on the region with all the no vacancy signs up, Greater Shepparton has been bustling with visitors over the last ten nights which highlights the magnitude of hosting such a prestigious event.”
On Thursday, it was announced that Shepparton will host two rounds of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in 2028, the world’s premier BMX racing series, at the Shepparton BMX track.
Round two of the AusCycling 2025 BMX Racing National Series in all its glory.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The UCI BMX Racing World Cup will be a key event for the world’s best athletes as they prepare for the 2028 LA Olympic Games.
Following the announcement, Shepparton homegrown elite men’s star Fletcher expressed his pride at the news that the Goulburn Valley has been given the honour of hosting another illustrious event in just less than two years’ time.
“Greater Shepparton City Council and the BMX community really get behind any BMX event,” he said.
“I can only imagine how much bigger and better it is going to get."
It was clear that Shepparton had left a lasting impression on the Chief Executive Officer of AusCycling Marne Fechner too, who spoke excitedly about returning to the region in 2028.
“We are delighted to welcome the UCI BMX Racing World Cup back to Australian soil, creating an opportunity to showcase Greater Shepparton and Victoria as a world-class host of major events.“
