Illawarra BMX star Leanna Curtis will head into the upcoming national championships in fine form after claiming two major races in the space of two days in Cairns over the weekend.
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Curtis claimed victory in Saturday’s Probikx UCI finals and backed it up to beat training partner Saya Sakakibara by just 0.078 seconds to take out Sunday’s Grands Assault series decider.
It was just the latest installment of the pair’s budding rivalry that began at October’s UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Rock Hill, USA when Sakakibara claimed second to Curtis’ sixth in the elite women's final.
Having gone winless for much of the season, reigning Aussie women’s champion Curtis said there must be something about the Cairns track that brings out her best.
“I was only joking yesterday, but there must be something that I like about this place,” Curtis said.
“As we went over the line Saya and I were just screaming at each other. She was screaming at me because I got her, and I was screaming at her for the same reason.
“We train together, and it’s good to race together as well. We’re good friends.”
With the 2017 Australian National Championships looming at the end of this month, is expecting a step u0p in competition as she looks to defend her Aussie title against the likes of dual Olympians Caroline Buchanan and Lauren Reynolds.
“I am definitely ready to take on Caroline and Lauren,” she said.
“It will be a step up again to race them, Caroline is always super strong.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m ready for it.”
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
