LONDON OLYMPIC HOPEFULS WRAP UP BMX NATIONAL SERIES

BMX, April 29: Olympic Games BMX hopefuls, South Australia's  Brian Kirkham and the ACT'S Caroline Buchanan confirmed their status as Australia's most consistent riders with the countdown on for London after they wrapped up their respective National Probikx Elite Series titles in Cairns yesterday.

The dominant 25-year-old Kirkham had defended his Series crown even before today's ninth and final round and Buchanan overcame a last minute handlebar malfunction to confirm her number one status in the fledging Olympic sport, that made its debut in Beijing in 2008.

Kirkham, who is celebrating 20 years in BMX riding, has been the dominant men's force in Australia for the last three years.

It took him just 37.342 seconds to confirm that standing today as he nailed the final event in the highly competitive 2010-11 National Series.

Kirkham totaled 1025 points from Penrith NSW's Olympian Luke Madill (651), who only contested five rounds due to illness and injury with Thomas Hubert (Southlake, NSW) third on 583.

The three-time National Series champion said he was determined to "go for the glory" in the final round, which attracted a big crowd to the Cairns BMX club.

"It was important for me to finish with a win even though I'd wrapped up the Series in Canberra last month," said Kirkham, who will again be one of the main contenders for Saturday's Australian Championship.

"I guess it proves who has been the most consistent over the last three years and I was determined not to let that go this year in the final round.

"With the likes of Michael Robinson and Madill I knew I had to race smart, because in BMX anything can happen."

Kirkham said he still had some "petrol in the tank" for Saturday's Australian Championship, when he takes on Australia'sUS-based duo Sam Willoughby and Khalen Young.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Buchanan, who also has her sights set squarely on the London Olympics, after being too young for Beijing, came to Cairns as the Series leader and proved too fast and too strong for Western Australia's Lauren Reynolds and Queenslander Rachel Bracken in today's helter-skelter final.

She had to make a last minute adjustment to her handlebar grip just minutes before the race but it certainly proved no hurdle to the girl who has tunnel vision when it comes to achieving her dreams.

With the double points on offer in the final round she amassed a total of 907 points to win the Series ahead of Reynolds (727) and Western Australian Nicole Callisto who was forced out of today's round with a broken ankle, which will keep her sidelined for the next four months.

"Everything for me is geared towards the Olympics and I just want to be the most consistent racer in the lead up to London," said the 21-year-old from Tuggeranong in the ACT.

"The closer it gets the more excited I get, the more focused I become and the more determined I am to be in London next year.

"I have a busy few months with camps and racing and I just want remain as consistent as I possibly can."

London is constantly on her mind and close to her heart.

The 2010 Cycling Australia BMX Female Rider of the Year has her own Olympic rings around her neck with the words - Love, Laugh, Inspire, Dream and Achieve.

National Probikx Elite Series, final round, Cairns:

 

MEN: Brian Kirkham (Crosskeys, SA) 37.342secs 1, LukeMadill (Penrith, NSW) 37.730 2, Michael Robinson (Nerang, QLD) 38.529 3, Anthony Dean (Crosskeys, SA) 38.664 4, Thomas Hubert (Southlake, NSW) 39.105 5, Alex Cameron (Liverpool City, NSW) 39.707 6, Joshua Callan (Lillydale, VIC) 39.729 7, Olivier Hoarau (Frankston, VIC) 40.767 8.

WOMEN: Caroline Buchanan (Tuggeranong, ACT) 43.029 1, Lauren Reynolds (Bunbury, WA) 43.854 2, Rachel Bracken (Nerang, QLD) 44.578 3, Kirsten Dellar (Westside WA), 45.835 4, Cherie Simpson (Nerang, QLD) 46.262 5, Kelly Percy (Redlands, QLD) 46.507 6, Erin Anderson (Knox, VIC) 47.263 7, Catherine Hopkins (Hills, WA) 72.164 8.

Final Series Standings: MEN: Brian Kirkham (Crosskeys, SA) 1025pts 1, Luke Madill (Penrith, NSW) 651pts 2, Thomas Hubert (Southlake, NSW) 583 pts 3, Michael Robinson (Nerang, QLD) 503pts 4, Joshua Callan (Lillydale, VIC) 473pts 5.WOMEN: Caroline Buchanan (Tuggeranong, ACT) 907pts 1, Lauren Reynolds (Bunbury, WA) 727pts 2, Nicole Callisto (Wanneroo, WA) 635 3, Kirsten Dellar (Westside WA) 542 pts 4, Rachel Bracken (Nerang, QLD) 374 pts.