Melbourne u18 bike stars: Bella May, Harvey Brooks, Mia Webster, Jack Ward and more
They’re flying over bumpy courses, winning titles and rubbing shoulders on the world stage. Meet some of Melbourne’s talented junior riders.
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They’ve got a need for speed and are tearing up tracks across the state and overseas.
A fresh crop of young BMX and mountain bikers from across Melbourne are achieving big things, honing their skills at local clubs in the suburbs.
This week, Knox teen Stephanie Alexander, 13, zoomed her way to a third-place finish in her category of the BMX racing world championships in France.
Here’s some of the other talented Melbourne-based junior riders who are definitely ones to watch in various forms of racing on two wheels.
HARVEY BROOKS
Harvey Brooks has a swag of titles under his belt and is only 11.
The youngster, who has been a member of the Knox BMX and Blackburn cycling clubs, has won three national championships for his age group.
In April, he captained the Australian team to victory over New Zealand in the Mighty 11’s competition in Brisbane.
He’s a member of the Chase BMX riding team and already has a number of sponsors, and is branching out into downhill racing as well.
JACK WARD
Jack, 17, is becoming one to watch for his huge achievements in many different types of biking competitions.
He’s the national Under 17’s cross-country cycling champion and has previously won a state road racing title and a national endurance racing title.
Earlier this year, he was picked for a month-long camp in Europe and competed in a series of events in the under-19s category.
Next month, he’ll be heading to France as part of the Australian team for the UCI Mountain Bike world championships.
MITCH CLAXTON
Heathmont-based mountain biker Mitch, 15, competes in downhill and endurance racing and is part of the Cyclescape racing team.
He’s performed strongly this year with two wins at Mount Buller and Mansfield in the under-17s category of the Victorian Downhill Series.
Mitch has also had podium finishes at the AusCycling National Cup gold category round in Adelaide and the Victorian gravity enduro event in Albury.
BELLA MAY
Bella, 16, has won several BMX state titles, and also recently made the national team for this month’s world championships in France, where she was set to compete in the junior elite girls category.
Earlier this year, Cycling Australia categorised her as an emerging and developing athlete for BMX racing, and she’s notched up three podium finishes in rounds of the national superclass competition.
She also has a solid fanbase on Instagram with about 3000 followers.
MAYA ELLIS
With her dad a former Victorian motocross champion, it’s fair to say bikes are in Maya Ellis’ blood.
Along with Bella May, Maya is a member of the Frankston Sharks BMX club, and was crowned national champion in the under 8’s category at the 2019 championships in Shepparton.
This year she’s competed for Australia in the Mighty 11’s trans-Tasman challenge, and the under-15s category of the Victorian downhill mountain biking series.
MIA WEBSTER
Mia, 16, is a member of the Park Orchards BMX club and races with the 5ive BMX Components team.
She notched up two wins at the Bendigo round of the State competition in the junior women’s supercross category, and also triumphed in the first two rounds of the national competition in Adelaide.
Showing her range of talents, she’s also a junior triathlete outside of racing and finished second in an event in Sandringham in February.
JULIANA VRAPCENJAK
Julijana Vrapcenjak, 13, started her BMX career at eight, and is one of the most dedicated members zooming around at the Frankston BMX Club.
She trains almost daily, sometimes twice a day, and finished second in the state championships for her age group last year.
She competed in the BMX Racing World Championships in France this month and made it to the semi finals in the under 13’s category.
MASON PARK
Mason, 9, started racing in 2016 when he was only three at Frankston BMX club.
This year he’s ranked fourth in the 2022 national cup event, and he finished third in the state championships for his age group last year.
He raced in this month’s BMX Racing World Championships in France in the under 10s category and made the quarterfinals.
ASHTON SMITH
Ashton, 12, won this year’s Frankston summer series competition and is honing his talents across two BMX riding categories.
He is ranked 5th in Victoria for 20-inch racing and 6th in Victoria for cruiser.
Ashton competed in two categories of the world championships in France this month, and earned a ranking of 17th in the world for the under 12 boys cruiser class.
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