Winning a world title on home soil is a dream for any athlete, and 23 riders will have that opportunity when they represent Australia at the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships this month. 

A ready and motivated ARA Australian Cycling Team announced by the AusCycling National Selection Panel today will pull on the green-and-gold on July 17−19 at the Brisbane SX International BMX Centre. 

Olympic champion and New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Saya Sakakibara will be joined by fellow Olympians Izaac Kennedy and Lauren Reynolds to contend for a maiden elite world title and rainbow jersey. 

These experienced campaigners headline one of the biggest teams Australia has fielded at a UCI BMX Racing World Championships in recent memory.

Joining Kennedy in the elite men’s event are Jack Davis (NSWIS) and national champion Jesse Asmus, who steps up from the under-23 category for the first time at this level.

A trio of rising stars including Brisbane-based former junior world champion Teya Rufus, 20, Sienna Pal, 20 (NSWIS), and Bella May, 20 will also race in the elite women’s field.

Under-23 national champion Josh Jolly returns to the team after winning silver in 2025, and hot off a win at the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in Papendal last month.

Jordan Callum and Joel Marsh have been selected for the U23 men’s squad, alongside first-year U23s Bailey Seckold and AJ Donald.

U23 national and Oceania champion Bella Schramm will make her world championship debut just weeks after her first UCI World Cup podium in Sarrians. She will be joined by first-year U23 Charli Guy, and Mia Webster, who is also making her world championship debut.

After his debut in Copenhagen last year, Cam Gatt is back for another tilt at the junior world title, while Zane Bourke, Declan McGhee, Ben Schramm, Stephanie Alexander, Mena Banks and Isla Basa – the youngest of the squad – are all set to make their ARA Australian Cycling Team debuts.

AusCycling Head Coach Acceleration and Action, Eric Haakonssen, said the team selection showed the depth of Australia’s BMX Racing talent.

“We’re incredibly excited to announce the ARA Australian Cycling Team for the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships here in Brisbane,” Haakonssen said.

“There is something truly special about a home World Championships. It’s a rare opportunity and a real honour and privilege for the athletes in the team to represent Australia on home soil.

“We come into this event with great momentum following a strong start to the international season. Across the opening four rounds of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup , we’ve seen medal-winning performances from Saya Sakakibara in the elite women, Josh Jolly in the under-23 men, and Bella Schramm in the under-23 women. Just as exciting has been the growing depth across the program, particularly within our elite women, where four Australian riders have progressed through to World Cup main finals this year.

“While we had several of our elite men impacted during the early World Cup rounds, we’re excited to have a strong team, healthy, and ready to perform at their best in front of a home crowd.

“This is one of the largest Australian teams we have fielded in several years, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for our riders to showcase what they are capable of against the best BMX racers in the world.

“The team behind the event has done an incredible job preparing the Sleeman Sports Complex for a world-class competition. With the venue now also home to our Acceleration and Action Centre of Excellence, we have a unique opportunity to maximise the advantages of a home World Championships and create a memorable event for both our athletes and Australian BMX fans.”

ARA Australian Cycling Team – 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships

Elite Men

Jesse Asmus (Nerang BMX Club, QLD)
Jack Davis (Tamworth City BMX Club, NSWIS)
Izaac Kennedy (Nerang BMX Club, QLD)

Elite Women

Bella May (Casey BMX Club, VIC)
Sienna Pal (Terrigal BMX Club, NSWIS)
Lauren Reynolds (Bunbury BMX Club, WA)
Teya Rufus (Maryborough BMX Club, QLD)
Saya Sakakibara (Southlake Illawarra BMX Club, NSWIS)

U23 Men

Jordan Callum (Hills BMX Club, WA)
Aaron [AJ] Donald (Hawkesbury Hornets BMX Club, NSW)
Josh Jolly (Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club, VIC)
Joel Marsh (Happy Valley BMX Club, SA)
Bailey Seckold (Ashmore BMX Club, QLD)

U23 Women

Charli Guy (Ashmore BMX Club, QLD)
Bella Schramm (Ashmore BMX Club, QLD)
Mia Webster (Park Orchards BMX Club, VIC)

Junior Men

Zane Bourke (Maitland Tenambit BMX Club, NSW)
Cam Gatt (Geelong BMX Club, VIC)
Declan McGhee (Mandurah BMX Club, WA)
Ben Schramm (Ashmore BMX Club, QLD)

Junior Women

Stephanie Alexander (Knox BMX Club, VIC)
Mena Banks (Southside BMX Club, WA)
Isla Basa (Macarthur BMX Club, NSW)

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