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Sakakibara, Pal, & Moran selected for BMX World Championships

Aus Cycling

A team of 18 has been selected to represent Australia at the 2025 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The ARA Australian Cycling Team, announced by the AusCycling National Selection Panel today, will race on August 2 and 3.

Olympic champion and NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Saya Sakakibara, and fellow Olympians Izaac Kennedy and Lauren Reynolds return for another BMX Worlds campaign, each targeting a maiden elite world title and rainbow jersey.

Joining Kennedy in the elite men’s squad is United States-based Jack Davis and elite national champion and NSWIS athlete Oliver Moran.

A trio of rising stars join Sakakibara and Reynolds in the elite women’s squad.

Reigning junior women’s world champion Teya Rufus, 19, elite national champion and NSWIS scholarship holder Sienna Pal, 19, and U23 national champion Bella May, 19, all could have chased a world title in the U23 women’s category but will instead race amongst the elite women, as they have already done impressively throughout 2025.

Hot off his first UCI BMX Racing World Cup U23 win in Papendal, Josh Jolly will step back into ARA Australian Cycling Team colours in Copenhagen. The last time the Ballarat talent donned the green and gold, he won the 2024 junior men’s world championship in Rock Hill.

Jesse Asmus, who scored two podiums at the Sarrians UCI BMX Racing World Cups a fortnight ago, US-based Jordan Callum and Joel Marsh, the U23 Oceania champion and current AusCycling BMX Racing National Series Superclass leader, complete the U23 contingent.

Preston Murray, Bailey Seckold and Charli Guy have been selected for another tilt at junior glory after competing as first-years in Rock Hill.

Seckold and Guy both raced UCI BMX Racing World Cups in the U23 category last month over in Europe, as did junior Oceania champion AJ Donald, who will race for the first time as a member of the ARA Australian Cycling Team in Denmark.

Imogen Healy and Cameron Gatt, the youngest member of the team for Copenhagen, will also make their ARA Australian Cycling Team debuts at the world championships.

AusCycling National BMX Racing Coach Luke Madill said the recent World Cups highlighted the growth and momentum within the sport.

“It’s inspiring to see Australian riders rising confidently to meet the global challenge,” he said. “This year’s world championships team brings together a powerful blend of emerging talent and seasoned experience, a combination that reflects the strength and future of BMX in Australia.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to be part of this team as we prepare to represent Australia on the world stage.”