Six Capital riders on the world stage – Brisbane, here we come.
July 8, 2026
Next week, six Capital BMX riders pack their bikes, their kit, and a season’s worth of hard work and head to Brisbane to race for New Zealand at the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships, running 17–25 July.
They’ll line up alongside thousands of the world’s best riders from more than 40 countries at the SX Brisbane International BMX Centre — the same track set to host BMX at the 2032 Olympics. That’s the calibre of company our riders are about to keep.
How they got here
New Zealand has a quota of 16 Challenge (amateur) riders per age group for these Worlds. Selection came down to performance across the 2025 and 2026 BMX NZ National Championships — finalists from either year earned automatic eligibility for selection, with wildcards filling any remaining spots.
Here’s how each of our six riders punched their ticket:
- Aella Robinson – 4th in 8-Girls at her very first Nationals, in Te Awamutu 2026.
- Kiera Ocoboc – qualified NZ8 in 10-Girls before moving to Sydney in April. She may now have a Castle Hill jersey, but she’s ours at heart!
- Otis Ropiha – already locked in with NZ6 from the 2025 Nationals in Invercargill, backed it up with NZ9 in 11-Boys this year.
- Spencer Robinson – claimed a wildcard with NZ10 in 11-Boys at Te Awamutu.
- Jack Kelly – earned his spot in 13-Boys off the back of a podium finish in 2025.
- Jamie Harkness – narrowly missed 20″ selection (17th against the quota) but picked up a wildcard for Cruiser class in the stacked Male 17–24 field.
The build-up
Through May and June, the team has trained hard alongside five other riders from across the Wellington region, under a dedicated Worlds programme led by Gavin Coleman (Kapiti BMX) and Ken Feist (HVT). The team kit has landed, the bags are almost packed, and after months of preparation, the nerves and excitement are both very real.
From all of us at Capital
Six riders. One club. A world stage. However the racing unfolds in Brisbane, you’ve already done something to be proud of — earning the black jersey and representing your country is no small thing.
Go well, ride hard, and know that the whole club is behind you.