Benchmarks set at upgraded Karratha BMX track

Rising Karratha BMX star Jackson Tatham set the benchmark for the fastest lap at Karratha BMX Club’s upgraded track at the fourth race night of the year last Friday.

With all records reset because of the new starting ramp, Jackson, 16, blitzed the course in 31.981sec., five seconds clear of the 18-and-over record of 36.977sec. set by Will Gethin.

Jackson’s record stands for both the 16 boys’ and open A/pro men’s classes.

While he was fastest out of the new gate, Jackson’s ride fell short of his own best on the old ramp by 0.3sec. and Ryley Hinchcliffe’s blistering 30.944sec. ride set in round 9 last year.

With the extra speed provided from the new start gate, it is only a matter of time before the old records are consigned to history.

Jade Keremelevich, 14, set the fastest girls’ time, cruising through in 38.649sec.

The round 4 meet was the first race to have timed laps since the ramp was unveiled last month.

Nate Robinson, 8, Brennan Kirkwood, 9, Joel Hinkley, 10, Luke White, 11, Dillan Kirkwood, 12, Cooper Hinchcliffe, 13 and Blake White, 14, all set the first lap records for their age groups.

In the girls’ compe, young gun Chloe Norman, 9, Amaney Warren, 11, Ashlyn Keremelevich, 12, and Gemma Rodgers, 15, put their names at the top of the record lists for their age groups.

In the cruiser classes, James Taylor finished in 42.188sec. in the 13-and-under age group, Gemma Rodgers claimed the 14-and-over record, and Mat Norman pinched the men’s 30-and-over record.