Izaac Kennedy has enjoyed his first ever BMX Racing World Cup triumph in front of his home crowd on a big day for Australian riders in Brisbane.
Queenslander Kennedy sped to victory in the men's elite race on Saturday, while Saya Sakakibara just missed out on victory in the equivalent women's race.
The two under-23 titles were lifted by Jesse Asmus and Teya Rufus as home riders took three of the four golds on offer on the opening day.
Pride of place went to 23-year-old Nerang rider Kennedy, who secured a historic win after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last July.
“It was a lot of emotions for sure,” Kennedy said.
“It's been a really, really tough eight months coming back from a serious injury last year.
“To win my first ever World Cup in front of the home crowd, it's an insane feeling.''
Kennedy and Frenchman Joris Daudet had been neck-and-neck through the early stages of the decider, but a crash landing on the last jump of the second straight by Daudet opened the door for the Australian..
Olympian Sakakibara was pipped by Swiss racer Zoe Claessens in the women's elite final.
Claessens led the field through the first three straights, and despite Sakakibara’s best efforts to close the gap over the final stages, held on for the win.
The 24-year-old Sakakibara, whose Olympic dreams were crushed when she was seriously injured during the semi-finals of the Tokyo Games, said she was happy she gave it everything she could in front of her Australian fans.
“Ever since I crossed the finish line, I’ve just had a huge smile on my face,'' she said.
"I obviously wanted to win, but I still feel like I’ve won, and the crowd was so amazing.''
In front of a sell-out crowd of more than 2000, Australian riders featured prominently throughout the men’s under-23 races, with four local riders progressing through to the decider.
Queensland’s Asmus powered into the lead on the second straight and led the field to the line, with Oli Moran taking second for an Australian one-two finish.
It could have been a clean sweep for the Aussies, but Jordan Callum crashed in the slippery conditions just short of the line.
Rufus kept the party going at Brisbane's SX International BMX Centre, winning the women's under-23 final in dominant fashion and reclaiming the World Cup series lead in the process.
Rufus led by as much as four lengths down the second straight, with Bella May making it another Aussie one-two.
Racing continues on Sunday, with practice from 11am (AEDT) and racing from 12.35pm.
