mmg.com.au

Shepparton eight-year-old Gian Renato was overwhelmed by his debut win at the ACT BMX State Titles in Canberra this month.

Renato came close with a second at the 2013 South Australian BMX State Titles at Mt Gambier on February 16 and 17, but came out on top in the same class at the ACT titles held on March 2 and 3.

Renato said when he realised he had won, he got off his bike and started crying.

‘‘I felt really happy and emotional because of all my work I’ve been doing,’’ he said.

Renato was not the only one to enjoy success at the SA and ACT titles.

Brandon May, 19, won round five and finished second in round six in his class of the BMX Australia National Series, which were run at the ACT Titles.

May rides in the Challenge 17-24 Men category.

‘‘I didn’t really expect to do that well, I just did it for the extra ride before nationals because I race against most of those guys at nationals,’’ he said.

‘‘Nationals last couple of years I haven’t had such good results because of crashes, but in the last three years I’ve got a third, fourth and fifth, so I’m going all right.’’

May’s goal is to beat his personal best at nationals of a third-placed finish, and also his best place of ninth at the BMX World Championships.

Renato also aims to qualify for the national titles, then qualify for world championships, which will be held in Auckland, New Zealand, this year.

The two state titles produced some impressive results for other Shepparton BMX Club riders.

Chad Littlejohn finished fourth in the 11 to 12-year-old boys’ cruiser and fifth in the 20-inch classes at Mt Gambier, while Mikala Littlejohn finished third in the eight-year-old girls’ 20-inch class at Mt Gambier and eighth in the eight-year-old girls’ in Canberra.

Zayvier Sandland came eighth in the A-men class in SA and fourth in the 16 boys’ class in ACT.

Cooper Bromley also picked up a third in Mt Gambier.

Shepparton BMX Club will host the Pro and Junior Series Tour on April 7.

There will also be a come-and-try day for new riders at the club on April 6.