Indonesia Cycling Federation Proposes Banyuwangi as Host of Indonesia BMX Series
Banyuwangi - The Indonesia Cycling Federation (ICF) has proposed Banyuwangi Regency as the host of the Indonesia BMX Series, to be held under the auspices of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC). The proposal is based on the quality of the Banyuwangi International BMX Circuit, which is considered to meet international standards and is regarded as one of the best in Asia.
This was stated by the Secretary General of the ICF Central Board, Jadi Rajagukguk, at the opening of the Banyuwangi BMX Supercross 2026 in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, on Saturday (27/6/2026).
"We are proposing that the championship be held at the Banyuwangi International BMX Circuit," said Jadi.
According to him, the circuit located in Muncar District meets Olympic standards with a high level of difficulty. The 465-meter track features four high jumps, two start gates standing five and eight meters tall, and seven lanes with different characteristics that can be used for various race categories.
"This circuit is the best I have seen in Asia right now. Several Asian athletes have said the same thing. It is further supported by Banyuwangi's consistency in hosting national and international-scale championships," he said.
So, explained that the quality of the circuit has become one of the promotional materials that ICF continues to introduce in various forums of cycling federations at the Asian and world levels, including to the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
"The advantages of this circuit are the selling points we present to the world federation at every event," he said.
The Banyuwangi International BMX Circuit has been the venue for various national and international championships. According to Jadi, the existence of this facility is in line with ICF's program of promoting the organization of international competitions, particularly the C1 category, which provides important points for athletes.
"International competitions in the C1 category carry quite high points for riders. That is why many participants from abroad take part in this competition," he explained.
ICF also expressed its commitment to continuing to support the organization of various cycling events in Banyuwangi through collaboration with various partners.
"We will help as much as possible, including engaging various partners so that the championships can continue to grow and attract more participants," he said.
The Indonesia BMX Series is planned to begin in 2027. In addition to Banyuwangi, the championship is also planned to be held in several other regions, including South Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, and East Kalimantan.
Banyuwangi BMX Supercross Cements Its Status as a Prestigious Event
The Banyuwangi BMX Supercross continues to establish itself as one of the most prestigious cycling events in Indonesia. Since it was first held in 2016, the competition has attracted increasing interest from riders both domestically and internationally, thanks to the quality of its internationally standardized circuit, which is part of the official UCI calendar.
At the 2026 edition, held on June 27–28 at the Banyuwangi BMX Circuit, a total of 331 riders from various provinces across Indonesia and several countries including Singapore and Thailand took part in the competition.
The Race Director of Banyuwangi BMX Supercross, Dadang Haris Purnomo, said that the number of participants continues to increase each year, prompting the committee to limit registration quotas.
"Every year the number of participants increases. This year we deliberately capped participants because there were already more than 300 people. They are challenged by the Banyuwangi BMX Circuit, which already meets international standards, and the championship is also on the UCI calendar so riders can collect points," said Dadang in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, on Saturday (27/6/2026).
The Banyuwangi BMX Circuit is known for its Olympic standard and challenging track character. The 465-meter track features four high jump obstacles, two start gates standing five and eight meters tall, and seven lanes with different characteristics that can be used for various race classes.
These advantages are the reason the Singapore team returned to compete, fielding 10 riders. They believe the track character in Banyuwangi offers an experience not found on circuits in their home country.
"The track is interesting, long, and very challenging. It's not like this in Singapore," said Azel, a rider from Singapore.
His teammate, Hamzah, also admitted that the length of the track in Banyuwangi presents its own challenge.
"It's almost twice as long as the circuit in Singapore. Very tiring, but fun because we can train on an internationally standardized circuit," he said.
Appreciation also came from the Thailand Cycling Association coach, Herve Krebs. According to him, Banyuwangi is one of the best locations to sharpen athletes' skills, as not many countries have a BMX circuit that meets UCI standards.
"We came to use this championship as part of our preparation for the national championships and SEA Games. The opportunity to race on a circuit like this is very important for our athletes," said Herve.
Meanwhile, domestic participants also expressed their enthusiasm for the event. Citra Mutia, the parent of a young rider from DKI Jakarta, said her son had participated in the Banyuwangi BMX Supercross three times.
"The circuit is very good and is my son's favorite. Besides accompanying him in the competition, we can also enjoy Banyuwangi's beautiful tourism offerings at an affordable cost," she said.
A similar sentiment was shared by Imam Maftuh, the parent of a rider from Tasikmalaya. According to him, the quality of facilities in Banyuwangi is the main reason his son wanted to join the championship.
"My son saw the internationally standardized Muncar circuit and immediately wanted to compete in Banyuwangi. Not every region has this kind of commitment to building facilities for developing athletes," he said.
The success of the Banyuwangi BMX Supercross in attracting hundreds of riders from various countries reinforces Banyuwangi's position as one of Indonesia's leading sport tourism destinations while also supporting the development of cycling athletes toward the international level.
Indonesia Sweeps Elite Titles! Rio and Amellya Unstoppable at Banyuwangi BMX
Indonesia closed the Banyuwangi BMX Supercross 2026 with proud achievements. National team rider Rio Akbar successfully defeated Asia champion from Thailand, Komet Sukprasert, in the Men Elite category, while Amellya Nur Sifa once again defended her title in the Women Elite class.
The second day of racing, held at the BMX Circuit in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, on Sunday (28/6/2026), featured fierce competition from the qualifying rounds through to the finals. Rio performed impressively with a time of 43.110 seconds, edging out Komet Sukprasert who clocked 43.304 seconds.
The victory also served as revenge for Rio, who had only managed to finish in fifth place on the first day.
Competition was intense from the moment the start gates opened. Third and fourth place were also taken by Indonesian riders — Firman Chandra Alim and Yussi Wakhidur Rizal — meaning the podium was dominated by Indonesian representatives.
"Alhamdulillah, I am very grateful to achieve the best result. The competition was very tight because all the riders were very fast, especially Komet, who is the Asian champion. The key to today's victory was maintaining my racing rhythm from start to finish," said Rio.
Rio noted that the character of the Banyuwangi BMX Circuit — known as one of the longest and most challenging tracks — means every rider must have a specific strategy, not just relying on technical ability.
"The strategy is to manage rest time between motos and maximize recovery. We also watch our carbohydrate intake to keep our energy up. The Banyuwangi track is very long and challenging. Even the slightest mistake can be fatal because here it's not just about skill — it's also about saving energy until the finish," he said.
Rio admitted he has almost never missed the Banyuwangi BMX Supercross. According to him, both the quality of the event and the capabilities of national riders have continued to improve year by year.
"Year after year the track quality keeps improving and the abilities of Indonesian riders continue to develop. I hope the younger riders stay motivated to train and keep growing," he said.
Meanwhile, Komet Sukprasert admitted he failed to defend his title after experiencing fatigue ahead of the final. Nevertheless, the 2025 SEA Games and 2026 ASEAN BMX Racing Cup champion remained grateful to secure the runner-up position.
"I'm a little disappointed because I won yesterday, but today I felt quite tired before the final. Even so, I'm happy I could still get on the podium. The Banyuwangi track is very good, long, and challenging. I need to train harder to be stronger when I come back to race here," said Komet.
In the Women Elite category, Amellya Nur Sifa once again demonstrated her dominance by defeating Thai rider Chutikan Kitwanitsathian. The victory serves as important preparation before she competes at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane, Australia.
"I'm happy to achieve the best result in Banyuwangi. This track teaches me to keep learning how to manage my energy, because the hardest opponent is actually yourself. After this I will focus on preparing for the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane," said Amellya.
Banyuwangi Regent, Ipuk Fiestiandani, congratulated all the winners. She expressed hope that the presence of an Olympic-standard circuit in Banyuwangi would further strengthen sport tourism and serve as a development center for Indonesian cycling athletes.
"We want the Banyuwangi BMX Supercross to be the birthplace of high-achieving athletes. With riders coming from various countries, Indonesian athletes gain the experience of competing at an international level without having to go abroad. This also strengthens Banyuwangi as a world-class sport tourism destination," said Ipuk.
The final day of racing was also marked by an incident in which one rider fell during the Men Elite final. Nevertheless, the race continued through to the finish line with safety procedures maintained throughout.
Banyuwangi BMX Supercross 2026 Results
Men Elite
- Rio Akbar (Indonesia)
- Komet Sukprasert (Thailand)
- Firman Chandra Alim (Indonesia)
- Yussi Wakhidur Rizal (Indonesia)
- Muhammad Fattahillah (Indonesia)
Women Elite
- Amellya Nur Sifa (Indonesia)
- Chutikan Kitwanitsathian (Thailand)
Men Junior
- Muhammad Firmandhika Alhamzah (Indonesia)
- Muhammad Bagus Refansha (Indonesia)
- Fernando Van Persie Augusta (Indonesia)
Women Junior
- Balqis Humairah Aji Khairunnisa (Indonesia)
- Tara Alayna Weilin Bte Muhammad Khalid (Singapore)
- Karisya Milda (Indonesia)
