Despite a few falls in recent races, Tauranga BMX racer Kurt Pickard is in peak form for the Olympics.

Manager and step-father Ash Rawson says Kurt, 21, is in an excellent state of mind and is determined to give the games 110 per cent.

Tauranga BMX rider Kurt Pickard is determined to do his best in London but expects to be even more competitive at the Rio Olympics. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Recent competitive performances in events in the US include making the final eight out of an initial field of 27 elite riders in the Great Salt Lakes Nationals in Utah on June 30.

'He did really well. It was a great step for him psychologically, getting to the final eight. He was up there in the final with fellow Kiwi rider Marc Willers – so hopefully we will be seeing the two up there in the final eight again at London.”

Kurt's success in making the finals was followed the next day with him ‘cleaning up' all three of his qualifying races, before falling badly in his semi-final race.

'But nothing was broken. All things are intact. But that's just BMX – you've got eight riders on a track going flat out – you're always going to get some accidents.”

After more close races at another elite competition in Pennsylvania earlier this month, Kurt crashed out of contention. Following a short break he is now due to fly out to London for a few days to familiarise himself ahead of the games, before going on to Copenhagen to train with the cycling team.

Ash says with races not on until the end of the games, but riders unable to train on the London track, the team was determined to sharpen their riding in Copenhagen.

Kurt, who was only named in the cycling team six weeks ago, told The Weekend Sun at the time he was ‘pretty stoked' to be included. He said he was determined to do his best in London – but expected he could do even better in Rio in four years, when he expects to be at his riding peak.