Tauranga based BMX rider Kurt Pickard has crashed out of the medal race at the London Olympics after being nudged off track in the quarterfinal heat.

Pickard, 21, looked likely to grab a spot in the semi-finals following fifth and third-place finishes before his back wheel was clipped on the first straight at the BMX track at Olympic Park.

Tauranga BMX rider Kurt Pickard crashed in the quarterfinal race at the London Olympics.

The Tauranga rider flew over the handlebars, landed heavily on his shoulder and took no further part in the day's final two races.

Speaking to SunLive today, Kurt's step-father Ash Rawson, who watched him crash out of contention with the family early this morning, says it was a blow.

'I'm gutted for Kurt. He's told me he's disappointed he couldn't race to his potential but he knows he's got time. But he's still gutted.”

Ash says Kurt had been 'plagued with injuries” in the build-up to the Olympics – including a sore ankle which had slowed his pedalling down in the race.

He says his ankle had stopped him from pedalling hard in his seeding races but still finished mid-field.

An x-ray has shown Kurt avoided breaking any bones. Ash says he will now be focussing on learning from fellow Kiwi rider and roommate Marc Willers 'who is really on fire”.