Hailing from the regional Victorian town of Shepparton, Leigh Egan was known around the track as "The Master" of BMX. As soon as the Shepparton BMX club formed in 1981, Leigh was there - winning. A towering figure, there was no mistaking Leigh Egan, on or off the track. There must have been something in the goulburn river water in the early 80’s, as Shepparton produced Champion after Champion BMXer - none of course bigger than Leigh Egan.
By 1983 he began taking out Victorian State titles, but by 1984 things changed BIG time. It was in Japan at the IBMXF world Championships that Leigh would win not 1 but 2 World Titles - winning both the 17 class as well as the Open Mens Class - effectively making him Australia’s first ever "Elite Mens" World Champion.
These wins, along with the major sponsorship ride from GT bicycles, kick started a winning streak like no other. “The Master” seemed unbeatable. He would dominate the Australian BMX scene, becoming the first to officially win 3 Australian Open Mens titles in a row, winning in 1985 at Launceston, again the following year in Adelaide and yet again in Canberra in 1987.
He was regarded by many of his competitors as the "toughest" in a generation. Amazing horse power and straight line speed, it wasn’t until years later that many discovered the reason behind his success - training, training and even more hard training. He put into practice, workouts that specifically promoted the essential muscles of BMX racing - gate starts, and sprints by the thousands meant that “The master” was in a class of his own.
A freak accident on the track - that left part of his finger severed - put Leigh out of the sport for lengthy period and eventually he made the decision to retire in 1989. 4 years later he was inducted in the Victorian BMX Hall Of Fame, and he would continue on as a champion cyclist, and run his own successful business in his home town of Shepparton - Leigh Egan Cycles.
Career Details
Born: 23 May 1964
Year Started Racing BMX: 1981
Clubs and Affiliations: Shepparton BMX Club, VBMXA, ABMXA
Career Highlights:
1982: #2 Victoria, 15 CLASS
1983: #1 Victoria, 16 CLASS
1984: #1 Victoria 17 CLASS, #8 Australia OPEN CLASS, #1 World 14+ OPEN, #1 World 17 CLASS
1985: #1 Victoria OPEN CLASS, #1 Victoria PRO CLASS, #1 Australia OPEN CLASS, #2 Australia SUPERCLASS
1986: #1 Victoria OPEN CLASS, #1 Victoria PRO CLASS, #1 Australia OPEN CLASS, #1 Australia PROCLASS
1987: #1 Victoria OPEN CLASS, #1 Victoria PRO CLASS, #1 Australia OPEN CLASS, #4 Australia PROCLASS
1988: #1 Victoria OPEN CLASS, #3 Australia PRO CLASS
1989 - Retired from racing.
1992 - Inducted into VBMXA Hall Of Fame
2016 - Inducted into the Australian BMX Hall Of Fame
Sponsors:
1981-82 - Morries Sports
1982-84 - Cross Rider (Graycross Industries)
1984-88 - GT Bicycles Factory Team
1988-89 - CASSAP, Zeronine Factory Team
