Solid Start for Kiwi BMX Riders in UCI Supercross Opener

New Zealand riders made a solid start to the first UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in California today.

Two men, Marc Willers and Kurt Pickard qualified after the time trial at the US Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista today while top women’s hope Sarah Walker did not start after aggravating a shoulder injury in practice.

Californian-based Willers, the US national series champion, finished 14th in the time trial run and did not ride out his Superfinal time trial lap for the top 16 qualifiers after a small mistake on the triple, preferring to save himself for tomorrow’s racing. He clocked 35.374 which was a second behind top qualifier Connor Fields (USA).

Tauranga’s Kurt Pickard qualified 21st fastest in 35.560 but the other BikeNZ riders did not secure a spot in the top 64 to contest tomorrow’s qualifying and elimination rounds.

It proved a dominant day for American riders, taking full advantage of home track advantage. Fields was fastest in qualifying in an American clean sweep of the top placings from Corben Sharrah and multi world champion Mike Day. Fields went faster to take out the Superfinal in 33.648 ahead of former world champion Maris Strombergs (Latvia) and Sharrah, who is back to form after breaking his leg in last year’s world championships.

Australian Caroline Buchanan was fastest in the women’s competition in both qualifying and the Superfinal lap with Americans filling most of the top placings.

BikeNZ BMX coach Ken Cools said Walker had some niggling issues related to a shoulder injury suffered in training in Cambridge and while not serious, she decided not to risk racing on the uncompromising Chula Vista circuit.

Willers and Pickard will ride in three qualifying motos before the top 32 progress to the elimination rounds tomorrow.

BMX Supercross, Chula Vista, elite men qualifying: Connor fields (USA) 34.211, 1; Corben Sharrah (USA) 34.637, 2; Mike Day (USA) 34.797, 3. Also: Marc willers (NZL) 35.374, 14; Kurt Pickard (NZL) 35.560, 21.
Superfinal qualifying: Fields 33.648, 1; Maris Strombergs (LAT) 34.413, 2; Sharrah 34.682, 3. Also: Willers dnf.

Elite qualifying women: Caroline Buchanan (AUS) 36.435, 1; Alise Post (USA) 37.157, 2; Amanda Geving (USA) 37.162, 3. Also: Sarah Walker (NZL) DNS.
Superfinal qualifying: Buchanan 36.073, 1; Arielle Martin (USA) 36.546, 2; Amanda Carr (USA) 36.567, 3.