Strong showing from Walker, Willers in BMX Supercross

World champion Sarah Walker has finished second in a star-studded UCI World Cup Supercross in Copenhagen today.

Her team-mate Marc Willers enjoyed his best result since coming back from shoulder surgery to finish fourth in the men’s final with a record 180 riders from 22 nations competing.

Walker finished a close second to Olympic silver medallist Laetitia le Corguille after the pair had dominated the qualifying and elimination racing

The New Zealander was the fastest in the time trials ahead of 2007 and 2008 world champion Shanaze Reade (GBR) and Le Corguille. Walker easily won her quarterfinal qualifier and the semifinal in dominant fashion while le Corguille emerged from her second semifinal where Reade missed out after a fall, similar to her result in the Beijing Olympic final where she was the favourite.

“I got a good start in the final and was aggressive down the first straight, but the French girl was right there with me and we had a good battle all the way to the finish line,” Walker said.

 “It’s my first serious competition since last year’s world championships so overall I am very happy with the race. I know where I'm at now and can come out of it knowing things are definitely on track for the World Championships in July.”

Willers  has always threatened a top result for the past two years, although he has battled an injured shoulder until talking four months off to recuperate following surgery in the summer.

He eased his way through the time trials in 15th fastest and was third in both his elimination heat and the quarterfinal behind brilliant Australian Sam Willoughby, the former world junior champion.

The Cambridge rider jumped brilliantly in his semifinal, finishing second behind Great Britain’s Liam Phillips and was also impressive in his final with an encouraging fourth place, won by world champion Maris Strombergs (LAT).

Willers and a number of the team will head back to California to train until the World Championships in South Africa at the end of July, while the rest of the team will return to New Zealand.

Results:

Female, Time Trial qualifying: Sarah Walker (NZL) 39.798, 1; Shanaze Reade (GBR) 40.021, 2; Laetitia le Corguille (FRA) 40.093, 3.

Semifinal 1: Walker 38.702, 1; Caroline Buchanan (AUS) 39.978, 2; Mariana Pajon (COL) 40.415, 3; Nicole Callisto (AUS) 40.493, 4.

Semifinal 2: Le Corguille 39.355, 1; Aneta Hladikova (CZE) 39.745, 2; Arielle Martin (USA) 40.431, 3; Rachel Bracken (AUS) 40.852, 4.

Final: Le Corguille 39.463, 1; Walker 38.613, 2; Hladikova 39.815, 3.

Men, time trials: Maris Strombergs (LAT) 35.298, 1; Sam Willoughby (AUS) 35.536, 2; Connor Fields (USA) 35.563, 3. New Zealanders: Marc Willers 36.353, 15; Kurt James 38.447, 68; Trent Woodcock 38.627, 75; Nick Fox 39.050, 83;

Qualifying heat 5: Willoughby 34.694, 1; Andres Jiminez (COL) 34.808, 2; Willers 35.279, 3.

Quarterfinal 3: Willoughby 1, Jiminez 2, Willers 3.

Semifinal 1: Strombergs 1, Coben Sharrah (USA) 2, Liam Phillips (GBR) 3. Semifinal 2: Fields 1, Willers 2, Jiminez 3.

Final: Strombergs 34.196, 1; Phillips 34,520, 2; Sharrah 34.660, 3; Willers 35.842, 4.

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