Willers, Walker on podium in American BMX Nationals

BikeNZ stars Marc Willers and Sarah Walker were in podium form in the latest round of the American BMX Nationals in Illinois at the weekend.

The Cambridge-based pair were on the podium on both days with Willers grabbing a third and second while world champion Walker was second on day one before cruising to victory on the second day.

It proved another strong performance for Willers who was out of action for several months after surgery to an injured shoulder over the summer.

He has now claimed six podium finishes in the last seven weeks in the national series around USA from his training base in Murrieta in Southern California.

“I am really in a good space right now and well placed with the world championships coming up in five weeks time,” Willers said.

He had a shaky qualifying lap on the damp track on the first day but recovered with two wins in the motos. Willers had a good start in the final but went wide at the first jump and dropped to third and held off the challenge from Australia’s world number one ranked rider, Sam Willoughby to retain third place.

Willers was the top qualifier going into the semifinals on Sunday after some superb form, to give him lane eight in the final with Olympic gold medallist Maris Strombergs (Latvia) in lane seven and Willoughby, the World Cup champion, in lane six.

He was edged by Willoughby into the first corner and despite a strong challenge, the New Zealander settled for an impressive second placing with world No 5 Nic Long (USA) fourth and Strombergs fifth.

World champion Walker, who only arrived in California this week, was untroubled through her motos but was cautious in the muggy conditions on the first day’s final, following a torrential downpour on the previous night. She was edged out by world No 3 ranked Alise Post (USA) in the final.

However Walker showed her class on the second day, with an unbeaten run through the motos and an emphatic victory in the final ahead of Post and world No 10 Amanda Geving.

The pair will return to their base near San Diego to prepare for next month’s BMX World Championships in South Africa.

ABA Nationals results, Rockville, Illinois:

Day 1 grand final, men: Maris Strombergs (LAT) 1, Denzeil Stein (USA) 2, Marc Willers (NZL) 3. Day 2 final: Sam Willoughby (AUS) 1, Willers 2, Nick Long (USA) 3.

Day 1 women: Alise Post (USA) 1, Sarah Walker (NZL) 2, Courtney Tomei (USA) 3. Day 2: Walker 1, Post 2, Amanda Geving (USA) 3.