Willers in American winner's circle in BMX

New Zealand BMX star Marc Willers continued his strong form with a win and a second in the latest round of the American Bicycle Association (ABA) BMX national series in the USA.

Willers settled for second place in the Saturday final but stormed home to win the Sunday final at the Sooner Nationals in Oklahoma.

The BikeNZ rider said the jumps posed a serious challenge for the pro class.

“It was by far the biggest indoor sets of jumps I’ve come across on a regular national race. And to make it trickier, it was a very tight first turn and the pro track was on the inside with a short run-up,” Willers said.

After a sluggish start with a third and two second placings in the qualifying motos, the Swatch Team rider won his semifinal to give him the choice inside lane for the final. Willers bobbled over the first jump to give Frechman Joris Daudet the lead.

“I thought about going for gold in the last turn but had a feeling someone was right behind me so I pulled back in behind him to settle for second. If I had gone for the pass I would have dropped at least one or two positions if I didn’t make the pass.”

Daudet, the two-time junior world champion and bronze medallist in the elite worlds last year, took out the final from Willers and American Barry Nobles with multi-world champion Donny Robinson and Olympic silver medallist Mike Day down the field.

 Willers, the Cambridge rider now based in California, recovered from two fourth placings to win his last moto and the semifinal to give him lane one for the final on the second day. This time he made no mistakes, snapping out of the gate on his way to a commanding win, his second of the season.

The next round is in Florida in two weeks.

Finals results, day 1: Joris Daudet (FRA) 1, Marc Willers (NZL) 2, Barry Nobles (USA) 3, Kyle Bennett (USA) 4, Donny Robinson (USA) 5; Tory Nyhaug (CAN) 6, Tylor Brown (USA) 7, Mike Day (USA) 8.

Day 2: Willers 1, Bennett 2, Khalen Young (USA) 3, Josh Myers (USA) 4, Nic Long (USA) 5, Corben Sharrah (USA) 6, Nyhaug 7, Daudet 8.

Note: Vision of day 2 final:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv30G1Ti16U