Walker impresses in BMX Supercross opener

The 2009 world champion Sarah Walker has qualified second fastest in the elite women at the opening round of the BMX Supercross World Cup in South Africa.

Returning to the Pietermaritzburg track where she finished second in last year’s world championship, Walker found consistently strong form throughout the qualifying to lead the way for the New Zealanders with five riders qualifying for tomorrow’s finals.

She was third fastest in the time trial and second fastest in the superfinal time trial in 33.902s, only 3/10ths of a second behind Manon Valentino (France).

Tauranga’s Kurt Pickard, making his return to top level competition, was the fastest of the kiwi men with two impressive runs. He was 11th fastest in the time trial in 34.643s and slightly slower to be 13th in the superfinal.

US-based Marc Willers, who has been in superlative form this season, was slightly off the pace on the testing track, finishing 18th fastest while Pukekohe junior Trent Woodcock produced a stunning performance to finish 28th fastest. Cambridge’s Kurt James was the other New Zealander to make the qualifying for tomorrow’s finals.

Qualifying results, women:

Time trials: Mariana Pajon (COL) 34.051, 1; Manon Valentino (FRA) 34.121, 2; Sarah Walker (NZL) 34.187, 3.

Superfinal: Valentino 33.541, 1; Walker 33.902, 2; Pajon 33.923, 3.

Men, time trial: Brian Kirkham (AUS) 33.964, 1; Joris Daudet (FRA) 34.027, 2; Corben Sharrah (USA) 34.116, 3. New Zealanders: Kurt Pickard (Tauranga) 34.643, 11; Marc Willers (Cambridge) 34.828, 18; Trent Woodcock (Pukekohe) 35.017, 28; Kurt James (Cambridge) 35.244, 38; Nic Fox (Gisborne) 36.113, 69; Daniel Franks (Christchurch) 36.282, 73; Trent Jones (Whangarei) 37.174, 88.

Superfinal: Daudet 33.497, 1; Raymon van der Biezen (NED) 33.691, 2; Tory Nyhaug (CAN) 33.805, 3. Also: Pickard 34.848, 13.