Walker best of kiwi BMX riders in UCI Supercross

New Zealand BMX star Sarah Walker has finished third in the opening round of the UCI Supercross World Cup in South Africa today.

The 22 year old, who dominated for most of the day, was pushed wide on the first turn in the final, and did well to battle back to a podium placing at Pietermaritzburg. Young Frenchwoman Manon Valentino claimed the women’s final after being fastest in yesterday’s Superfinal time trial.

In the men’s competition Marc Willers, like Walker, had impressed throughout the day but crashed while challenging for second place on the second turn in the final. American Corben Sharrah took advantage after pipping Willers to the first corner, going on to claim victory, after racing in the Oceania Continental event at Pukekohe recently.

“I was the fastest of the girls on track throughout the day today,” Walker said. “You always have a bad one every now and then regardless of where, when, the pressure or the situation, and the final was just one of those times.

“I wasn't peaking for this event and so while it’s disappointing not to win, at the same time it’s extremely promising looking forward.”

Walker won all three of her heats and dominated her semifinal in impressive fashion. She was caught wide beside Manon going into the first corner and got blocked by inside riders to be pushed back to fifth. She rode strongly over the technical sections to work her way back on to the podium.

Willers, who is based in California, was equally impressive throughout the day in winning his three heats, settling for third in his quarterfinal but streeting all competition in his semifinal.

He was riding alongside Sharrah after the pair jumped best out of the gate in the final but got squeezed side on the slippery track and settled in behind Sharrah and Australia Khalen Young.

“He over-shot the hip as he was passing Khalen Young for second place and went down on the slippery surface,” said BikeNZ BMX coach Ken Cools. “That was disappointing because he had been the form rider all day.”

Tauranga’s Kurt Pickard made an encouraging return to international competition to qualify for the semifinals. The 2010 national champion qualified second from his group after the three heats with a win, a second and fourth placings.

He produced a stunning jump from the gates in his quarterfinal to register a superb win ahead of the eventual winner Sharrah and runner-up Young, but after a solid start in his semifinal, he was pushed wide on the first turn and got caught up in the traffic.

Earlier Cambridge rider Kurt James was seventh in his qualifying group as was Pukekohe junior Trent Woodcock, and they did not progress to the quarterfinals.

The next round of the Supercross World Cup is in Papaendal, The Netherlands late next month.

Results:

Women’s final: Manon Valentino (FRA) 33.714, 1; Maria Diaz (ARG) 34.858, 2; Sarah Walker (NZL) 36.116, 3.

Semifinal 1: Valentino 34.400, 1; Caroline buchanan (AUS) 34.532, 2; Stefany Hernandez (VEN) 34.800, 3. Semifinal 2: Walker 33.929, 1; Magalie Pottier (FRA) 34.792, 2; Diaz 35.463, 3.

Men’s final: Corben Sharrah (USA) 34.054, 1; Khalen Young (AUS) 34.815, 2; Joris Daudet (FRA) 35.095, 3. Also: Marc Willers (NZL) 8.

Semifinal 1: Sharrah 33.901, 1; Daudet 34.212, 2; Khalen Young (AUS) 34.608, 3. Also: Kurt Pickard (NZL) 40.907, 7. Semifinal 2: Willers 34.201, 1; Raymon van der Biezen (NED) 34.502, 2; Robert de Wilde (NED) 34.803, 3.

Quarterfinal 2: Pickard 34.732, 1; Young 34.894, 2; Sharrah 35.622, 3. Quarterfinal 3:  Van der Biezen 33.844, 1; Michael Robinson (AUS) 34.448, 2; Willers 34.861, 3.