First USA BMX Pro race go down in Florida this weekend – BMX News
The first International Cycling Union (UCI)/USA BMX race of the season along with USA’s continental championship went down this past weekend at Oldsmar, Florida.
Some of the most talented professional and amateur BMX riders from around the world travelled to the site to not only enjoy the competition, but to also soar in the warm weather that normally greeted the guests at this time of the year.
Upon reaching Florida, the riders were met with unusual cold and gusts of wind. The conditions at hand led to the classification of North American Championship on Saturday, February 11, a Class 3 race, while the Gator Nationals UCI competition on Sunday, February 12, got classified as Class 4 race. Under normal circumstances, a USA BMX race is class 5, while Supercross and World Championships races are Class 2 and Class 3 respectively.
Making North American Championship a Class 3 race created an opportunity for riders of all skills level to compete at the event. The field comprised of known professional riders as well as relatively unfamiliar names. The field for the Gator Nationals UCL competition on Sunday was more-or-less the same.
Saturday’s race saw Maris Strombergs clock the fastest time on the track to walk away with top honours in Men’s Elite class. Finishing just behind him was the former American Bicyclist Association (ABA) champion Sam Willoughby, while Connor Fields finished third to round out the podium.
In the women’s field, Colombian BMX champion Mariana Pajon took the win in Women’s Elite class to add yet another victory to her ever-growing collection. Alise Post, who was making her return to racing after blowing out her knee last summer, finished in second place, while Brooke Crain rounded out the top-three.
While most of the riders returned to the track on Sunday to compete in Gator Nationals UCI competition, Strombergs decided to sit it out due to the demanding weather prevailing in Florida.
With Strombergs missing from the Men’s Elite line-up on Sunday, Willoughby met little challenge as he rode to victory. Marc Willers put on a lacklustre performance on Saturday, but successfully redeemed himself on Sunday by finishing right behind Strombergs. Barry Nobles completed the podium after finishing in third place.
Pajon, arguably the best female BMX rider in the world, asserted her domination in the sports once again on Sunday to add another major title to her collection. With the London Olympics 2012 just not too far away, the 20-year-old Colombian will definitely be the woman to beat.
Finishing behind Pajon in Sunday’s race was Crain, while Dutch rider Laura Smulders took third. ABA champion Dominique Daniels was noticeably missing from Sunday’s race due to a nasty crash that she suffered a day earlier.
The next stop the USA BMX Pro race is scheduled to take place in Desoto, Texas, but the riders are likely to sit that out to prepare for the Chula Vista Supercross that will get underway in California on March 30.
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