SA BMX
Star Sifiso Nhlapo shakes world’s best at US Nationals
Pietermaritzburg –
The eyes of the
BMX world will be focussed on South Jordan, in Utah, USA, this weekend
when the cream of the world’s BMX talent, including SA superstar Sifiso
Nhlapo, gun for the US National title in the Great Salt Lakes Nationals.
This event takes on extra significance because it gives riders a good
indicator of their form before the World Championships to be held in
Pietermaritzburg at the end of the month, as well as providing the
potential to earn big points towards Olympic qualification.
The American Bicycle Association returns to the Rad Canyon track for the
American Independence Day event which carries UCI category 3 points
status. There is only one race in the United States this year that carries
a higher point value and that is a BMX Supercross race to be held at the
Olympic Training Centre in California in September.
Qualifications spots for each nation in the 2012 Olympic Games in the
discipline of BMX are determined by the UCI rankings with the 2010, 2011
and early 2012 results counting toward the London Olympic Games ranking.
This year 71 races receive ranking points, with only six races having a
higher point value than this weekend’s races.
The Pietermaritzburg event on July 27 to August 1 is the highest ranking
event for 2010.
This weekend 13 of the 32 male BMX racers who competed in the inaugural
BMX event in Beijing are in contention for the coveted ABA Pro Title.
Olympic gold medalist Maris Stombergs (LAT), Cristian Becirine (ARG)
Arturs Matisons (LAT), Robert de Wilde (NED), Raymon van der Biezen (NED),
Ramiro Marino (ARG), Nhlapo (RSA), Jared Graves (AUS), Marc Willers (NZL),
Liam Phillips (GBR), Kyle Bennett (USA), Olympic bronze medalist Donny
Robinson (USA), and Olympic silver medalist Mike Day (USA) are all
expected to take part.
Two riders on the comeback trail after injury who will be watched closely
will be South African Sifiso Nhlapo and former US and World Cup Champion
Donny Robinson.
Nhlapo suffered a horrific crash in 2009 which left him out of action for
about six months with a serious neck injury. The gutsy young South
African, who reached the final in Beijing and is considered by many to be
a future world champion, is slowly returning to form and two weeks ago in
the Mid West Nationals in Illinois he showed he is close to race winning
form.
In the first day’s action, after winning four heats to reach the finals,
Nhlapo’s foot slipped out of his cleat in the final and he ended seventh.
The next day Skizo was once again impressive, winning his first two motos
and his semi-final to set up his place in the main final, where a bit of
bumping and jostling saw the South Africa end in fifth position.
This weekend’s action will be Robinson’s first week back following a
double injury. The 2009 World Championship winner in Australia and Olympic
bronze medalist in Beijing in 2008, suffered a horrific crash at this
season’s first World Cup event in Madrid in April and resulted in a
collapsed lung. He crashed again in his first training session back on the
bike and collapsed his lung again.
This weekend will be the big test to see if arguably the top BMX rider in
the world will be ready for the Pietermaritzburg World Champs.
The UCI BMX World
Championships takes place at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg
from 29 July to 1 August. More information can be found at
www.bmxworldchampspmb.co.za
ENDS
