BMX World Championships Media Release

 No: bmx1024

23 June 2010

World Champ Donny Robinson in race against time to recover to defend his title

Pietermaritzburg – Defending World champion has surrendered his world crown after conforming that he will not be able to make the trip to South Africa for the UCI BMX World Champs starting next week, after re-injuring the broken ribs that have dogged his comeback this year.

Robinson crashed heavily in practice at the US Olympic training centre at Chula Vista, and collided with teammate Kyle Bennett injuring the same ribs and section of his lung that he hurt in a bad smash at the SuperCross meeting in Madrid.

The collision left Bennett worse off than Robinson, suffering two fractures in his left collar bone, an AC joint separation on his right shoulder, three fractured ribs, a bruised lung, a broken cheek bone and a laceration to his liver in the crash on the final straight.

While Robinson was discharged from hospital, medical experts told him that he may not travel or compete until the ribs and lung have fully healed, ruling him out of the World Champs in Pietermaritzburg next week.

With the names of Robinson and Bennett missing from the US team entry that has been received by the UCI, the elite men's title is now squaring up to being a fascinating duel between Olympic champ Maris Strombergs of Latvia, and the Aussie sensation "Slamin'" Sam Willoughby, who has rocketed from being world junior champion to seriously challenging for senior titles at the age of 19.

Athletes and support staff from the 36 nations that have entered will start arriving in South Africa this weekend. Late entries requests are still being handled, and the UCI expects the final entry to reflect 38 nations, and 850 challenger class riders and 250 elite riders.

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

Defending world champion Donny Robinson's hopes of retaining his world title that he won in Adelaide last year ended in an horrific crash at the US Olympic training centre in Chula Vista.

Gameplan Media

Defending world champion Donny Robinson will not be on the startline for the UCI BMX World Champs in Pietermaritzburg after a recurrence of his rib and lung injury.

Gameplan Media