Great Britain’s Liam Phillips has been crowned 2014 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup champion in a dramatic finale in Chula Vista, California.

The 25-year-old entered the final event leading the five-round series before a crash in the quarter-finals at the United States Olympic Training Centre threw his title chances into doubt.

But when Phillips’ main rival Anthony Dean exited in the semi-finals, the Australian also involved in a collision, the Briton was mathematically guaranteed the overall crown.

Phillips, the first British male to win the world cup, ends the series on 710 points with Dean in second place on 610.

"Super happy to win the 2014 @UCI_BMX_SX overall title!" Phillips tweeted.

All three Great Britain Cycling Team riders - Phillips, Tre Whyte and Kyle Evans - were drawn in the same quarter-final after progressing from the moto heats.

Both Phillips and Evans were knocked out after crashes with Whyte finishing fourth to reach the semi-finals, where the 19-year-old’s race day came to an end as he finished seventh.

World champion in 2013, Phillips opened the world cup season with victory at the Great Britain Cycling Team’s training base in Manchester.

Third in Papendal followed before a quarter-final exit at round three in Berlin. A second place at the penultimate event in Santiago del Estero earlier in September put Phillips on the periphery of the title before the final meeting in the USA.  

Australian Caroline Buchanan won the overall women’s title. Sam Willoughby and Mariana Pajon won the men’s and women’s events respectively in Chula Vista.