2012 UCI BMX World Championships
Location: Birmingham Indoor Arena, England
Event: 24-27 May 2012
Report: Scott Hobro
Photos:
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UCI BMX World Challenge - 15,16 and Masters - Results
UCI BMX World Championships - Junior women, junior men, elite men, elite women - motos and finals - Results
Great Britain's Liam Phillips suffered a broken collarbone as he and Shanaze Reade both crashed out at the UCI BMX World Championships in Birmingham.
Phillips fell heavily over his handlebars on the opening straight when leading in the first run of the elite men’s qualifying motos. The 23-year-old was forced to end his championships after being assessed by medical staff and was taken to hospital. Australian Sam Willoughby eventually claimed the world title, the final also containing a crash.
Three-time elite women’s world champion Reade was also at the front when she slipped on the first corner in the quarter-finals, fortunately avoiding any serious injuries. Both Reade and Phillips had qualified second fastest in their categories on Friday and Reade had looked to have been continuing in the same vain, winning all three of the qualifying motos. The title would eventually go to France's Magalie Pottier, last year's bronze medallist.
Commenting on Reade’s fall, Olympic BMX coach Grant White said: “The speed was that high and in a nutshell, the speed and the angle of the tyre, the traction wasn’t there. She was going fast into the first corner, tried to take a nice tight line and it just slipped out. That’s our sport and these things happen. She is not the only rider who this has happened to this weekend and that’s the end result really.
“She had the fastest lap of the day up to that point, that was faster than what she did last night. Things were stepping up well, she had a great first straight she was opening up more and coming into her own. She said she was having a great day, she was in a great mindset and enjoying herself.”
Regarding Phillips’ crash he added: “There was a massive impact there and he was in a lot of pain. There was a lot of swelling so we’ve just got our fingers crossed at the moment.”
British Cycling Academy rider and last year’s junior women’s silver medallist Abbie Taylor also exited the elite women at the quarter-final stage after an impressive run in her first world championship in the category. “I really enjoyed it - they’re really fast and the crowd were fantastic and gave loads of support,” Taylor said. “It’s really difficult, you look up to these women and then all of a sudden you’re on the gate with them so I’m getting used to that now.”
Elsewhere, Tre Whyte narrowly missed out on the top four qualifying spots in the elite men, in sixth. Grant Hill ended eighth in his heat, bringing an end to his championships. Charlotte Green, fresh from a run out in Friday’s Superfinal, went all the way to the junior women’s final where she came in eighth in her first world championship.
BMX World Challenge
In the challenge classes, Great Britain Talent Team rider Quillan Isidore cruised to an impressive victory in the Boys 16 category, whilst Valerie Zebrokova registered third place in the Girls 15.
UCI BMX World Championships
Elite men
Elite women
Junior men
Junior women
UCI BMX World Challenge
