SA BMX
Star Sifiso Nhlapo shakes world’s best at US Nationals
Pietermaritzburg –
South Africa’s
BMX ace Sfisio “Skizo” Nhlapo threw down the gauntlet to the world’s best
riders in a thrilling display in the American Mid West that saw him beat
Olympic champ Maris Stromberg en route to making back-to-back finals.
With the UCI
BMX World Champs in Pietermaritzburg just five weeks away, Nlhlapo’s
return to top form has created a ripple of excitement through world BMX
ranks, and has fired up Nhlapo’s local supporters.
Nhlapo hit his
straps at the ABA USA Mid West Nationals in Rockford, Illinois this
weekend, winning four heats, or motos, to reach the finals, after the
Friday pre-racing was cancelled due to a major storm that swept through
the Midwest.
After a rude wake up call in his first moto, Nhlapo bounced back, beating
Olympic champ Maris Stromberg of Latvia, Aussie ace Sam Willoughby, kiwi
Marc Willers, Argentinian star Ramiro Marino and a host of the world’s
best BMX elite racers en route to the final.
In the final Lady Luck deserted the fired up South African as he lost his
cleat binding, and finished seventh.
“I had a great pops
out the gate the whole day,” said Nhlapo. “In the main final I blew a pedal
and watched the rest of the field pull away into the first turn. The field
was really deep and the racing was hard but I’m looking forward to staying cleated the whole way on the final day.”
The final days
racing was more intense with little room for error for the elite racers
who wanted to progress to the finals. “These Moto’s have been like mains and
really tough with the line up including Stromberg, Williers, Marino,
Harris, Willoughby and company,” he added.
“The track was fun with a flat start gate, it kinda has an uphill first
straight - just the way I like it!” commented Nhlapo after the first days
racing.
Nhlapo started emphatically, winning his first two motos, and then winning
his semi-final impressively to set up his place in the main final stacked
with elite superstars. However in the final, he was once again undone by
bad luck following a clash with another finalist.
Nhlapo caught elbows with Texan Jason Rogers coming out of the gate,
effectively ending his chances of contesting a podium place. Willoughby
went on to win ahead of Williers and Long, with Nhlapo fighting back to
secure fifth place.
“I bombed my gate and bumped elbows straight out the gate with Rogers and
lost some momentum,” said Nhlapo. “I kept pushing and managed to finish
fifth. Overall I felt good and got some good fast laps.”
“But I came here to race against the hotties before Worlds in South Africa
in a few weeks time and that’s fulfilling my trip exactly,” he added. “My
next race is in South Park, Pittsburgh, where the track looks pretty fast
and a good one to race on. I’m looking forward to an even better
performance there.”
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
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
ABA USA Midwest Nationals in Rockford, Illinois
Saturday:
1.Maris Stromberg LAT
2.Denzel Stein
USA
3.Marc Willers NZL
4.Sam Willoughby, AUS
5.Ramiro Marino ARG.
6.Randy Stumpfhauser
USA
7. Sifiso Nhalpo RSA
8.David Herman
USA
Sunday:
1.Sam Willoughby AUS
2.Marc Willers NZL
3.Nic Long
USA
4.Maris Stromberg LAT
5.Sifiso Nhalpo RSA
6.Jason Rogers
USA
7.Khalen Young
USA
8.Ramiro Marino ARG.
ENDS
