The Opening round of the 2012 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series

Connor Fields (USA) wins Time Trials click for hi res photo craigdutton.com Superfinal time trials decided Chula Vista CA March 30, 2012 – The opening round of the 2012 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series got underway in Chula Vista, Calif. on Friday the 30th with Connor Fields (USA) and Caroline Buchannan (AUS) taking the victories in the men’s and women’s time trial superfinal. Nearly 200 of the world’s best BMX racers challenged the Beijing-replica track on the campus of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in the race against the clock. For the finals on 31st of March 64 men and 32 women qualified. Olympic year heats up competition With the start of an Olympic year the field was stacked with nearly 200 riders and all the major players in attendance. After one round of time trials the best 16 men and ladies qualified for the time trial superfinals. Fields posted the fastest time of the nearly 150 elite men in the opening time trial heat. Olympic gold medalist Maris Strombergs (LAT) finished second and the reigning USA Cycling National Champion Corben Sharrah took third spot. Connor Fields said: “I grew up on this track,” explained Fields. “I started riding it in 2008 and so I know it like the back of my hand now. It was a good start to an important season, but you are only as good as your last race and there is another race tomorrow.”

Caroline Buchanan fastest women click for hi res photo craigdutton.com Buchanan peaks at the right moment. Like Strombergs on the men’s side, Australian Caroline Buchannan was the only rider standing between an American podium sweep in the time trial Superfinal. The fourth-ranked rider in last year’s UCI BMX Supercross World Cup standings, Buchannan edged American favorite Arielle Martin by less than 4/10ths of a second. Along with Martin, Amanda Carr (USA) upped her game to secure the bronze in the Superfinal. Listen to her reaction here. 64 men and 32 women to finals With their performances Fields and Buchannan secure the top spots going into the main event. In total, Fields will be among the 64 who qualified for Saturday’s 1/8 finals and Buchanan will lead the 32 women for the quarterfinals. The BMX riders will race against each other in heats of eight riders over three heats. The best four of will qualify for the next round through to quarterfinals and finals. Results top three men: 1. Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX) 33.648 2. Maris Strombergs (LAT) 34.413 3. Corben Sharrah (Tucson, Ariz./GT Bicycles) 34.682 Women: 1. Caroline Buchannan (AUS) 36.073 2. Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash./Intense BMX) 36.546 3. Amanda Carr (Punta Gorda, Fla./ Endeavor-Paul Williams) 36.567 High resolution photos database see www.bmx-mediatool.com More info please call Simon Keijzer +1 424 216 0143 Full results see www.bmx-results.com klik results 2012 select Chula Vista Follow UCI BMX SX on www.twitter.com/UCI_BMX_SX or on www.facebook.com/UCIBMXSupercross