Pretty crazy day today, the atmosphere at the Worlds is always unreal and Australia didn’t disappoint with the sell out crowd and ear damaging decibels. I started off the race in probably my worst form ever, as it turns out flying in last minute was a bad idea and I am NOT invincible to jet lag. Yesterday three laps into practice I was riding with my head in the fog and getting loose coming up short into the first corner and exploding my stem lock and damaged my forks. Thanks to Donovan Long courtesy of Pete D and the USAC mechanics I got a new pair of forks to race with but missed all of practice. In hindsight it probably kept me from getting hurt riding all lagged. Tom did a good job with the track making it extra tech and it ate up quite a few Elite women, including the Olympic Silver Medalist Laetitia LeCorguille who was carried off on a stretcher yesterday, fortunately saw her walking around today and glad to see she's ok. Seeing all that just added to my stress of missing training and combined with the jet lag it resulted in me being wide awake at 3am this morning. I managed to work out most of the kinks on the track in the pre-race practice but was still riding a little loose. Thankfully I caught a small break in motos and due to all the crashing pull outs yesterday we went straight to semis instead of quarters.  

As the day progressed I finally started finding my form but my gates still weren’t super sharp so I chose the outside lane in the semi, it checked out and I figured I would try it again in the main. Gate dropped and I was midpack down the first straight but I turned on the turbo boost jumping into the corner and surprised even myself when I came out third, once I realized that, it was all I could do to hang on to it for the finish. Considering its the World Championships and especially how bad things started off for me, combined with how deep the talent pool has gotten in Elite Women, I am so happy to have the bronze. Its not Olympic, but kind of ironic I landed it just shy of a year since Jill did, proud to keep it alive buddy. The race was Sarah’s from start to finish, there was never any question and I have to hand it to her for riding so well, she wasn’t to be beat today. France came in with the standard silver but this time it went to Eva Ailloud who just came off a big Euro series victory so she probably gets an extra baguette at dinner.

Jr Women was owned by Mariana Pajon, in fact I was grateful we didn’t have to race her, she is sooo talented and so young still, like a female Mario Soto. Sam Willoughby also didn’t loose a lap all weekend, straight destroyed Jr Men in front of his hometown Adelaide crown which went NUTS for him, I was bummed to see Denzel digger in his semi, Corban Sharrah had a shot at podium but got tied up down the second straight.

Since I raced right before them and was tied up with cameras and officials I didn’t get a chance to see the Elite mens race, just that Donny and Mike came across Gold and Silver... that seems to be Mikey’s color cant wait for the day when he gets an upgrade to gold. The Don acted like he had just taken a stroll around the lake when he finished, all business as usual but I know inside he had to be exploding. I have to admit I am kind of happy to see Maris dethroned.

Last I heard USA claimed 12 golds at this years worlds... amateurs + Donny. Not bad team America, props to Nashville homie Tommy Opincar for winning masters in a photo finish. I’m heading home in a few hours, just realized will have spent as much time flying as I did here in Australia... never again, but at least it ended well. Check BMXmania for complete results and freecaster.tv for replay. Internet too slow here for photos, will have to upload later.

Jr Women

1- Mariana Pajon

Jr Men

1- Sam Willoughby

Elite Women

1-Sarah Walker

2- Eva Ailloud

3- Arielle Martin

Elite Men

1- Donny Robinson

2- Mike Day

3- Ramiro Marino