Long scores bronze for the U.S. at BMX Olympic Test Event
Email
Print 
Nic Long leads his qualifying moto.
Of the more than 120 men who entered the competition, Long’s teammate David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Intense BMX) was also able to make the eight-rider final, finishing in fifth. Amanda Carr (Punta Gorda, Fla./Endeavor-Paul Williams), a relative newcomer to the Supercross World Cup Circuit, was the only American woman to make the final and finished in fifth overall.
After falling victim to an unfortunate crash at the world championships last month and qualifying in 44th yesterday, Long’s smooth riding seemed to come together today as he coasted through the early rounds and into Saturday evening’s finals. For Long it is his best finish in a Supercross World Cup this season after winning last season’s third round stop in Chula Vista, Calif.
The fastest man around the track on Friday’s initial qualifying run Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX) went down in the semifinal round, settling for ninth. Barry Nobles (Wetumpka, Ala.) also had a strong run to the semis, placing 11th overall.
Kiwi Marc Willers (NZL) and Frenchman Joris Daudet (FRA) took the gold and silver, edging Long by less than half a second.
Of the 32 total qualifiers on the women’s side, the U.S. put only one rider through to the final round of eight. A former soccer walk-on at N.C. State and track and field athlete at Florida State, Amanda Carr (Punta Gorda, Fla./Endeavor-Paul Williams) showed her potential on the Olympic BMX track finishing fifth overall.
"I was always curious how I would excel if I dove into a sport full time," siad Carr. "So when I set aside college academics & sports and committed 100% to BMX, I was looking forward to see what would happen with my career. With my family, coaches, and support team all there to guide me along with all the time, energy, and sacrifices I've made I definitely hoped a performance like this past one in London would occur."
The top U.S. woman in yesterday’s qualifying, recent junior world championship bronze medalist Brooke Crain (Visalia, Calif./Haro-Rockstar) had to settle for ninth after being knocked out in the semifinal round. Fighting injury, veteran Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash./Intense BMX) showed how tough the Olympic quest can be, finishing ninth. Youngster Danielle George (Palmdale, Calif./Supercross BMX) also made it to Saturday’s semifinal round.
Much to the delight of her hometown crowd, British strongwoman Shanaze Reade (GBR) proved she is back on the hunt after being denied a medal in Beijing, with a decisive victory in today’s test event.
Audiences all over America can watch the event via tape delay on NBC Sunday at 3:30 ET.
UCI BMX
Amanda Carr surged to make the women's main.
BMX Olympic Test Event
London, England
August 19-20, 2011
PHOTOS
FULL RESULTS
Elite Men’s Main
Final
1. Marc Willers (NZL) 41.847
2. Joris Daudet (FRA) 42.184
3. Nicholas Long (Lakeside, Calif./Haro-Rockstar) 42.560
5. David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Intense BMX) 43.070
Semifinal
9. Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX)
11. Barry Nobles (Wetumpka, Ala.)
¼ Finals
22. Joshua Meyers (Treasure Island, Fla.)
24. Jason Rogers (Mesquite, Texas)
27. Mike Day (San Diego, Calif./GT-Red Bull)
Qualifying
37. Tyler Faoro (Coral Springs, Fla.)
40. Weston Pope (Clarksville, Ind.) 44.660
46 Kyle Bennett (Conroe, Texas)
49. Tommy Zula (New Carlisle, Ohio)
54. Corey Reid (Avondale, Ariz.)
Elite Women’s Main
Final
1. Shanaze Reade (GBR) 38.275
2. Sarah Walker (NZL) 38.724
3. Lauren Reynolds (AUS) 39.052
5. Amanda Carr (Punta Gorda, Fla./Endeavor-Paul Williams) 42.779
Semifinal
9. Brooke Crain (Visalia, Calif./Haro-Rockstar)
11. Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash./Intense BMX)
16. Danielle George (Palmdale, Calif./Supercross BMX)
Qualifying
20. Amanda Geving (Largo, Fla./MCS Bicycles, Troy Lee Designs)
26. Ashley Verhagen (Simi Valley, Calif.) 45.188
For more information visit the London Prepares Series’official webpage.
About the Olympic BMX Track
Located in the north of the Olympic Park in Stratford in east London, the new BMX Track is approximately 450-meters long and features an eight-meter high ramp at the start, followed by jumps, bumps and tightly banked corners. For the first time ever the track features the ‘Oakley Underground,’ a 15-meter long tunnel, part of the women’s second straight and the ‘Red Bull Box Jump’, a challenging and technical feature where elite men fly on a box and off again. The BMX Track will host both the men’s and women’s Olympic BMX competitions next summer, with a total of 48 riders competing for two gold medals.
This Article Published August 20, 2011 For more information contact:
