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Robinson crashed in the earlier qualifier stage and was taken to the hospital for a routine check. He is doing fine.

Laëtitia le Corguillé (FRA) won the women’s event. At first it looked like Shanaze Reade (GBR) would claim victory in the final. She won the gate and the first turn. Then Reade made a mistake in the second straight and the French rider quickly overtook the multiple World Champion. Le Corguilé defended her lead to the finish. Reade was second and Caroline Buchanan (AUS) finished third.

More than 4.000 thousand spectators watched the spectacular racing in the Palacio des Deportes downtown Madrid. BMX Supercross introduced another innovative element called ‘the box’. This box can best be described as a massive, steep, almost square tabletop obstruction that is part of the second straight in the men’s section. The riders had to jump on the box and off again. The enthusiastic Spanish crowd loved this challenging element that combines BMX freestyle, slope style and racing.

A record number of 174 competitors from 27 countries entered the first World Cup of the 2010 UCI BMX Supercross season in Madrid. The best 64 men and 32 women qualified for the finals based on their time trial results. Each rider got two time trial attempts to secure the desired slot in the finals. The finals started with a qualifier stage over three rounds. The men raced in eight mottos and the women in four. After the qualifier stage 32 men and 16 women continued to the finals.

Shanaze Reade made her ‘come back’ after serious injury in 2009. “I started the event a bit shaky. But I improved. I am happy with this result. But it was a very difficult track. The first turn especially. I really took time away from BMX racing with my injury. I took my time and tried to get some things sorted like buying a house. I am 3 months back on the bike again after my injury. I need to sharpen up a bit but this is a good beginning.”

Sam Willoughby (AUS): “A BMX race is so short. Anything can happen. I do not plan a race. I go step by step. First a good gate, then the first turn and so on. I really benefit from racing a lot. That is a big bonus. Having experience on the track to react to situations. 70% of winning is mental. The best races are the ones I don’t really remember. You are so focussed then.”

Ivo van der Putten (NED): “I was between Maris Strombergs and Sam Willoughby on the gate. They got a bit ahead of me. I thought I drop back otherwise I could get in the mix. From then on I could follow my own line. I am happy with this result so early in the World Cup season.”

Conner Fields (USA): “When you stand at the gate of a final I tell myself. I did everything right. Worked hard, trained hard, I have done all I can. That gives me confidence. It was a very hard race. I was close to Sam in the last turn. There was little space. But did want to risk to crash us both.”