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Even the morning rain (that I luckily missed) could not bring the track down. The wind was a factor to be reckoned with especially when speeding up to the big triple going into the first turn. When all was said and done on Friday it was Maris Strombergs and Sarah Walker who set the fastest times giving them first gate picks (the inside line) the next day.

It’s great not to have to get up at 7am to go to a race. With only 2 classes racing (men and women) there was no riding action before 11:30hr. Got a ride from the One crew to the track (thanks) and was ready for action. Let me tell you one thing, when there are 8 riders hauling ass down an 8 meter high starting hill towards jumps with 12 meter gaps, elbow to elbow, it can get pretty nuts. There are always riders that kick out the rear end and hit someone’s front wheel or get blown away by the wind to fly sideways. BMX racing at this level is no joke. Much respect to the girls as well, they make jumping that gap look easy. Just eye up a 12 meter distance right now and imagine jumping that with 7 other riders together side by side. Okay, hope you get it now.

Let’s fast forward a bit. Making it out of the moto’s is tough. When you take the fastest riders from Saturday’s time trials and put them together in 8-man brackets, there are no easy races left. Some riders had two good results and a crash and still transferred. Others were not as lucky. Luck needs to be on your side, even more in the “one lap no crap” Quarter and Semi finals. It was disappointing to not see any Dutch riders in the finals. With last year’s winner Ivo van der Putten and Martijn Scherpen out with injuries, the orange squad wasn’t quite the same. SX Rookie Glenn van de Wetering, Jelle van Gorkum and Robert de Wilde made it to the Quarters but their day stopped there. Raymon van der Biezen and Sander Bisseling were the ones making it to the semi finals but a 7th and 8th didn’t qualify for a spot in the main. In the women’s class Joyce Seesing and Merle van Benthem got stuck in the semi finals. With Copenhagen being the first race to score Olympic points, it wasn’t Bas de Bever’s best day.

Looking good all day was Maris Strombergs. The Latvian is a strong starter and once you’re in front, it’s up to the pack to catch up. Maris won every lap he rode, from time trials, to every moto, to quarter finals, semi finals and eventually the main event. If someone deserved to win in Denmark, it was him. Surprising second went to Liam Phillips. Much respect to him. His parents flew in for the day and quite possibly had a few drinks on the flight back. Corben Sharrah (USA) got his first SX podium and made Mike King proud. Times are long gone that team USA simply picks up all the podium spots but they deserve to have at least one rider on the box.

The women’s podium consisted of a French, Czech and New Zealand rider. With Shanaze Reade not tranfering out of the semi (6th) it made it just a little easier for Laetitia LeCorguille to grab the win. It was one set of handlebars less to battle with. Sarah Walker doesn't get to ride SX tracks all too much and was satisfied with second place. Third went to Aneta Hladikova from the Czech republic who scored valuable points for her country.

Supercross races are a good time. After an indoor race in Madrid, the event in Copenhagen was held in the cold. Next up: round three in Chula Vista. Count us in to give you a report from there as well. In the sunshine we hope.

BdJ