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On track for the UCI BMX World Championships 2009 World Champion Donny Robinson not competing

The 2010 UCI BMX World Championships will be held from 29 July until 1 August in Pietermaritzburg,
South Africa, the second largest city in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Who will be crowned the world’s best BMX racers per class by the end of next week?

“Best track on the planet”
The best 1,100 riders from 37 countries will compete on a track that is purposely build for these world championships. The track is situated in the main arena of the agricultural showgrounds of Pietermaritzburg. The construction is currently ahead of schedule and UCI track builder Tom Ritzenthaler ensures this will be the best BMX racing track on the planet.

The track is unique as it is the first track to feature separate straights and start ramps for the elite and challenge class riders.

The BMX Supercross style track for the elite riders is used for the first time during the world championships and it might favour the technical riders. However, the length of the track will benefit ‘power riders’. For the first time ever, the World Championships will include a time trials qualification event, so the time trial specialists will also benefit from having a good seeding going into the main event.

"A great course is not just about power," says Ritzenthaler. "To succeed a rider needs to have to think and plan every inch of the race, then combine speed and power with that thought process."

Who is next?
Unfortunately the defending world champion Donny Robinson (USA) will not be able to race this unique track. Robinson has to sit this one out due to a string of bad crashes and repeated injuries to his ribs and lungs.

One of the favourites for the title in the elite men’s class is Olympic champion Maris Strombergs (LAT). The Latvian did put down a strong performance during recent BMX events and he convincingly won the last UCI BMX Supercross world cup stop in Copenhagen.

One of Strombergs biggest rivals will be Sam Willoughby (AUS). The talented young Australian makes his debut in the elite men’s class during this year’s World Championships. Last year Willoughby won the junior world title in his hometown Adelaide. If he manages to win the elite class this year, it will be the first time ever that a rider wins back to back junior titles followed by an elite world champion title.

But Willoughby is facing more formidable competition. For example Sifiso Nhlapo (RSA). The young Johannesburg resident and local BMX favourite is on a comeback tour this year after a serious injury in 2008. His recent strong performances in some major North American BMX events, indicate that he is
able to mix it with the big guns again, this time in front of a home crowd.

Elite women’s class
In the elite women’s class, experts say that it could be a showdown between Laëtitia Le Corguillé (FRA), who won both rounds of the UCI BMX Supercross in 2010, current elite World Champion Sarah Walker (NZL) and Shanaze Reade, the 2008 World Champion. But others say to keep a look out for riders that could upset like Caroline Buchanan (AUS), the former junior World Champion Mariana Pajon (COL) and Alise Post (USA).

Predict the future
The racing in the junior men’s class will probably be very close. With riders like Corben Sharrah (USA), Conner Fields (USA) and Tory Nyhaug (CAN), who can all potentially claim the top podium. They have been very competitive in the BMX Supercross races amongst elite riders, so this will give them a chance to battle it out amongst themselves.

In the junior women's class you should keep your eyes out for Brooke Crain (USA) and Merle Van Benthem (NED) who both have good results racing against senior Elite riders in the UCI BMX Supercross world cup series.