"The first run I was just trying to get a smooth lap so I would qualify," explained Fields. "I wasn't too worried about the actual time; I was just trying to get a clean lap and ended up riding a really good lap. The last one I was really going for gold and I think I tried a bit too hard and would have been better off to have just stayed relaxed. Tomorrow will be a different ball game though. You really have to go all out, get in front and then not make any mistakes."
Weston Pope (Clarksville, Ind.) and Tyler Faoro (Coral Springs, Fla.) joined Fields in the TT Superfinal, coming in 13th and 16th respectively to put them in good position for tomorrow. In all 12 American men earned a spot amongst the top 64 and will move on to tomorrow's eight-up contest to decide who is the early favorite to win Olympic gold.
Australia's Sam Willoughby posted a 42.625 on his second run to edge out a pair of Frenchmen in the Time Trial Superfinal and qualify first for Saturday's head-to-head competition.
On the women's side recent junior elite world championship bronze medalist Brooke Crain (Visalia, Calif./Haro-Rockstar) made her initial run in 41.068, good enough for fourth; while teammate Amanda Geving (Largo, Fla./ Endeavor-Rip XX Racing was just behind her in sixth. The pair fell to seventh and eighth in their second runs, which determines seeding order for the top 16 who advance, but sit in good form moving into tomorrow's main.
Racing through the pain of a separated shoulder, the ninth-ranked female on the SX circuit Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash./Intense BMX) made it to the TT Superfinal and ultimately qualified in 14th. The other three American women in the competition made it through to Saturday's main, just outside of the top 16 spots.
"The first time I ride a little conservative, to try and make sure I qualify for tomorrow," stated Martin. "If you make it to the second round it is a bit more fun. You get to open it up and ride really hard. I just pushed a little too much through that first jump."
The stage is now set for Saturday's mains including 1/8th finals, quarter finals, semis and the final. Audiences all over America can watch via tape delay on NBC Sunday at 3:30 ET.
UCI BMX Supercross World Cup BMX Olympic Test Event London, England August 19-20, 2011
Elite Men's Time Trial qualifiers & Superfinal Results
1. Sam Willoughby (AUS) 42.625
2. Joris Daudet (FRA) 42.767
3. Sylvain Andre (FRA) 43.317
6. Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX) 44.013 13. Weston Pope (Clarksville, Ind.) 44.660 16. Tyler Faoro (Coral Springs, Fla.) 44.616 20. Joshua Meyers (Treasure Island, Fla.) 44.819 23. David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Intense BMX) 44.940 25. Mike Day (San Diego, Calif./GT-Red Bull) 45.049 27. Barry Nobles (Wetumpka, Ala.) 45.227 37. Tommy Zula (New Carlisle, Ohio) 45.608 44. Nicholas Long (Lakeside, Calif./Haro-Rockstar) 45.719 47. Kyle Bennett (Conroe, Texas) 45.853 29. Jason Rogers (Mesquite, Texas) 45.902 55. Corey Reid (Avondale, Ariz.) 46.493
Elite Women's Time Trial qualifiers & Superfinal Results
1. Magalie Pottier (FRA) 40.126
2. Lauren Reynolds (AUS) 40.170
3. Shanaze Reade (GBR) 40.309
7. Brooke Crain (Visalia, Calif./Haro-Rockstar) 41.554 8. Amanda Geving (Largo, Fla./ Endeavor-Rip XX Racing) 41.844 14. Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash./Intense BMX) 44.777 17. Amanda Carr Carr (Punta Gorda, Fla./Endeavor-Rip XX Racing) 43.188 22. Danielle George (Palmdale, Calif./Supercross BMX) 43.776 26. Ashley Verhagen (Simi Valley, Calif.) 45.188
The opening day of the BMX Olympic Test event & UCI Supercross World Cup #3 saw the United States qualify more riders through to Saturday's main than any other nation. Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX) qualified first on his initial time trial run, showing his prowess on the soon-to-be Olympic track. BMX fans can watch the main event on NBC this Sunday, August 19 at 3:30 ET. In all 18 American men and women posted initial time trial runs fast enough to put them in the top half of their gender group to move into Saturday's main event. Three American men and three women also scored initial times in the top 16, qualifying them for a second run; termed the Time Trial Superfinal.
On his first try of the 2012 Olympic course, Fields posted the top time amongst the vast 126-man field on the initial run at 43.404. Going at it a bit differently in the Time Trial Superfinal, the 19 year-old cruised to a sixth place finish with a 44.013.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.