the word go laid down some of the fastest and smoothest laps, letting the rest of the riders know that he meant business.
The opening ceremony was held with a rider from each country doing a lap around the track and a superb dance show going around the stadium, the Defence Force then abseiled from the roof of the stadium and the racing was declared open.
Throughout Sam's motos he did not drop a heat and won every single lap including his 1/8, quarter final and semi final. Sam's main rival coming from the USA Denzil Stein had an unfortunate crash on the third straight in his semi final while lying second and did not make the main for these two young riders to have their final show down of the year that everybody has been waiting for.
Going into the main Willoughby had two other Australians with him, Anthony Dean, Michael Chasteauneuf and the rest of the gate was filled by Andre Aquiluz (NOR), Tony Nyhaug (CAN), Corben Sharrah (USA), Riley Star (USA) and Joris Daudet (FRA).
The riders sat on the start gate while the commentators where reading out their names, when Sam's was read out the roof was almost lifted off the stadium, Willoughby commented after the race "when they read my name out on the gate and the crowd went mad, and that gave me atleast another 10%"
When the gate dropped Willoughby was out the blocks and once exiting the first corner in first place he continued to open the gap between him and the other riders. Behind him once they hit the second straight all sorts of drama started to unfold, Joris Daudet from France clipped the top of the first pro double sending him down, Anthony Dean managed to miss Daudet but fellow Australian rider Michael Chasteauneuf ended up running into him and going down. Crossing the finish line in a convincing win was Sam Willoughby followed by Andre Aquiluz (NOR) and fellow Australian Anthony Dean rounding off the podium.
Willoughbys winning time was quicker than the winning time of the Elite race, his time was 28.289 and the winner of the Elite race Donny Robinson crossed the line at 28.648
Final Results:
1. Sam Willoughby (AUS)
2. Andre Aquiluz (NOR)
3. Anthony Dean (AUS)
4. Tony Nyhaug (CAN)
5. Corben Sharrah (USA)
6. Riley Star (USA)
7. Joris Daudet (FRA)
8. Michael Chasteauneuf (AUS)
Willoughby creates history by being the first ever Junior Elite rider to Win back to back Titles.
Jul 29, 2009
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Adelaide rider Sam Willoughby set a record in front of his home crowd by being the first ever rider to win back to back titles in the Junior Elite Class. If that was not impressive enough alone both those titles where won with out Willoughby dropping one lap at either of these events winning every single heat. Friday evening Sam was having dinner with the family and the question was asked how he was feeling and if there was a lot of pressure for Saturdays race, Sam replied, "I am really enjoying the track, I feel comfortable on my Yeti and the whole year I have been racing in every body elses back yards, now they have all come to mine. I feel better than I would normally do at an ABA round as I have my family, friends and fans here supporting me." Saturday morning the crowds started to flow in and fill up the Show Grounds seating in the stadium and the fog horns and cheers let all the riders know that their fans where ready for some hot fast racing. During warm up Willoughby got out onto the track and right from
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