March 15th, 2013 11:29am
With the BMX season fully underway, it made its first major stop in Phoenix, Arizona at Black Mountain raceway for the Winter Nationals. The new three race format kicked off in warm sunny weather on Saturday with full fields in every class from Amateur to AA Pro. It was a classic BMX scene with groms everywhere shoving treats in their mouths between moto's - just the way it should be.
When it came time for the gate to drop, the AA Men's field was ridiculously stacked. The drag race to the first turn would be everything as it usually is a the highest level. Saturdays racing showed that Nic Long (Haro) is more than ready for this season as he outlasted US National champ Connor Field and world #1 Sam Willoughby.
On Sunday, the sun burnt crowd got a break with some overcast skies to cool things down. But once again the AA Pro men were not backing down. The top three names stayed the same, but with some shuffling of the order. It looked like Nic Long once again had the winning formula until the last heat when Sam Willoughby took the win and the overall on grounds of the tie breaker. Sundays race saw 2012 Olympian Donny Robinson and former 2x AMA Champ Bubba Harris make the final for a whose-who gate.
Alise Post rebounded from a mediocre Saturday result to dominate Sundays action over Dominique Daniels. Caroline Buchanan took top honors on Saturdays schedule besting Brooke Crain and Daniels.
World #1 Sam Willoughby on the rhythm section sporting a sweet Coca-Cola lid
Nic Long leads Sam Willoughby through the rhythm section and on to the moto victory. These two would never be far apart all weekend
Sunday was Alise Post day as she dominated from start to finish. Post hole-shots into the first turn.
US National Champ rode well all weekend but couldn't get the starts to crack the top two.
Alise Post isn't afraid to send it - here on the rhythm section on way to the overall victory on Sunday
Dominique Daniels couldn't manage a win on the weekend but rode solid for solid points. Daniels is always a threat.
Crowds are a BMX signature. The winter national weather and big names made for another great weekend.
The deciding race on Sunday would see racing this close to the finish. Willoughby would win the heat and take the Sunday overall.
When the nationals roll around everyone brings their "A" game and gives 100%. This riders look says it all.
Donny Robinson made the main on Sunday to show he still has speed, but couldn't get through the stacked field of AA Pro Men.
Gates, Gates, Gates...when the competition steps up, the only thing that usually separates the winners from the pack is the start.
World No.1 Willoughby leads the incredibly deep field of AA Pro's into turn one.
Saturday Results
MEN's A PRO
1. NIC LONG, HARO
2. CONNOR FIELDS
3. SAM WILLOUGHBY
4. TWAN VAN GENDT
5. TORY NYHAUGN
6. MARIS STROMBERGS
7. CORBEN SHARRAH
8. JASON ROGERS
WOMENS PRO
1. CAROLINE BUCHANAN
2. BROOKE CRAIN
3. DOMINIQUE DANIELS
4. AMANDA GEVING
5. DANI GEORGE
6. ALISE POST
7. LAURA SMULDERS
8. MARIANA PAJON
Sundays Results
AA PRO (Total Riders = 44, Groups = 6)
1. SAM WILLOUGHBY
2. NIC LONG
3. CONNOR FIELDS
4. BRIAN KIRKHAM
5. JORIS DAUDET
6. BUBBA HARRIS
7. DONNY ROBINSON
8. MARIS STROMBERGS
GIRLS PRO (Total Riders = 23, Groups = 3)
1. ALISE POST
2. DOMINIQUE DANIELS
3. MERLE VAN BENTHEM
4. AMANDA GEVING
5. CAROLINE BUCHANAN
6. TAYLOR WOLCOTT
7. BROOKE CRAIN
8. ARIELLE MARTIN
Location: News >> BMX - Winter Nationals in Phoenix
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