Sam Willoughby & Caroline Buchanan cap off successful year for BMX Australia

BMX Australia has capped off a tremendous year of success with world number ones Sam Willoughby and Caroline Buchanan winning the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Series at the conclusion of racing in Abbotsford, Canada on the weekend.

Australians dominated the field in both the men’s and women’s categories featuring three Aussie riders in each of the respective finals. Willoughby, has finished second in every race this year including the Olympics and at times only beaten on the line by mere hundredths of a second; it was enough though to be crowned overall winner.

ACT’s Caroline Buchanan overcame a disappointing Olympics final by winning her 6th Time Trial in a row and then making the final in the women’s category where she was struck again with some bad luck with a crash taking her out in the first straight. She recovered to finish in 5th place, which was more than enough to secure the overall series by 193 points over current World Champion Magalie Pottier from France.

Despite Caroline’s bad luck, Kirsten Dellar from Western Australia finished second with Lauren Reynolds also from Western Australia suffering the from the same bad luck crashed when she was in second position to finish 6th.

In the Men’s final, Australian National Champion Brian Kirkham finished 3rd with Anthony Dean finishing in 7th. With Sam finishing in second place, all 3 Australian male finalists came from South Australia.

BMX Australia’s General Manager, Mark Louis said he was delighted with the increasing profile of the sport and the interest it has sparked not just in the BMX community but wider afield too.

“BMX has really proved itself as an entertaining, fun and thrilling sport that is being recognised not just within the BMX community,” Louis said.

“Our athletes continue to show that Australia is at the top of the sport worldwide through out the year including the Olympic games where Sam Willoughby won the sports first Olympic medal.

“I congratulate all of the Australian riders who have competed this year and have made it one of the best on record for Australian BMX both domestically and internationally”.

With international season now over, Australia has an impressive honor roll to reflect on. Sam Willoughby has finished no worse than second in every international race in 2012 one of which was the Olympic games, he also is the 2012 World Champion; Caroline Buchanan has won her last 6 time trial races including the World Championship (she also won the Time Trial at the Olympic games, however it was not a medal event).

Overall World Cup Standings

Men

1          Sam Willoughby (AUS) 743
2          Connor Fields (USA) 722
3          Twan Van Gendt (NED) 512

6          Brian Kirkham (AUS) 411
14        Anthony Dean (AUS) 263
21        Khalen Young (AUS) 215
25        Joshua Callan (AUS) 199
32        Darryn Goodwin (AUS) 169
48        Luke Madill (AUS) 111
71        Bodi Turner (AUS) 74

Women

1          Caroline Buchanan (AUS) 780
2          Magalie Pottier (FRA) 587
3          Alise Post (USA) 524

7          Lauren Reynolds (AUS) 354
14        Melinda McLeod (AUS) 251
18        Kirsten Dellar (AUS) 229
33        Nicole Callisto (AUS) 107
39        Rachel Jones (AUS) 71

2012 Achievements

Silver Medalist, London Olympic Games – Sam Willoughby
1st Overall World Cup Series Elite Men – Sam Willoughby
1st Overall World Cup Series Elite Women – Caroline Buchanan
Elite Men’s World Champion – Sam Willoughby
Elite Women’s Time Trial World Champion – Caroline Buchanan
1st Elite Women World Cup Round 2, Randaberg Norway – Caroline Buchanan