Pietermaritzburg – South Africa’s BMX ace Sfisio “Skizo” Nhlapo threw down the gauntlet to the world’s best riders in a thrilling display in the American Mid West that saw him beat Olympic champ Maris Stromberg en route to making back-to-back finals.
With the UCI BMX World Champs in Pietermaritzburg just five weeks away, Nlhlapo’s return to top form has created a ripple of excitement through world BMX ranks, and has fired up Nhlapo’s local supporters.
Nhlapo hit his straps at the ABA USA Mid West Nationals in Rockford, Illinois this weekend, winning four heats, or motos, to reach the finals, after the Friday pre-racing was cancelled due to a major storm that swept through the Midwest.
After a rude wake up call in his first moto, Nhlapo bounced back, beating Olympic champ Maris Stromberg of Latvia, Aussie ace Sam Willoughby, Kiwi Marc Willers, Argentinian star Ramiro Marino and a host of the world’s best BMX elite racers en route to the final.
In the final Lady Luck deserted the fired up South African as he lost his cleat binding, and finished seventh.
“I had a great pops out the gate the whole day,” said Nhlapo. “In the main final I blew a pedal and watched the rest of the field pull away into the first turn. The field was really deep and the racing was hard but I’m looking forward to staying cleated the whole way on the final day.”
The final days racing was more intense with little room for error for the elite racers who wanted to progress to the finals. “These Moto’s have been like mains and really tough with the line up including Stromberg, Willers, Marino, Harris, Willoughby and company,” he added.
“The track was fun with a flat start gate, it kinda has an uphill first straight - just the way I like it!” commented Nhlapo after the first days racing.
Nhlapo started emphatically, winning his first two motos, and then winning his semi-final impressively to set up his place in the main final stacked with elite superstars. However in the final, he was once again undone by bad luck following a clash with another finalist.
Nhlapo caught elbows with Texan Jason Rogers coming out of the gate, effectively ending his chances of contesting a podium place. Willoughby went on to win ahead of Williers and Long, with Nhlapo fighting back to secure fifth place.
“I bombed my gate and bumped elbows straight out the gate with Rogers and lost some momentum,” said Nhlapo. “I kept pushing and managed to finish fifth. Overall I felt good and got some good fast laps.”
“But I came here to race against the hotties before Worlds in South Africa in a few weeks time and that’s fulfilling my trip exactly,” he added. “My next race is in South Park, Pittsburgh, where the track looks pretty fast and a good one to race on. I’m looking forward to an even better performance there.”
The UCI BMX World Championships takes place at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg from 29 July to 1 August. More information can be found at www.bmxworldchampspmb.co.za
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