The final round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Chula Vista started on Friday with the Time Trials finals and the qualification races. Under typical SoCal conditions Connor Fields (USA) and Mariana Pajon (COL) put in the fastest laps in California on a track that had big jumps and was a challenge for everyone who had not ridden it before.
With the season coming to an end, riders at least wanted to qualify for the main event. Jeremy Rommel (USA) was the fastest qualifier in the Men class along with David Herman (USA) and Sam Willoughby (AUS) who looked strong out there all day. They'll be meeting up with the top 16 in the overall standings and fill up the 64 men deep racing program. Alise Post (USA), Dani George (USA) and Lauren Reynolds (AUS) did win their three qualifying motos or got second and qualified highest out of all girls who entered the qualifying race.
Things got exciting when the top ranked UCI World Cup riders lined up for their Time Trials finals to show who could set the fastest time on the London replica track. Jared Garcia (USA) and Corben Sharrah (USA) showed their smoothness on the track but it was Connor Fields who used home advantage to win it.
Fields was pumped on the win in front of his home crowd. He explains: “The key to Time Trials is minimizing mistakes and on a big and gnarly track like this one it's about who handles it the best way. It's definitely a whole different ballgame compared to some of the smaller tracks we race”, said the winner. He continued: “It's about mental preparation and minimizing mistakes.”
Felicia Stancil (USA) set a quick lap early on in the women class and sat in the hot seat until Mariana Pajon got on the track. Pajon mentioned that she really likes riding rhythm sections and believes that's where she made up time against her competition to win the time trials today. She likes the track because she has good memories on the London design supercross track where she won the Gold medal. Although not in the title hunt she is really looking forward to the actual race tomorrow.