Sharrah & Valentino win!

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 9 April 2011 - It was a glorious day in Pietermaritzburg. Some 2.000 South African BMX fans were treated to the best of BMX racing worldwide. It was also a great day for the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series presented by Swatch with an extremely successful first stop of the 2011. But it was especially a glorious day for Corben Sharrah (USA) en Manon Valentino (FRA) who won the first elite BMX Supercross World Cup event of 2011.

Corben Sharrah (#24 picture) rose to the occasion to win the grand final of the UCI BMX Supercross at Alexandra park while the young French rider Manon Valentino confirmed her status as one of the hottest properties in female BMX racing by completing a rare double in the women's division, winning the time trials and the main final.

Sharrah “The track suited my style of riding”
The quietly spoken 19 year old from Tucson, Arizona Sharrah timed his charge to perfection, shifting up a gear in the semi-final where he dominated the Frenchman Joris Daudet, who had until that stage, been the men's pacesetter.

In the final Sharrah got the hole shot and as he led into the first berm he looked in total control. While the pack jostled behind him, resulting in classy Kiwi Marc Willers going down, Sharrah never let control of the main final slip, racing home to win from Australian Khalen "Wild Child" Young, with time trial superfinal winner Daudet in third.

"This track really suited my style of riding," said Sharrah as he was mobbed by well wishers from Team USA. "I had a really good gate and won the big battle to get into the first turn first."

"When I realized I was leading it was all about staying calm and focused. That was the critical part for me. It feel fantastic to win the first World Cup of the season," he added.