Cambridge rider Marc Willers could hardly have looked better today in qualifying for the Olympic mens BMX semi-finals.
Willers, the world No 4, finished first, second and first in his three qualifying races to advance.
In a day marked by several bad crashes one of them involving Willers team-mate Kurt Pickard Williams looked calm and capable.
There was a bizarre occurrence in his first race when all seven of Willers opponents crashed out, meaning New Zealander rode to the line unopposed.
Pickard was so badly hurt when he fell in his third race of the day that he did not start the last two and so did not make the semi-finals.
Hed finished fifth and third in his first two races and was in second place overall in his bracket with a good chance of making the semi-finals.
But in his third race he collided in mid-air with Ecuadorian rider Emilio Andres Emilio Falla Buchely at the bottom of the first straight. He landed heavily and had to be helped from the track.
Injuries to his ankles and side prevented him from contesting the last two races.
