BMX SX | Saya sixth at World Championships

Photo © Craig Dutton

Australia’s Saya Sakakibara claimed sixth in her first elite career World Championship final at the 2018 UCI BMX World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan.

An unfortunate incident in final saw the 18-year-old taken out by the bike of American Alise Willoughby who had crashed in front of her as the group made the second turn.

Credibly, Sakakibara got back on her bike and finished the race to take sixth place behind the all Dutch podium of Laura Smulders, Merel Smulders and Judy Baauw.

​“I was coming about seventh and was able to do a really good move on the first corner and got myself into fifth but Alise (Willoughby) crashed in front of me and I ran into her bike,” Sakakibara explained. 

​“That ended things for me but I came away with a sixth which is pretty awesome.

“I was already happy just to be in the final. It’s all a learning experience for me so I’m stoked.”

#BMXWorlds Saya Sakakibara claimed 6th in her first career elite World Championship final. It was an unfortunate end to the final for Sakakibara who was hit by a bike in the final. “That ended things for me, but I came away with a sixth which is pretty awesome.” @AUSOlympicTeam pic.twitter.com/pf93lLEwpZ

— AusCyclingTeam (@AusCyclingTeam) June 10, 2018

In the men's, Anthony Dean finished ninth.

Photo @ Craig Dutton