BMX SX | Kai claims career best World Cup result

Wollongong's Kai Sakakibara equalled his career-best UCI BMX Supercross World Cup result with a fourth place finish in the season's third round held in Papendal, the Netherlands.
 
Sakakibara recovered after a slow start in Saturday's third round final to finish just off the podium behind Dutch 2018 World Cup champion Niek Kimmann. 
  
"I felt great all day," Sakakibara said after equalling his career best result which he achieved in 2018 in Belgium. "I won my first round, the round of 16 and the eighth (final). I even got a second place in my quarter, but coming down to that final, it was really tight, and I was really excited to be there as it was my first World Cup final of the year.
 
"I got a bit shot down in the first straight and tried to work my way back but finished fourth. Overall a really good result and I'm happy to get the score on the board. A couple of things to work on for tomorrow but I can't wait."
 
In Sunday's fourth round, Sakakibara's campaign ended in the quarter-final stage.  The 22-year-old now sits eighth on the overall World Cup standings.

View this post on Instagram

4th place finish yesterday! I honestly just feel relieved to get my first World Cup main event of the year ticked off. Another step forward. Game face on for another round of racing again today. Let’s go. □ ワールドカップ第3戦、決勝4位で終えました！今年初の決勝進出なので嬉しいです！今日も第4戦なので、頑張ります！#sakakibarabmx □ -?

A post shared by Kai Sakakibara 榊原魁 (@sakakibarakai) on May 12, 2019 at 2:32am PDT

Kai's sister Saya Sakakibara grabbed a semi final and final finish for the two rounds, just two weeks after crashing out of the World Cup opening round in England.

"I was already thankful I was able to race," said Saya after her round three semi final finish on Saturday. "I chose lane eight in the semi final to give myself some room and I was confident I was able to get through the first few jumps OK.

"Later in the race, I made a decision to not jump, but to pump in the second straight, which unfortunately was the wrong decision and I lost position and I ended up fifth.

"That was disappointing, but I am happy that I was able to have a good race and stayed on my bike which was a big box to tick in this round for me."

View this post on Instagram

I’m THIS stoked to be racing this weekend, and so thankful my new @shoeihelmetsaus arrived in time looking fresh and pretty□ thanks @redbullau / @airtrix #yipee Let’s be real, the old one took a good beatin’ the last few weekends... @ucibmxsx Rounds 3 + 4 Papendal. Lets give it another shot□ Thanks @merelsmulders for the pic □ 今週はワールドカップ第3戦と4戦目！新しく塗っていただいたかっこいいヘルメットがちょうど間に合って嬉しい□ #worldcup #racing #papendal #sunpleasestayout ☀️

A post shared by Saya Sakakibara (@sayasakakibara) on May 11, 2019 at 1:54am PDT

Round 3 & 4 Results - Papendal

• Saya Sakakibara: Round 3 - 5th in semi-final; Round 4 - eighth in the final
• Kai Sakakibara: Round 3 - 4th in final; Round 4 - seventh in quarterfinal

World Cup standings - after Round 4: 

• Men's: Kai Sakakibara 8th; Anthony Dean: 24th
• Women's: Saya Sakakibara: 14th

Full results from the 2019 World Cup season. 

The 2019 UCI BMX SX World Cup now moves to France for Round 5 and 6 which will be held in St Quentin en Yvelines on June 8-9. â€‹

WATCH THE ACTION FROM PAPENDAL