BMX rider strikes top form

New Zealand BMX rider Trent Jones wasn’t deterred by drawing a particularly difficult quarter-final bracket today and was in outstanding form.

Jones, 22, had 2015 world champion Niek Kimmann of the Netherlands and current world champion Jovis Daudet of France to contend with, but emerged ahead of both of them.

With four from each quarter-final to go through to the semi-final rides tomorrow, there wasn’t too much room for error for riders.

Jones was timed at 35.455s, 36.561s and 36.173s. He was no lower than third in any run and finished his day’s work with a second placing in his bracket. Kimmann snuck in in fourth spot and Daudet was eliminated.

The New Zealander made sure he kept his feet on the ground after his good day.

“The finish line is not at the end of the first straight, so I decided to be conservative and back my race craft to pass riders,” Jones said.

“I was able to do that and so I’m really pleased with things today.

“Tomorrow is a new day and I need to start again and refocus.”