Reade bounces back from early fall

2:53pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

Olympic gold medal favourite Shanaze Reade survived an injury scare in her first seeding race for the semi-finals of Thursday's BMX.

The 19-year-old, a two-time world champion, crashed on the first bend of the first run through the track at Laoshan in south west Beijing where she scraped her elbow and thigh and looked to be holding her wrist as she came off the course.

However, the Crewe rider was examined by the team doctor and showed no ill-effects as she came through her second seeding run.

She did appear to take a cautious turn through the bend which had caught her out but still produced the second quickest time overall - 36.882 seconds.

She was then ranked on her best time so there was no loss for the fall. And Reade - who won the test event here last summer - dismissed suggestions of a fear factor.

"Never be afraid, never be afraid," said Reade. "I'm excited - it's mine."

Her coach, Australian Grant White had no worries about her morale.

He said: "After about 10-15 minutes she was fine - she's so strong mentally. She was back laughing and her second lap was solid."

The seeding runs are used to keep the fastest riders apart until the semi-finals.

Consequently, Reade will go in the second heat while world number one Sarah Walker of New Zealand - who was 0.222secs quicker - will go in the first.

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