Braun cruZer Tour 2007: Webb Takes Third Straight BMX Title

A broken arm didn’t stop Mark Webb from claiming his third Braun cruZer Tour championship at the final round at the Suzuki BMX Masters in Cologne, Germany.

Thousands of partisan spectators from across Europe watched the Braun Mini Ramp’s last outing for 2007 and their enthusiastic support inspired the riders to new heights.

Webb was displaying the awesome class that won him the 2005 and 06 Braun cruZer Tours, but crashed heavily halfway through his second run and immediately knew he had snapped his forearm.

“My arm is broken,” he announced from the bottom of the ramp. “Tell someone it’s snapped!”

However, his trick-laden first run on the Braun cruZer Mini Spine was enough to earn him third place on the day. Ben Wallace (GBR) won the leg, nailing a Tailwhip to tap on the spine and picking up enough points to tie him with Webb on the overall rankings.

In this situation, the title is decided on count-back and as Webb had won previous rounds at the FISE in Montpellier, France and the NASS in Somerset, Great Britain, he was judged champion for 2007.

Daniel Dhers (VEN) was second in Cologne with a large Double Tailwhip over the spine and a No-Handed Flair to finish third overall on the Tour.

Taking fourth on the Tour standings was Briton Chris Mahoney who rode the Suzuki BMX Masters with probable fractures in his foot.

In obvious pain, Mahoney was dubbed “Broken Foot Mahoney” by the event commentator but knocked out numerous one-footed tricks, capping off his run with an outstretched superman that had the crowd cheering for more.

“I’m not sure if it’s broken,” Mahoney said. “I haven’t had it x-rayed yet, but it was all worth it.”

Phil Aller’s (GBR) was fifth overall thanks to his neat nose-spins on the spine while the ever-improving Tony Watkinson (GBR) was sixth.

Ben Hennon (GBR) was unable to take part in Cologne, but still took seventh ahead of Germany’s Mark König. French duo Kevin Kalkoff (FRA) and Jean-Baptiste Peytavit (FRA) were ninth and tenth respectively.

Final overall rankings from the Braun cruZer Tour 2007:

1. Mark Webb (GBR) - 2980 points
2. Ben Wallace (GBR) – 2980
3. Daniel Dhers (VEN) – 2950
4. Chris Mahoney (GBR) – 2890
5. Phil Aller (GBR) – 2850
6. Tony Watkinson (GBR) – 2820
7. Ben Hennon (GBR) – 1940
8. Mark König (DEU) – 1830
9. Kevin Kalkoff (FRA) – 940
10. Jean-Baptiste Peytavit (FRA) - 940