Home crowd helps spur on BMX pair to next stages at Velopark

The 23-year-old from Burnham-on-Sea bounced back from a broken collarbone sustained at May’s BMX World Championships in Birmingham, a day after winning time-trial silver, to qualify in 38.719 seconds as Raymon van der Biezen of Holland advanced in first place in 37.779secs.

Three-time world champion Shanaze Reade qualified fifth in the women’s event, which resumes with tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Phillips worked as a commentator at last August’s test event while trying out for the track team as a specialist starter in the team sprint before returning to BMX the following month.

“Whatever happens in terms of results, I’m here to enjoy it and to have 6,000 people that have paid to come and watch a sport that I’ve done since I was five years old is mind-blowing,” he said.

Reade was fifth in the corresponding women’s event, clocking 39.368 as world time-trial champion Caroline Buchanan of Australia advanced as fastest qualifier in 38.433.

Reade and Buchanan were set to meet in the same semi-final, featuring three runs, tomorrow.

The 23-year-old from Crewe was given a rousing ovation and carried the hosts’ hopes as she searched to erase her memory of Beijing.

Reade crashed out of the 2008 Olympic final in attempting a gold-medal-or-bust manoeuvre and was among the favourites in London.

“It felt quite good out there,” said Reade.