Top New Zealand BMX riders enjoy challenge of new Supercross track

Leading New Zealand BMX riders Mark Willers and Sarah Walker have given a thumbs-up to the controversial new-styled track for this weekend’s UCI Supercross World Cup in The Netherlands.

They were impressive in their first practice on the track at Papendal which is a blueprint for the London Olympic track. It is a longer track with bigger jumps and includes new challenging features including off-angled hip jumps and an upright box jump.

“It’s pretty wild. It looks more intimidating than it is. It is difficult and it is kind of fun in a way and flows pretty well. I will be interested in how it is in a race with eight riders all fighting side by side,” said BikeNZ head coach Ken Cools.

“It’s something they’ve never ridden before. It is like BMX track meets skate park meets trails all rolled in to one. It’s long but is goes progressively downhill and so it’s not so bad in that respect.

“The second straightaway is the main challenge. It’s big and goes into two hip jumps and into a box jump which is very challenging.”

Cools said there were numerous crashes by the less experienced riders although the BikeNZ contingent enjoyed their first practice in difficult conditions.

“It was really windy throughout the first practice session which made it more challenging. And looking ahead the forecast is for rain tomorrow so we just don’t know what might happen.

“Mark (Willers) really loves it. He killed it today and had an awesome day in practice. Willers loved it and so did Sarah Walker. I think it favours the riders with more technical ability.

“It’s difficult getting your head around it but in general they really enjoyed it. We did pretty well overall today.”

New Zealand has six riders in action at Papendal with Walker leading the way after her third placing in the first World Cup in South Africa. In the men’s competition US-based Willers is looking to make amends after his crash in South Africa. He will be supported by fellow Cambridge rider Kurt James, Tauranga’s Kurt Pickard, who made the semifinals in South Africa, and leading juniors Trent Woodcock (Pukekohe), Nick Fox (Gisborne) and Daniel Franks (Christchurch).

There is a second practice session on Friday morning (local time) with the time trial qualification and Superfinal qualifying in the afternoon, weather permitting. The elimination rounds are on Saturday with the grand finals schedule for late in the afternoon.