FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

Gerrit Does: Watching on TV the latest development in Supercross track design I wondered, what about the safety of the riders. The catch high speed leaving the 9 mtr. starting hill, jumps are getting more radical, riders clipped in their pedals and when they fall they fall hard! Since some heavy accidents in road cycling, as a sportsman you start to think about the dangers in BMX too. I talked about that with among others people at LEATT here in Waalre, we had a discussion also on body protection for instance to prefent Speen reptures etc. Some time after that they contacted me and asked if I would like to act as their safety ambassador / advisor. Since safety is becoming a serious thing in BMX I thought with my knowledge and experience in MX ánd BMX, I might be of use to them, so that's how it happened.

The Supercross tracks are way more spectacular than the traditional BMX tracks, was this what the sport needed?
Gerrit Does: Bart, we have had some discussion on this every time developments occur in our sport. Remember the comments I had organizing the ECC (European Challenge Cup) at Slagharen, when the track became harder every year after the Worlds in 1983? We used "stabilized sand" to built the top layer of the track. Fantastic at first, but after one winter, the stabilized sand turned slowly to concrete. Look at what happened during the years, to prefent wash-outs during rain, turns were made of tarmac. It also made the sport faster, that's for sure. O.K. Since around 2000 UCI is looking for a way to make BMX a more "outside BMX" drawing spectator sport by making the tracks more and more difficult and spectacular and I think the limit has been reached by the track layouts like this BMX Supercross track at Papendal. On a 20" bike, you can only go a certain speed at a certain track and I think this is at the limit, maybe a little over it.

Does it make BMX a more spectartor sport because of that?
Gerrit: I have my doubts. I am anxious to see how many "outside BMX spectators" there will be at the Papendal event. I do have the greatest respect for the riders, their technique to handle a track like that is fantastic. Problems is people watching TV don't realize that themselves. Often races are "train-events": up and till the first corner the batlle for best position and after that, a lot of times, a "train" to the finish. I think, the most important thing, beside s spectacular track within the safety limits, is CREATING HERO'S! In the outside BMX World, people don't know any bmx heros, like we have in another "small" Olympic sport, ice skating for instance. As you see still a lot of challenges in developing BMX further, I think

With more speed and bigger jumps, comes the risk of more injuries. How do you think the riders can prepare themselves for this?
Gerrit Does: Bart, it's almost impossible to prepair yourself against injuries. BMX is a speed-sport and therefore dangerous more or less, just like road cycling, moto-cross and so on. You can prepair yourself by having the best physical condition possible. But that will NOT prevent injuries when you crash, so ...... in this new situation, extreme tracks, the quality of means of protection must be upgraded.

Is it still safe to race with a special designed and light BMX helmet? or must the standard be lifted to motorcycle quaity?
Gerrit: To determine this, investigations should take place by in Holland TNO for example. Protecting one's head and neck is essential. For sure research has proven that the LEATT brace helps preventing neck injury, now the question is, is the present used helmet efficient enough. Remarks are that because of the neck-brace, more collarbone will brake, IF that is the truth, what do you prefer, brake your neck or a collarbone!? Since back in time, speen injuries are kind of common. Rider falling, gets handle-bar in stomach and the speen gets ruptured (or liver!). The present body-protectors used, in my opinion, are not protecting sufficient enough to prefent speen/liver/ chest injuries. Also because riders are strapped in their click-pedals, when falling, most of the time the bike comes with them, can't be pushed away. So fully protecting, light, flexible but strong bodyprotectors would do a good thing here. To not talk in the blue..... tests should be made, how strong must BMX protection be, but before that at big events all injuries should be registered, put in one data-base and from there on start re-developing new and better safety-equipment. During my ECC days (1984-1993) per event we exactly kept score of any injury, small and big. We used it to adjust the track among others, now it should be used to determine what must be protected and against how much power of impact, that's my opinion. BMX is a professional sport now and we should act like it on this subject too, is my advice.

Do you think it’s a matter of time before every national federation has their own BMX SX track so their national riders can prepare for the big jumps at the races that matter to get more spots for the Olympics?
Gerrit Does: Well, I am not sure if the OLYMPIC have to be that happy with SX tracks like the one at Papendal. Don't go with your design over the top. If bad injuries occur during an Olympic event, which millions of people watch all over the world, that would not be good for the image of the sport. So, to find the balance here is essential. In principal, away from the Olympics, I would advise each affiliated country to the UCI to have one SX track in their country. I always have been in favour of having a TOP class track in each country, just to start a great series of events in the professional BMX classes, like the Elite Men and Women. lt is nice for any organiser to have an important event, but in the top class, BMX should be run like in Grand Prix racing motorcycles, motorcars etc. Professional organisations, running events at a fixed standard that garantees quality of these events and the "outside BMX" people will know in due time, where to go to watch these races (like Papendal or in the past ECC Slagharen). An extra is that top riders can train at the level of an Olympic track. Don't forget on the other hand, we talk about BMX - BICYCLE MOTO-CROSS, you know what I mean? It's not racing in a velodrome. The MX in the name should NOT be forgotten.

Imagine you’re on top of the starting hill and have not jumped the first jump yet. What preparation should you have done before you are at that point?
Gerrit Does: I guess we are talking Elite riders here plus the top in that class. So, they have the experience of riding on all kinds of tracks. You shouldn't be affraid of heights, that's another thing. You have to get used to the speed going down, when you're out there for the first time. Start step by step, first by riding down the hill and riding the first jump. Slowly each time, increase your speed, land even in between the jumps. Don't be haste, prepair well, confidence will grow even if it will take a couple of hours, take your time. While writing this down, I think, if many riders have to get over this track like that, then there is something wrong. There must be a challenge, that's for sure, but this is too much. O.k. you manage to jump at last and now you're in the race with 7 others, here the problems will start. I am anxious to see this weekend how the developments will be at the first straight.

Do you think a track should be designed in a way that jumping is faster than rolling?
Gerrit Does: Bart, that's what I always liked about BMX, some riders were even faster rolling then jumping, THAT made BMX interesting and it is in those areas that track builders should think. By the way, who built the track, a former BMX'er? or is it a "designed" track by non-racers. I keep saying, the track should not be the decision maker, but the rider, his power, stamina, his technique, his tactics and so on. Why always the 2 horse shoe model tracks? I always wondered, why aren't there anymore downhill BMX tracks, countries enough where tracks like that can be layed down. I also feel that 30 / 35 second tracks for the Elite are too short, build at least 400 meter tracks. More attention on physical condition then on riding technique (as now). Bart, we can talk for hours on this and now-a-days there are as many opinions as people, so this is just mine.

The very best BMX racers will come to Papendal for the 2nd round of the UCI BMX SX series. Who is your pick in both classes for the win?
Gerrit Does: Yeah, that's fantastic. In the early days when I started these series as UCI Project manager, it was very hard to get riders and more specific national organisations interested to enter their riders for these events. Since BMX became an Olympic sport, that all changed dramaticly. Now many countries are present with their best riders and no problem financing it all. I don't have a list of registered riders, but I think Maris Strombergs (if recoverd from injury) will do fine. Because of the fact they have been able to practise at this track, I also expect the Dutch riders to do well and don't forget, our French and American sportfriends. I realy can't predict who will win this event. The track will be the decisionmaker when the 8 finalist leave the gate I think. It all depends on luck getting away fro the gate o.k. and doings one's thing perfect and that's very difficult on this track. We'll see, I wish them all good luck. It's almost SHOW-TIME.

Last words?
Gerrit Does: I think these developments are a new phase in BMX and I am glad to be a witness of all that. It is good to see that a lot of things I suggested/promoted during the years (check out www.universityofbmx.com) have been implimented and working. In 1995 I introduced the use of transponders (AMB - Holland) which helped registration, but also gives tools to make BMX more exiting for outside BMX people. What is so exiting about 2 skaters on ice competing against eachother?: yeap ..... time registration ánd showing. This specific item should be used better within BMX. It takes too long to explain how, but there is a way. Anyway, glad to be present thanks to the UCI invitation, I do wish all riders good luck and I hope the audience will have a great weekend at Papendal.