Amélie: Nice area
Do you think you got enough practice time to get used to the track? Amélie: Yeah for sure we had plenty of time
Did you manage to jump everything you wanted to jump during the first session?
Amélie: I was scared by the wind, so on the 1st session I didn't go up, and just saved it. I knew we would have time the next day to work on it. After the guys' crashes/practice on this windy afternoon I didn't feel that relaxed!
How much harder is it for you to go from one at a time, to a full race of 8 people on the gate and then ride the track?
Amélie: 800% harder, never got the best gate and at the 1st moto on the 1st jump I lost some of my front wheel spokes cause some girl from the inside tried to find her way to the last jump of this line.
The wind definitely didn’t help with the difficulty of the track. Would it have been a different race without the wind?
Amélie: sure! without the wind and with a different end of the 1st line this race will be great. Meaning the track is a bit more complicated than other SX tracks but it's pushing it to the next level.
The men had to take the box jump. What needs to be fixed with that part for the 2012 Olympic track?
Amélie: I think this box jump was not race stuff! One step up and step down could be part of bmx race but they are pushing it a bit too far.
How often did you crash?
Amélie: I was "lucky", I didn't crash once, but the correct question could be how often I brake or get lollipop! and they are tooooo many times my heart has come into my throat!
Did you wear extra safety gear at this Supercross World Cup? Amélie: Put all I had on!
Do you think this Papendal track would be a lot easier to ride in two years from now?
Amélie: I think the track will be ok next year, but we have to really train on thess kind of tracks, and especially me, without that it could become suicidal! Bmx race really becomes extreme and there is less and less space for mistakes.
Ok, imagine you’re the track designer for the London Olympic track and you can make 3 changes to the track. What would they be?
1. End of 1st line for 8ppl
2. Find something for the wind problem (tree/stand/wall)
3. And change this last jump on the 1st line!
Thanks a lot. Any thanks to the sponsors or any people in particular?
Amélie: Thanks to my family, club (Stade Bordealis BMX) and friends for support and help.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.