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tracks like this one, we can't ride when it rains (starting hill) and when it's windy. In this case, it was windy. This opinion works with all world Cups. Second Opinion is maybe this track is the breaking point. We are not slopeStylers. We are racers and we are like hostages: we have to come there and ride because of the points.

Do you think you got enough practice time to get used to the track?
Thomas: It's not a question of time. An hour and half is enough but when you're not with 75 other riders on the same session. We talked about it with the frenchies. Maybe a good idea could be a country session the day before pratice. From 9am to 9pm. 1h30 or 2hours just with staff. Just to be safe; Practice in Papendal was too much: Too many crashes, too much wind, too many riders riding in every direction. Too many people around the track.

Did you manage to jump everything you wanted to jump during the first session?
Thomas: I didn't jumped the Berm one. I was a little bit scared because of the wind. So I kept it for Friday. I had some problems with the second jump of the second straight also.

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?
Thomas: I just try to not think about it. That was too late. The race was launched from Thursday. Everybody knew it. You have to practice with people and not practice alone for that. But that was dangerous, for sure.

The wind definitely didn’t help with the difficulty of the track. Would it have been a different race without the wind?
Thomas: Not really. The wind was blowing but the consequences, to me, of the crashes are:
1. Track too long -> Lot of riders didn't manage the third and 4th Straight and crashed for nothing (Meyers; Robinson; Goodwin ... )
2. Second jump of the second straight too high and too deep
3. The S-Turn ... we had too much speed for that. No way for passing. Without wind, it would have been the same drama;

What’s your opinion on the box jump? What needs to be fixed with that thing for the 2012 Olympic track?
Thomas: BoxJump is stupid. It's easy to manage but it's dangerous. Plus it loses your speed. At the beginning they wanted a StepUp - StepDown ... We can do that with dirt. Look at what dudes are doing with trails...

How often did you crash?
Thomas: I just crashed in my semi in the S-Turn when I tried to pass just Between Prokop and Robinson...

Did you wear extra safety gear at this Supercross World Cup?
Thomas: Yes I bought some protection for that race. Bigs KneeShin Guards, Elbow Guards, and Special underwear. It saved me.

39 casualties in Papendal. Do you think riders need to be selected instead of the fact that just any elite rider can buy s license and sign up for the World Cup?
Thomas: I don't know. Some riders don't have points or staff but are good. And others have everything and are really bad for that kind of track. How can you say: YOU OK, YOU NOT. That's a big problem.

Do you think this Papendal track would be a lot easier to ride in two years from now?
Thomas: No. Asphalt is Asphalt.... It will be the same. We will improve, but not that much.

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. No Berm Jump on the first straight.
2. No Jump Box
3. Wider and smoother S turn

Thanks a lot. Any thanks to the sponsors or any people in particular?
Thomas: In this case, my family, Friends and French Staff. They kept me alive.