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Do you think you got enough practice time to get used to the track?
Sarah Walker: 96% of the girls all had the same amount of time to get used to the track. I like the challenge of trying to work it out quicker than someone else.

Did you manage to jump everything you wanted to jump during the first session?
Sarah Walker: In the first session, I rode for 30 minutes and then left. I had finished the first part of what I wanted to do and felt really confident and happy but the wind was unreliable and dangerous.

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?
Sarah Walker: I enjoy racing and having people around me. With 8 people on the gate, I can get experience that I cannot get when I am back home in New Zealand. It’s not harder or easier, it’s just different.

The wind definitely didn’t help with the difficulty of the track. Would it have been a different race without the wind?
Sarah Walker: The race may have had a few less crashes without the wind but I don’t think it would have changed who was fast and who wasn’t.

The men had to take the box jump. What needs to be fixed with that part for the 2012 Olympic track?
Sarah Walker: Without having ridden the box jump, it’s hard to say but it looked like if the top wasn’t completely flat, they could have kept a little more speed.

How often did you crash?
Sarah Walker: I didn’t crash this time but there were more than enough close calls.

Did you wear extra safety gear at this Supercross World Cup?
Sarah Walker: None more than usual. I did feel a lot safer knowing I had my Leatt on though!

Do you think this Papendal track would be a lot easier to ride in two years from now?
Sarah Walker: I think the Papendal track would be easier to ride when it’s not windy. In two years, the track will be easier because we’ve spent more time on it.

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. The third jump into the corner on the first straight.
2. Track was great otherwise.
3.

Thanks a lot. Any thanks to the sponsors or any people in particular?
Sarah Walker: Thanks to my sponsors SPARC, BikeNZ, ABD Bikes, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Nike. Thanks to everyone in the Kiwi team and thanks to mum, dad, my brother and my boyfriend for their support.