Definitely some concerns about the split first straight and first turn, but overall I just thought..wow, I hope I can get everything dialed quick in practice! Do you think you got enough practice time to get used to the track?
Alise: The girls, definitely. The boys, I guess I can't speak for them, but it definitely took them a LOT longer to dial in the track. I have never seen ALL of the boys use the entire first 1 1/2 hr practice.
Did you manage to jump everything you wanted to jump during the first session?
Alise: For the most part. I definitely had a couple little things I wanted to work on in the second session, especially on the third straight. I didn't get through that whole straight in the first session. Not many did.
The wind definitely didn’t help with the difficulty of the track. Would it have been a different race without the wind?
Alise: From what I heard, that was definitely the biggest factor race day.
The men had to take the box jump. What needs to be fixed with that part for the 2012 Olympic track? Alise: I didn't ride it so I guess you have to take this with a grain of salt, but I think the turns leading into the box jump slowed the race down A LOT. The actually box jump wasn't too bad for them I don't think, but it really slowed the race down and made the rest of the track really fatiguing.
How often did you crash?
Alise: I didn't.
Did you wear extra safety gear at this Supercross World Cup?
Alise: I wore my usual padding: knee and elbow pads. And of course helmet and gloves.
Do you think this Papendal track would be a lot easier to ride in two years from now?
Alise: Of course. Everyone used to think the Chula track was crazy, now it seems pretty simple.
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. There almost needs to be two gates because it was a t
remendous disadvantage to be on the inside of the women's first straight. I think the same goes for the outside of the men's. 2. The first turn should be larger and less squared off. It was an odd shaped first turn because of the men's berm jump
3. ??
Thanks a lot. Any thanks to the sponsors or any people in particular?
Alise: Redline, JBL Audio, Tangent Products and Oakley. And of course my friends, fans, and family!
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.