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waste of time and effort, literally.

Do you think you got enough practice time to get used to the track?
Marc: It certainly would have been nice to get more time. With something that long and demanding, you can't expect us to be able to squeeze in twice the work of a normal track in the same time allowance. Plus one thing they seem to turn their heads to is the amount of riders. If there is more riders on the track then the practice groups need to be broken down even more. You can't just keep sqeezing more people into each session. It was a clear example of this in Papendal when you have 3-4 groups of guys all trying to work on different parts of the track, but we can't go anywhere because the other groups are sitting mid-straight trying to get a clean run at their straight. The UCI officials also need to realise what's up. One official was getting bent out of shape at me and others for sitting on top of the box jump as we were practicing the 3rd straight, it's like they expect us to do full laps while practicing. Fewer riders is key.

Did you manage to jump everything you wanted to jump during the first session?
Marc: I jumped everything yea, but getting dialled in for racing is a different story I think that's different from person to person. Some people like to follow in right from the get go.

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?
Marc: I'm not too fussed as I always plan on being in front anyway, if I'm not it's something I've learnt to deal with at the time.

The wind definitely didn’t help with the difficulty of the track. Would it have been a different race without the wind?
Marc: I definitely think the wind played a big part. The track itself was past the limit, but trying to conquer it with the added wind was brutal. We shouldn't have been riding in those conditions. Period.

What’s your opinion on the box jump? What needs to be fixed with that thing for the 2012 Olympic track?
Marc: The box jump is straight up stupid. It's a far cry from what they tried at Madrid and it just slowed down racing, and that's for the ones that actually made it up it. Never in my life have I had to turn around and ride the track backwards during a moto so that I can get a run up to make it over a jump. If they want something like that there is no reason it can't be mid straight and with some kind of transition in it rather than just a flat box.


How often did you crash?
Marc: I never actually hit the ground though I came off the pedals a few times for sure.

Did you wear extra safety gear at this Supercross World Cup?
Marc: Other than my bigger helmet I don't change anything. I'm always pretty padded up.

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?
Marc: That's a tough one. Something needs to be done in regards to rider numbers thats for sure. There certainly are some riders that shouldnt be out there, but it depends what they want to do with the sport. If not limiting riders who can sign up, then other changes need to be made for better track time.

Do you think this Papendal track would be a lot easier to ride in two years from now?
Marc: Back in 2007 we all turned up to Beijing for the SX round and shit ourselves. A year later when we went back for the games, it was just another track. Only time will tell for Papendal.

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. Riders nor spectators want to see anyones race done by the first turn. Its just stupid planning, plus it makes the girls turn horrible.
2: Ditch the s-bend and stick to whats normal. Its better racing when we can go balls out against someone and battle for a full lap, not just get a sniff of a passing opportunity and get shut down when the track turns the wrong way.
3: Cut the length back to what the UCI RULES state. Something like 250-400m if I'm correct? Not only does it create danger from fatigue, but it just gets boring. The only reason there are passes at the end of the race is because the ambulance is backing up to scrape the guy in front of you off the track. We aint 400m runners, we're 100m sprinters, they are different sports.

Any thanks to the sponsors or any people in particular?
Marc: Thank you to Speed Bicycles, Swatch Watches, Shimano, Bikenz and SPARC. Also my trainer John Cowell and fellow Team Willers Member, Ryan Hollows.