Aussie Team train on Olympic track. Preparation for Adelaide selection Supercross

Apr 03, 2008

Written by Bart de Jong

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Australia's BMX Team was put through their paces today, in a four hour long training session in Penrith, west of Sydney. Eleven members of Australia's high performance team rode the Beijing Olympic replica track. The 350 metre long track features a three-storey high starting ramp. The track was built by world number five, Luke Madill to gain him an advantage leading up to the sport's debut at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.The 27 year old now has one of only three similar tracks in existence. Riders will face a similar starting ramp and track at the upcoming UCI BMX World Cup

Supercross at the Adelaide Showground on 12 – 13th April. Adelaide is one of only three remaining selection events for the Australian team before Beijing.

While several of the elite riders have raced on this style of track, junior elite riders got a glimpse of what is in store for them when they compete at the Supercross in Adelaide.

With the Adelaide track being built just days before competition, Australia’s assistant BMX coach, Wade Bootes, claimed it would cut down the time it takes for riders to familiarize themselves with this style of track.

Testing was also conducted while riders practiced gate starts, jumps and tricky sections of the track as they hone their skills for Adelaide in a week’s time.