Name: Kai Sakakibara
Racing number: 77
Hometown: Helensburgh, NSW Australia
Have things changed for you since 1 September, the day the Olympic qualifying period has started?
Kai Sakakibara: Not at all. I’m always training and preparing for events to the best of my ability, so it’s been business as usual.
Are you looking for races where you can score more points?
Kai Sakakibara: Not necessarily, but as the Olympics draw nearer I may start to prioritise my events schedule, i.e. possibly skip smaller events and focus on the major competitions.
Has peaking after 1 September been something you aimed for?
Kai Sakakibara: I believe that I’m still developing as a rider, and learning at every event that I compete in. Of course I want to race well now and need to race well to qualify the country, but I want to bring my peak in July 2020. Everything until then will be building towards that.
How badly do you want to go to Tokyo for the Olympic Games in 2020?
Kai Sakakibara: Being half Japanese and having represented Japan while living in Tokyo as a kid, the
C1 race Sierra Norte - IBARRA - IMBABURA - Ecuador 15 Sep 2018.
Elite Men:
1 50 FALLA Emilio ECU 60
2 67 GARCIA GONZALEZ Argenis Ruben VEN 45
3 291 RIOS MELENDEZ Juan Angel COL 40
4 76 ALVAREZ Javier ECU 35
5 998 GOYES LARREA Wilson ECU 30
6 160 CARDENAS Andres ECU 25
Elite Women:
1 185 AZUERO Domenica ECU 60
2 42 CARRERA CHALA Karla Belen ECU 45
3 452 RICAURTE Maria ECU 40
4 413 MORA CORDERO Estefany Vanessa ECU 35
Name: Carlos Alberto Ramirez
Racing number: 278
Hometown: Medellin, Colombia
Elite Men UCI World Cup Ranking 2018: 9
Being in 9th in the UCI World Cup Ranking, what's your goal for the last two rounds in SDE?
Carlos Alberto Ramirez: I would really like to just go out there and enjoy the racing but of course ride my way to the main events and fight for the podium positions and why not get my first ever SX win.
Is the Olympic qualifying period on your mind when you're doing races after 1 September?
Carlos Alberto Ramirez: Yeah for sure the qualification will be on my mind! We all know we gotta earn those spots for our country!
What's the best section on the track in Santiago del Estero?
Carlos Alberto Ramirez: I would say the third straight, gotta love how tight and technical that Rythm section is!
How long is your travel from home to Rounds 7&8 in Argentina?
Carlos Alberto Ramirez: The travel is not that long but it is a bit tiring due to the lay-overs!
I fly Medellin - Bogota. Then Bogota - Buenos Aires, that is 6 or 7 hours. Then swapping airports! And
Riding all three of the BMX tracks at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista with Connor Fields!
2018 Qiansen Trophy China // GoPro POV by Niek Kimmann.
Name: Niek Kimmann
Racing number: #313
Hometown: Dedemsvaart, Netherlands
Being in the top 10 in the UCI World Cup Ranking, what's your goal for the last two rounds in SDE?
Niek Kimmann: My goal is the same as always, do the best I can. Last year I struggled a bit all season, and so did I in Santiago del Estero. I went out in semi’s both days and I’m motivated to put myself in the mains this time.
Is the Olympic qualifying period on your mind when you're doing races after 1 September?
Découvrez la gamme BMX : ROYAL et PRINCE de SUNN.
Name: Arthur PILARD
Racing number: 130
Hometown: Saint-Brieuc, France
Have things changed for you since 1 September, the day the Olympic qualifying period has started?
Arthur PILARD: No, nothing has changed for me, I will continue to give 100% for my nation and proudly represent my country.
Are you looking for races where you can score more points?
Arthur PILARD: I don’t have any race in mind at the moment, we didn’t start talking about it with the team and coaches. I still would like to go to the United States this winter to do some races because I’ve never been there yet.
Has peaking after 1 September been something you aimed for?
Arthur PILARD: Initially no date was given regarding the opening of quotas, so it wasn’t a goal. Now that the quotas are open, we will work hard to get the first place in the ranking.
How badly do you want to go to Tokyo for the Olympic Games in 2020?
Name: David Graf
Racing number: 7/ 48
Hometown: Winterthur, Switzerland
Being in the top 10 in the UCI World Cup Ranking with 355 points, what's your goal for the last two rounds in SDE?
David Graf: I'd like to add two more main events and show that I'm capable of doing better than 7th or 8th.
Is the Olympic qualifying period on your mind when you're doing races after 1 September?
David Graf: I like that there is more on the line again. I started off with two C1 wins in Prague and will probably try to add a couple more C1 races early on in the quali period.
What's the best section on the track in Santiago del Estero?
David Graf: There is nothing specially good, maybe the surface. It has been a while since we raced a soiltec track!
How long is your travel from home to Rounds 7&8 in Argentina?
David Graf: We will leave 5pm Monday in Zürich, and arrive 5:30pm in SDE. Plus 6h time change. 30h?!
2018 National BMX Hall of Fame Racer Inductee - Brian Foster.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.