FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

Name: Corine Stam-Dorland
Hometown: Hensbroek, Netherlands
Occupation: administration/organisation for a company that organizes cycling events

For most people who have been into BMX racing for a while you don’t need an introduction. For the others, how many World and European titles did you collect in your BMX career?
Corine: europeans I don’t know, worlds 10.

You raced for several big teams, like Kuwahara, Amev, Sunn and GT. Which team did you like to work with the best?
Corine: not one special, in all I had a good time. GT was the one with the most international character.

What bike did you like to ride the most out of all BMX bikes you rode from 1980 – 1996? 

A brand new BMX Track is being built at Papendal to host the first UCI BMX Supercross presented by Swatch ever to be held in Holland. This race is part of the World Cup Series of the BMX cycling sport. The second and third BMX Supercross at Papendal will take place in 2012 and 2013. BMX Supercross in 2011 includes five races: in Pietermaritzburg (SA), Chula Vista (USA), North America (location not yet determined), London (Test event for 2012 Olympics) and Papendal, Arnhem (NL). During these Supercross races only

Name: Merle van Benthem
Hometown: Hengelo, Netherlands
Sponsors: KNWU, NOC*NSF, Redline Bicycles, Troylee Designs, Shimano, Bensink, Pro , Sinz, Tioga, Leatt- Brace, Bolle, D.O.W. Hydrauliek. Rabobank, THE, Sun Ringle and Born.

You’re the current Junior women UCI BMX World Champion. Can you take us through that final race in South Africa?
Merle: I have never been so nervous and focussed for a race than this final. I knew i had to have a good gate and i had one of my best gates ever. After that i stayed focussed and tried to make no mistakes.

As a Junior rider, you’ve already entered several UCI Supercross races. What do you think of these races?
Merle: I love these races! The tracks are so fun to ride and it is cool to race with the older girls. I've learned so much from these races as a junior rider and there is a great atmosphere.

The 2010 Stoppelcross series didn't go as planned. It kicked off well in Handel but the weather can do whatever it wants during November and it rained for a week straight after the first race. That meant that the race in Boekel was going to be a serious mud fest. When it rained hard in the morning and the forecast didn't look any better for the rest of the day, I gave up. Because of all this rain, the third race was cancelled leaving Volkel as the last race of the 2010 SX season. Things didn't look too bright either for Volkel.

Girls Pro
1 Caroline Buchanan
2 Samantha Cools
3 Dominique Daniels
4 Brooke Crain
5 Amanda Geving
6 Taylor Wolcott
7 Alaina Henderson
8 Ashley Verhagen

AA Pro
1 Sam Willoughby
2 Marc Willers
3 Danny Caluag
4 Nic Long

This weekend was a huge eye opener for me. It started off with the longest trip I have ever done in my life totaling 26hrs of travel. I settled in quickly at the hotel to try rest up for the weekends racing as I knew it was going to be tough as titles were on the the line and those that were in for the hunt were going to be bringing all they have to this weekends race. Practice went well even though my legs felt a little sluggish I felt I had enough in there to pull something out of the bag. On race day one I won two out of three motos transferring into the quarter. In the quarters had nothing in the tank I was running on E and didnt transfer to the semi.

I was very disappointed and frustrated at the same time.

Day 2 I woke up feeling more fresh and gave it all I had finishing 2nd in both motos. We only raced 2 motos on day 2 because of the 500 odd motos there where.