Willers leads NZ attack
World No 3-ranked Marc Willers leads a five-strong New Zealand attack on the third round of the UCI BMX World Supercross in the Netherlands this weekend.
The California-based Cambridge rider has recovered from niggling injuries after crashes in the first two rounds in California and Norway to return to the challenging Papendal circuit where he was triumphant last year.
The Bikenz team is still without last year’s Papendal winner Sarah Walker and Kurt Pickard, who leave today to join the team but will not compete at the weekend with both recovering from injuries received at the Norway Supercross last month.
Walker is pleased with her progress after dislocating her shoulder.
‘‘The shoulder is going great and I am feeling really good,’’ Walker said.
‘‘The doctor is really impressed with where I am at after 31⁄ weeks. I have a huge range of motion and the strength is there. I’ve been told a usual patient could spend four to six weeks in a sling before moving, so I am way ahead of schedule.’’
Walker and Pickard will join the teambefore they head to London, where the riders will spend three days training on the revamped Olympic track.
Then the group head to Birmingham for the world championships.
‘‘It is a busy time for us but really important,’’ said Bikenz BMX national coach Ken Cools. ‘‘This weekend is a good opportunity for the squad to compete on a challenging course.
‘‘Marc (Willers) has had some illfortune this year so far but this is a track he absolutely nailed last year.’’
Cools said the opportunity to practise on the London track was vital.
‘‘There are apparently some significant changes to it from when we rode in the test event last year,’’ he said.
‘‘It will be a key few days for us to begin to dial in looking ahead to the Olympics.’’