BMX World Cup winner test rides Australia’s first international track Autor: Administrator (marek.psenicka@centrum.cz), Téma: News BMX, Source: www.bmxmania.com Vydáno dne 06. 01. 2010 (3700 přečtení) World Cup Supercross winner, Sam Willoughby from South Australia, christened Australia’s biggest BMX track yesterday in Shepparton, central Victoria. The 18 year old rode on the country’s first international track built by the Olympic track builder, Tom Ritzenthaler from the USA. Willoughby was impressed to see the transformations done with a massive 12,000 cubic metres of dirt changed into a 375 metre track which includes two technical pro straights for the elite. “I liked the long first straight and the start hill reminded me a lot of China (World Championships 2008),” said Willoughby. “I like the long first straight that you can peddle over. Really like the look of the third straight, there wasn’t a rolling option. Tom’s done a great elite rhythm section. It’s like taking the dirt jumping aspect. It won’t be the fastest that will win on that one.” Ritzenthaler and crew built the Shepparton track in just ten day and he agrees that Australia is ready for this standard of track. “Australia has some top BMX riders like Sam and this track will lift the standard,” he said. “It will benefit the area. I think it will be a great location for teams to practice on,” said Ritzenthaler. “We used a bit of China’s worlds and a bit of Adelaide’s worlds. The turns are the same as I had in Beijing. It’s got little bits of everything. I never build the same track twice.” A keen group of Shepparton’s BMX riders turned up for the first try out. For local rider, 18 year old Shaun Cuthbert, it was a dramatic change. “We have never experienced jumps like this,” he said. “We will be able to get to World Championships and know we can jump it. This is awesome to get someone like Sam over to check it out. Hopefully he’ll come back to race on it.” Ritzenthaler praised the local track crew and was also impressed by a bit of help and from Australia’s track builder, Jeff Cartwright. “He’s great. We got to trade some secrets that was fun,” said Ritzenthaler. The track will host the 2010 National BMX Championships in early May. For a sneak peek at the new National Championship track in Shepparton – look at the news video on the Herald Sun link below. Wanna be a BMX star? - http://player.video.news.com.au/heraldsun/#ZCODMRQ4ZcjqvoWv3F3ht0mGVgX2S3kV Thanks must go to Greater Shepparton City Council including Mark Francis, Tom Ritzenthaler and the local track crew. Big thanks to Chase Collins and all the local riders who made this possible. Photo - Greater Shepparton CC