So this is the last in the contender series by Corinne Walder and we finish off with your current UCI Elite Men’s World Champion GT’s Joris Daudet.

2011 was an incredible year for him winning the French Championship, all 12 rounds of the European Championship dropping only a couple of moto’s all season before going on to pass Marc Willers in Copenhagen for the biggest win of his career.

They say it’s harder to stay on top than get to the top and after a year like that 2012 was always going to be tougher with more expectation to keep the run going. He’s not had a great World Cup campaign by his standards, but the World Championship is another one off race where everything can go your way if you are a having a good day. So next week we’ll see if Joris can defend his title in front of a packed NIA crowd in Birmingham. There are a dozen contenders who are consistently on a higher level than the rest of the field this season so it could be anybody’s race. Joris has as good a chance as any of them on the day…so let’s wait and see!

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Check it out:

BMX World Championships 2012: Contender – Connor Fields

www.bmxworlds.co.uk

So Tyler you took a crash this weekend in Papendal practice and spent the night in the hospital and missed the race…..tell us about that?
Ya I had a pretty good crash in Papendal. It was like my 2nd gate of practice and got the good ole practice cut off in the air over the first jump at the bottom of the hill. I was just trying to warm up and get the track dialed in. Next thing I knew I was getting cut off, and hitting the ground hard. I woke up in the medic tent where I couldn’t see and was surrounded with people speaking another language. I was taken to the hospital where I had to stay overnight for observation. Luckily everything checked out ok and now I’m just trying to get better for the Worlds!

So you’re still sore at the minute and resting up in the UK.. What’s your plan for the next week? Red Bull contest?
Ya exactly, I’m pretty beat up so right now it’s just all about getting better and able to get back on the bike. The Red Bull event is happening in London so I would be stoked to check that out, but main focus is getting healthy for the race. Hopefully I can see a local physio in the next day or so and try and speed up the healing process.

Does missing Papendal affect anything regarding the US trials for the Olympics and how does that work?
Ya for me missing Papendal was huge. I am on the bubble of making that trials race and really needed a good showing at Papendal or Worlds. Now I got hurt and missed one and I’m trying to rush a recovery for the other. So not exactly the ideal situation, but that’s alright. I like keeping things interesting and having a little pressure. It keeps it fun, so my goals is Worlds and then the trials race!

Is this your first time in the UK?
No I was here last year for the Olympic test event.

How are you loving our weather?
Haha not a fan of cold and rain, so far that is all I have seen. Waiting for the sunshine to come out.

You’re staying at the C&K residence at the minute, how did that hook up come about? I hung out with them a lot when they were at the OTC building the pump track. We always kinda kept in touch and it just worked out for me to stay here. Really stoked to be able to stay here, they are some good guys for having me here for a few weeks!

Well hopefully you get healed up in the next couple of days and
we see you out doing battle in Birmingham next weekend…
Thanks I’m doing my best to make sure that happens! Hopefully I get to ride this backyard track in the next few days too, it’s killing me looking at it and not being able to session it!

Any shoutouts?
Of course! Always need to shoutout the Mom and family for the support, my girlfriend, friends/supporters back home, sponsors Crupi, Fly, Tioga, Sinz, Etnies, Nutrasumma, S&M. Bmx Talk for the interview, C&K for the place to stay, their Mom for the hospitality, and all the fans for always supporting me. THANKS!

Here is some info for all GB riders heading to the World Champs:

Outline information for all riders is listed below. Please note that the event website will carry all information to do with ticketing and an explanation of everything you need to know. In your rider packs that you will pick up on the day, there will be a schedule and your practice times, including a map showing the team area, parents area and the checkpoint for entering the team area.

Sign in Times (Via your TM in the Olympian Suite)
Monday 12.30pm – 4.30pm
Tuesday 9.30am – 1.30pm
Wednesday 9.30am – 2.30pm

Sign In Location
The location for GBR picking up jerseys, number plates and rider/bike bands will be the Olympian Suite. This will be signposted. If you are one of the people who has not purchased a jersey, jerseys will be available to purchase on Tuesday afternoon at a cost of £35.00.

Practice Times
Each group will be 1 hour long starting with group 1, commencing at 2pm on Tuesday and 3pm on Wednesday.

Group 1 2pm Tuesday & 3pm Wednesday Boys and Girls categories for riders aged 5-11 years
Group 2 3pm Tuesday & 4pm Wednesday Male and Female riders aged 17 and over (20” & 24”)
Group 3 4pm Tuesday & 5pm Wednesday Boys and girls (20” & 24”) categories for riders aged 12-16 years & 12 & Under Cr

Rider Info
Go to: http://www.bmxworldchamps.co.uk/Rider

Now that the rider count is known, the published timetable may change, so please keep an eye on any updates next week.

Tickets
If you haven’t bought tickets for Saturday night yet, please do not leave it much longer as over ¾ of the available tickets have already been sold. Complete sell out for Saturday is expected within the next few days. Friday evening is over 50% full, so this is also expected to sell out. Purchase via: www.bmxworldchamps.com.

Team Manager & Assistants
Your Team Manager for this event is Jason Stack. Jason will be assisted by Mark & Claire Coppin, Mark & Joanne Wood & Chris Taylor. All will be recognisable by their white event T-Shirts or red event Hoodies.

Team Area
The location is North car park – levels 7-9. This area is only accessible through the WINGS checkpoint. This is a computerised checkpoint where you will be required to scan your wristband and bike band in and out. Our Country Team area will be allocated and signed posted. ONLY people with appropriate accreditation and riders wearing a rider wristband will be allowed in the Team Area. Parents will not be allowed to enter with riders. Riders must wear their wrist band at all times (replacement wrist bands will be charged).

Parents Area
This is located on the concourse between the pit and pre-staging areas to allow parents to see their children on the way to pre-staging before they race. There will be no access to the Team Area or Pre staging for parents, only people with the appropriate accreditation will be able to access these areas. Riders should use this entrance to access the arena seating on all days EXCEPT Friday and Saturday Evening.

Best Regards

Roger Wilbraham
Event Development Officer – BMX – Downhill – 4X
British Cycling, National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester, M11 4DQ
Telephone: +44 (0)161 274 2022 | Fax: +44 (0)161 274 2001 | britishcycling.org.uk

We moved into the NIA on Sunday and got straight to work with the lighting, a completely new rig is coming in for the worlds that will enable us to do some pretty special stuff in and around the racing. One the lighting was lifted into place the dirt was moved in and jumps and corners are already being shaped…

Keep checking back for updated images over the next few days!

This time next week practice will already be underway… If you’re family and friends are hoping to come and watch and still havn’t got there tickets there are less than 700 tickets left foer Saturday night, go to www.bmxworlds.co.uk to secure yours.

Maris “The Machine” Strombergs is back on the top step of the box after a big win this weekend in Papendal. His first big win since his injury at the ABA Grands and he’s feeling good at the right time. With two weeks to go until the World Championship’s Maris said this was just preparation for the big show. Since Connor Field’s recent run of good form a few people may have been overlooking Maris… But one thing you have to remember is Maris is a caluculated tactition, he trust’s his training and has the mentals and experience to pull off the big wins when it counts. I’d say he’s still the favourite for London on a big wide open track with a long first straight. A convincing win with serious oull from lane 8, Maris is officially back. Whilst Connor took a shock exit in the quarter’s this weekend after winning the timetrial superfinals on Saturday. No-one can doubt Connor’s trackspeed especially against the clock having won all the timetrial superfinals on the tour…

You can never count out Mr Consistency Sam Willoughby who is becoming the bridesmaid of the World Cup tour in 2012.. Another 2nd place for “Sam I am”. And another close finish, Sam always comes back strong on the seconde half of the track. Maybe he’s saving the big win for one of the two races on UK soil? David Herman took another podium for the Freeagent / Rockstar crew. Herman is looking good this season and will be one of the riders putting it all on the line in the US Olympic trials in June.

Carlos Ramirez had a fantastic day finishing up with an impressive fourth place. Carlos is still Junior and has his sight’s set on a World title in Birmingham. Junior Men will be a great class to watch as Carlos goes up against Amidou Mir from France, the current Junior European Champion. Carlos’s 4th place also helps close the gap on the Dutch Army who currently hold 3 Olympic spots and with Colombia now close behind looking to add another rider to their Olympic campaign. The points will all be decided after the World Championships, the most important race since the Worlds in 2008 as for many riders and countries this is the last chance ticket to London.

Laura Smulders from Holland secured herself a spot in the Olympics despite finishing 8th in the final. Still only 18 she quoted “she’s the happiest girl in Holland right now”.

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Caroline Buccanan was the winner of the time trial event but was edged out in the main event by Alise Post who took the big win for Redline. Whilst Letitia Le Courguille rounded out the podium for France. These three ladies are definately in form going into Birmingham, Shanaze Reade, Mariana Pajon and Sarah Walker were all missing from the event this weekend, so when you add this weight to the class we'll be looking at the strongest ladies field of the last few years. Women's Elite racing has really stepped up over the last few years and the Worlds and Olympics are wide open this time round. We're hoping to see a fully fit Shanaze Reade on track at the NIA going for gold.

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So with Papendal out of the way and just over a week until the practice starts at the World Championships a lot of foreign Pro's will be based in the UK so don't be suprised to see a lot of them out at Midlands tracks over the next 10 days. Birmingham BMX Club will no doubt be the bussiest of spots and a good chance for the kids to meet and mingle with some of the World's top riders.

Here's what Maris had to say:

Results Men:
1) Strombergs M (LAT) 38.627
2) Willoughby S (AUS) +0.016
3) Herman D (USA) +0.998
4) Ramirez Yepez CA (COL) +1.880
5) Willers M (NZL) +14.269
6) Van Gendt T (NED) +1:09.274
7) Caleyron Q (FRA) +2:09.999
Nyhaug T (CAN) DNF

Results Women
1) Post A (USA) 38.670
2) Buchanan C (AUS) +0.264
3) le Corguille L (FRA) +0.705
4) Geving A (USA) +1.294
5) Pottier M (FRA) +1.864
6) Crain B (USA) +3.059
7) Hladikova A (CZE) +3.534
Smulders L (NED) +3.798 8

Don’t miss the big show at the NIA. The World Cha,pionships start in just over a weeks time! www.bmxworlds.co.uk

So practice has just finished in Papendal, it started late due to bad weather, on and off rain and quite windy conditions. Pretty standard for northern Europe at this time of year. Fingers crossed there is no wind for the time trials tomorrow afternoon. The track seems more flowy than last year and the box jump is no longer a feature of the track, but the hip section is still there. The riders seem happy with the course so we’re expecting a good race!

Remember to log in to www.extreme.com for the live feed from 2.15pm UK time.

BMX holland caught up with Joey Bradford trackside this afternoon: