BMX: Willers leads NZ challenge at World Supercross

Marc Willers. Photo / Supplied.

World number three-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 Californian-based 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 crash-marred Norway Supercross last month.

Walker is pleased with her progress after dislocating her shoulder.

"The doctor is really impressed with where I am at after three and a half weeks," she said. "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 team at the weekend before they head to London where the riders will spend three days training on the revamped Olympic track.

From there the group head to Birmingham for the world championships starting on May 24.

"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 ill-fortune this year so far but this is a track he absolutely nailed last year. So he is looking to step it up this weekend."

Cools said the opportunity to practice on the London track is vital.

"There are apparently some significant changes to it from when we rode in the test event last year. It will be a key few days for us to begin to dial in looking ahead to the Olympics."

Willers will lead a BikeNZ team this weekend that includes Kurt James (Cambridge), Nic Fox (Gisborne), Daniel Franks (Christchurch) and Matt Cameron (New Plymouth).