Walker set to make up for lost time

Sarah Walker

Sarah Walker quips that her biggest goal at this week's world BMX championships is to "stay on my bike".

Walker is back racing after nine months recovering from a nasty crash in California that left her with six broken bones in an arm, knee damage and a lengthy concussion issue.

On top of that, the London Olympic silver medallist has had her share of other accidents since then.

She figures she's due a spot of good luck as she prepares for the worlds in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

"Honestly I do try and avoid them all the time," she laughed. "It's part of the sport, it's about being smart but also making sure I perform the best I can.

"If I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time there's not much I can do about it. Hopefully I've used up all my bad luck."

Not so long ago, next year's Rio Olympics appeared a far-off blip on her horizon, but the 27-year-old Bay of Plenty rider has worked her socks off and is relishing the chance to test herself at the highest level.

Walker has been training with world champion time trialler and London bronze medallist Laura Smulders in the Netherlands, and liked what she achieved with her starts, the area she knows she needs to sharpen up.

"I couldn't have done much more in training than I have," she said.

"I haven't raced these girls since last year so I've no idea where I'm at compared to them.

I just know I'm riding as good as I've ever ridden really around the rest of the track; it's just whether I can get a start." And stay on her bike.NZME