If Rizal Tisin and Mohd Aim Mohd Fauzi fail in the Sea Games BMX competition, it will not be for the lack of trying.
The duo, making Malaysia's debut in the BMX competition, are virtually like renegades, almost left to their own devices to prepare for an assault on medals, even seeking information on when the Indonesian team will be training at the BMX track at the Ancol Mini Park.
"We've tried out the track. There are several parts where we need to look at how the Indonesians manoeuvre. We need to find out when they are training," said national champion Mohd Aim, 20.
"They've made this track and modified it according to the requirements of the Indonesian riders, so we must have a look at how the Indonesians ride it before we can formulate our own strategies."
If anything, the duo's Sea Games campaign is in stark contrast to the rest of the contingent where athletes are always seen with a band of officials, physiotherapists, mechanics, managers and various support crews.
Rizal and Mohd Aim only had team official Mohd Hardi Razali to accompany them at training, playing the role of mechanic, physiotherapist and motivator. Former national road and track rider Hardi himself was testing the BMX track with his bike yesterday.
"We're just happy to be here and we have eight days to train on this track. We just need all the information we can get. We're not worried about whether we're getting all the support the other teams are getting as we know we have to prove ourselves. In the first place, we don't even have a proper track to train on back home," said Rizal.
The BMX competition starts on Nov 18.
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