Belgium’s Elien Dewinter braved the pain in Bulgaria where she came back from a severe back and pelvis injury, but she is keen to test her improving pace in Portugal. Ashley Fiolek on the other hand enjoyed a great start to her season seizing another podium in Sevlievo.

The 18-year old from Florida is known to give the established riders a run for their money and ‘KickAsh’ should be helped again by her great starts!

Elien Dewinter

My back injury is no longer an issue so it was great to prepare for this GP like I wanted to. So physically I’m definitely in a better shape than I was in Bulgaria, however I’m sure the competition didn’t rest on their laurels either! Going to a new track is exciting, especially now because if you ask riders who race in Agueda it means different things to different people: some call it hard pack some find it rather soft! (smiles) For the moment I only know for sure the soil should be red...

Ashley Fiolek

I am not sure what to expect in Portugal... (smiles) I heard the food is pretty good! I think I am more ready now, because for the race in Bulgaria, I hadn't raced in a long time and it was just nice to get back to it racing. Guess we will all just have to wait and see... The track looks pretty sick. It looks like several of the tracks that are in the US in Georgia which is not that far from my house. I am pretty excited, to ride on it should be a blast!