MLess than a week after the USGP, the MX1 and MX2 World Championship stars will be back at the start of the French GP in Saint-Jean-d'Angély on Sunday. Anyone who sees the results of the “new look” USGP in X years will hardly notice a difference with those of other GPs. OK, in the MX1 Mike Alessi was also on the podium. But that would normally have been possible at the beginning of the season. At least, if Alessi had not gone back on his intention to ride the first three MX1 GPs.
If you judge the tension in motocross solely on the battle for series victory, then this USGP was perhaps one of the most boring events in recent years. An observation that especially applied to the MX2. Nothing and no one turned out to be a match for the combination of Marvin Musquin and KTM SX-F 250. Professional as we are, we concentrated on the other participants. In the MX1 we saw a fascinating first series and the closing event also had tension. But what revenge from Ben Townley! Punishment that the Kiwi could simply drive away from Cairoli and Alessi.
Because this is a Dutch-language website, we mainly focus on the Dutch and Belgians. Unfortunately we can be short about the Dutch in Glen Helen: this was simply not their GP. Less than a week later, it now appears that Marc de Reuver was already suffering from the first signs of his pelvic infection in Glen Helen. So things are really not going well for Reuver this season. Nevertheless, the Lommel resident hopes to be back in Germany within two weeks.
Among the Belgians, two riders stood out, so much so that we dare to say here that they should actually have been on the podium. Their names? Jeremy Van Horebeek and Ken De Dycker.
Were we impressed by Van Horebeek's second place in the qualifications? To some extent, of course, but we have known for a while that Jerre has a formidable weapon in his hands with the Pro Circuit Kawasaki. In Beervelde we had already noticed how easily Jerre was able to “bring in” MX1 riders. It was as if he were pulling them towards him with a fishing line (a lancé, certainly, Jerre?). We are therefore convinced that a Van Horebeek in top form can stand on the podium of a GP with a little support. However, things have to go better during the starts.
Man on a mission: Jeremy Van Horebeek in Glen Helen.
It was to be suspected that we could also expect fireworks from Keeno. But after a mediocre showing in Hangtown, where he had to ride a standard bike, we didn't really expect this anymore. In the first heat we saw Keeno drive one of his better races of the season and finish fourth. But when we saw him in the pits after a few laps in series 2, we feared he would DNF. A completely wrong assumption because De Dycker, in perhaps the hottest GP series of his life, rode from the 24e to the 10e place. In short, the fighting spirit, character and physical preparedness were certainly there.
But looking back is of little or no use in the GPs. So the key question is: can De Dycker and Van Horebeek convert Glen Helen's good feeling into a podium place (or better yet GP win) in Saint-Jean-d'Angély? In the absence of a crystal ball, we are unable to provide you with an answer to this question.
But jet lag and heat will probably play an important role. Perhaps Sunday will be the ultimate fitness test. Unlike last year, we do not expect a French get-together in the MX2. Although Musquin and Frossard are of course more than serious podium candidates. The same can be said of Xavier Boog, who is currently Kawasaki's hope in the anxious MX1 days.
The riders may have completed their first of two overseas GPs. For Maxime Warenghien it has to start now. The flagship of the Belgian trial is working this weekend in the 3e round of the FIM Trial Junior World Cup in Motegi, Japan. The undisputed ruler of the BK Trial must urgently look for World Cup points around the Twin Ring road racing circuit. After 2 GPs, or 4 days of competition, the Gas Gas rider only has a 10e place in the standings.
Home game: Fujinami last year in Motegi.
The fact that the trial boys have a GP in Japan may seem strange to some of you, but it is not at all. In fact, it is Honda that maintains this GP and trials sport in Japan. The Twin Ring is one of the two circuits that belong to Honda's heritage. The other is the more famous Suzuka. Honda is also the only Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that is still active in the trials, albeit not directly but through its subsidiary Montesa. Montesa, once an autonomous Spanish motorcycle manufacturer that had trials, motocross and enduro machines in its range, was partly taken over by Honda in 1981.
In the past 10 seasons, no fewer than seven trial world titles went to Montesa. An eighth, won by Takahisa Fujinami, was classified under the Honda banner. We can all credit the three other Honda world titles to Eddy Lejeune. The Liège native dominated the world championship on a four-stroke Honda machine from 1982 to 1984.
Motorsport heritage: Eddy Lejeune's Honda TL.
However, anyone who wants to watch a race live closer to home this weekend has the choice between motocross races in Rognée (VMCF), Ranst (VLM), Genk (VBM) or Zwevezele (MCLB).
Anyone who is crazy about Supermotor races will find a full-fledged alternative this weekend in the Ostend Lighthouse District. During the famous North Sea Prize, two Monobike classes (450 and 650) will be at the start. No jumps or curves, but spectacular sliding actions on perhaps one of the most radical circuits in the Benelux during one of the largest motorsport events in Flanders.
We conclude with positive news about MotorsTV. The motocross channel par excellence will again broadcast the AMA Motocross Nationals from this year. Both the Motocross and Motocross Lites receive a 55-minute summary per round. Meet on Tuesday, June 8 at 19:10 PM for the first round in Hangtown.
Photo credits: CDS Images, Honda ProImages,
