OAt the Keiheuvel in Balen we also had a conversation with Tim Mathys, team manager of the Standing Construct team. We asked Tim how he currently looks back on the performance of his pilots.
Tim Mathys: We can look back with a good feeling. We are very satisfied with Glenn Coldenhoff its results. We signed Glenn when he was a pilot who was always just in the top ten, but we already saw that there was more in Glenn if we gave him the opportunity to fully develop him in certain areas. We worked hard in these areas all winter and the results are there! Glenn has scored his first World Championship podium, he has won three qualifying heats and is fifth in the MX2 World Championship. Plus, if we had been spared from bad luck a few times, he would certainly have had almost 50 more points. All this is very pleasant for us as a team and for myself as a team manager because when you do something in sports you do it to achieve results.
Pascal Rauchecker broke his neck last year and we knew it would be very difficult to get him to race with confidence again. But we think that this is now coming back little by little, he finished in eighth place in the qualifying round in Loket and he has also lasted well in the series. Pascal is also doing a lot for it, so we are confident that this will turn out well.
Then we still have Damon (Graulus) and it's no secret that we actually expected more from him this year. I personally stuck my neck out with the sponsors to give him another chance this season. He may be third in the European Championship and that is not bad in principle, but if you really want to make the step to the World Cup, now is the time because he is also 19 years old... In short, the results should have been better.
By the way, it is common knowledge that Damon is my pupil, I have been working with him since he was 4, and he can ride a motorcycle very fast! But sometimes he lacks a little, let's say, mental strength. The end of the season and the last European Championships will be very important for Damon. And even though I certainly want to give him another chance, I no longer make that decision alone.
MXMag: You already mentioned next year a bit. Are you already working on pilots for 2014?
Tim Mathys: With Glenn Coldenhoff When we are done, he will definitely stay with us. Glenn received enormous sacrifices from larger teams but chose our project. That gives me confidence about our way of working. But it also immediately says about Glenn what a wonderful guy he is and that he puts the sporty first. In addition, I am happy that I can keep the crew together. Especially when you see what Frank Grolleman, Glenn and myself have achieved together with our tuner Vollenberg.
About Damon we just spoke a little earlier, he has his fate somewhat in his own hands and with Pascal We haven't really spoken yet, but I think he will go to the MX1 as a pupil from KTM.
About the “gossip” of a Suzuki move, I can only say that, like any team, we look at and discuss every interesting proposal in detail and then you are sometimes seen with someone. But nothing is certain yet in that regard.
Text: Matthias Van Eeckhoven – Photo: Frederik Van Eeckhoven