La Chinelle: Husqvarna is back at the top!

HThe brand won the 42nd edition of the 12 Heures de la Chinelle this afternoon, marking its 3rd success at the event after 2016 and 2017. The trio Martiny/Fors/Willems were able to finish victorious ahead of the KTM team of Gabriel/Brouwer/Lillo and the GasGas of Getteman/Lievens/Vanhoenacker, who led part of the race.

Among the favorites, the KTM of Dewulf/Renkens/Damiaens had to retire due to mechanical problems. In 2020 the event was canceled due to the pandemic, last year shortened by 6 hours for the same reasons, this year the Chinelle was finally back in its usual form. A 12 hour race, from midnight to noon. But this year the drought and the resulting dust have put the organizers and the race management in a very difficult situation.

The discussions between the parties involved were long and complicated. Finally, at 1am on Saturday night, around 75 machines participating in this 42nd Chinelle left the Franchimont esplanade for… 11 hours of racing. A Chinelle that was shortened by an hour this time, but which at least had the merit of being driven, without serious incidents related to the dust and lack of visibility.

Difficult conditions, in which the Magain and Sherco did well at the beginning of the race. Previously, Jens Getteman showed his impressive top speed at the official GasGas that he shared with Lievens and Vanhoenacker. The machine ended the first hour in the lead.

Behind them, just one minute behind, the trio of Jérôme Martiny, who replaced Wietse Brackman on the official Husqvarna, Kevin Fors and Erik Willems took second place, ahead of the KTM Hot Motorbike of Gabriel/Brouwer/Lillo. The Husqvarna quickly took the lead of the race and never relinquished it.

The trio of Martiny/Fors/Willems crossed the finish line first on Sunday afternoon after 11 hours of racing, ahead of the KTM of Gabriel/Brouwer/Lillo, 7 minutes behind and the only other machine on the same lap. Behind it, the official GasGas completed the podium, while the Sherco of Magain/Vukcevic/Mary and the Fantic of Robert/Minique/Vanderbeke completed the top 5.

Husqvarna won La Chinelle for the first time in 2016 and did so again the following year. Since then, Husqarna has always been in the running for victory, but has never tasted the top step of the podium. Martiny, Fors and Willems give the brand its third success at the event.

The first national team is that of Rougraff/Manege/Claisse who put their Yamaha in 6th place of the scratch. Led by Patrick Caps, the Caps/Cornet/Mercier/Hella team closes the top 10 and wins the Open class.

Photos: Gino Maes

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