VIn Flemish, people who are mentally strong are said to have 'a good head on their backs'. This certainly applies to Cas Valk, the MX2 revelation of the still young 2025 World Championship season. Just before the start of the Dutch Masters of Motocross in Harfsen, we spoke to Cas.
Valk won the European 125cc title in 2022 and then took bronze twice in the EMX250. After three GPs, the Refyn Racewear pilot is in a respectable 7th place in the World Championship standings. Among all the factory violence and as the second Dutchman after reigning world champion Kay de Wolf. In other words: the hard rider from Nijverdal is working hard.
His Van Venrooy KTM teammate, Lynn Valk, will start her World Championship campaign next weekend in the Italian Riola Sardo. This weekend the Peppelenbos in Harfsen is coming up, with a very nice field of participants in the MX2.
With your current form, do you start the championship differently as a clear title candidate, so to speak?
Cas Valk: “Yes, my goal is of course to become champion. Last year I came very close, one point behind Rick Elzinga, so I think it is not an illogical goal to become Dutch Masters champion. My priority is the MX-2, but I will still do my 100% to finish as well as possible this weekend.”
You have also indicated elsewhere that you have had a very good winter. Then there was immediate confirmation during the strongly occupied Internazionali d'Italia in Mantova where you won a series and reached the podium. But GPs riding at the level where you are performing now and the wildcard participations of last year, there is still a big difference between that.
Cas Valk: “I think I’ve made a reasonable step this winter compared to last year. With everything, of course also with a different team. It’s still the same bike, but we’ve made a step with the engine, with the suspension. We’ve made some steps in every area, also some other parts on the bike compared to last year. For example, I switched to a different tire brand, from Maxxis to Dunlop. All that together has helped me to feel a lot better on the bike. I’ve actually been riding a 350 all winter, so I think that’s not a bad thing to make myself a bit stronger. Compared to last year there’s quite a big difference because the wildcards I did weren’t bad of course, but certainly not close to how it’s going at the moment.”
To the outside world it seems that the junior Factory teams in the EMX250 are already working very professionally. So you would actually suspect that there is not that much difference in terms of engine compared to the factory engines?
Cas Valk: “No, that is definitely not true. That difference is much bigger than people think. I happen to know that the junior factory team got an upgrade compared to last year. For example, I myself ride a bike that was prepared by the KTM racing department. That is a nice package, but there is still more possible.”
Are there any improvements in the pipeline to allow the engine to evolve with your performance?
Cas Valk: “I don't really have a clear answer to that yet. Those are things I'm working on, to see what's possible.”
Second in timed practice in Spain, third in the opening race in Argentina, fifth in the second round in Spain, last weekend 6th in France 30 seconds behind the winner. Did you surprise yourself with your speed? Or is this where you wanted to be?
Cas Valk: "You can't ignore that it's a very strong field of course. If you look at how many Factory guys are riding! It actually surprised me a bit, but it's also the place I was aiming for before the season started. I worked really hard and everything was pointing in the right direction. The riding went really well, also in the training. For me it didn't come as a complete surprise, but it's still nice that I actually managed to ride around sixth or seventh place."
Were there any moments before the first races when you rode together with other factory riders?
Cas Valk: “Yes, I actually trained most of the winter together with Adamo. Rossi also trained with us for many weeks. When we were in Italy, we also spent two weeks in Rome in December. We also rode together with Längenfelder, Lucas and Sacha Coenen. That gives you a bit of an idea of where you are and what your speed is. That speed was never really bad from the start.”
The bar is immediately set high when you train with such big names. The riders you mention have all won races and GPs.
Cas Valk: “Yeah, that’s right. Of course, it was on the SX-F 350 at first. At that point, I wasn’t 100% sure where I stood, but I had a bit of an idea of what to expect. When I went back on the 250, I didn’t actually ride any slower. So that was definitely positive.”
You ride against guys in training who are your competitors in the GPs. Do you sometimes have to be careful not to get caught up in a kind of competitive feeling to go to your limit? Or here and there there are egos that take over…
Cas Valk: "I'm actually pretty good at finding out what my limit is. And I don't like to go over it. Because yes, a season is long and unpredictable. You can sometimes lose more than you win in one weekend. So I'm normally not the rider to go over the limit. And if that limit is sixth place, then that's it. Then we have to be satisfied with that."
Spoke the 19-year-old wisely. Is that something you had to learn the hard way, or is that just something that characterizes you, that maturity?
Cas Valk: “Yes, that’s actually how I’ve been doing it for a while now. When I look at myself across championships, that’s a good way to finish a championship well. Make as few mistakes as possible. With a lot of mistakes, with a lot of crashes, you also lose a lot of points. That’s something you have to avoid, at least that’s how I see it.”
Given your experience and physique, you could have probably made the step to the World Championship earlier. Why the timing to ride GPs this year? Or were there still crucial things you learned last year during your collaboration with Gabriel SS24 KTM Factory Juniors and Shaun Simpson?
Cas Valk: “My first year in the EMX250 I immediately became third in the championship with Fantic. At that time I had won five motos and three races. So actually exactly the same as what I achieved last year. If you look purely at the results, you can actually say that I didn't learn much. The main reason for doing another year of EMX250 was that I rode a two-stroke the first year. There have already been a few riders who only rode at the front in the EMX 250 with a two-stroke and who couldn't match those results with a four-stroke. That was actually an explicit wish of KTM. We want to see you on the four-stroke for a year first. On the one hand that was a shame, but on the other hand that's just the way it went. We can't change anything about it now, but it certainly hasn't made me any worse. I didn't learn a whole lot in that second EMX250 year either.”
What does an average week between two GPs normally look like for you?
Cas Valk: “Normally I only ride from GP to GP once. But because we have the Dutch Masters now and that is only on Sunday, I ride two days. Yesterday (ed. Wednesday) I rode in Berghem and today I will train again.”
The physical demands of a GP weekend are very different from the EMX250 program. It’s your first full World Championship season, does that require an adjustment?
Cas Valk: "It's true that it's more demanding. You ride twice as much over the entire weekend, the races are also longer. You can notice that you're a lot more tired on Monday than you actually are after an EMX250 weekend. That's mainly the difference. I don't have much of a problem with that if I'm completely honest."
If you are not physically strong or you are sick during the weekend, such a GP will take its toll, I suppose. On top of that, there is the qualifying race on Saturday.
Cas Valk: “That’s absolutely right. If you’re not 100%, then the weekends are tough. I do feel that I’m in good shape physically. My physical trainer is from Team NL. Through the KNMV we have a Team NL trainer who coaches young boys alongside me. Like Gyan Doensen, Dean Gregoire, Dex van den Broek and so on. And that’s where I was last year with my physical program. This year too, and I’m really enjoying it. The motorcycle training during the week, I do with Joël (editor Smets).”
Are there any people from Team NL that you still know from your period with the SKS Racing Husqvarna / KNMV project when you were in Papendal?
Cas Valk: “No, that has become a different trainer now. That would certainly have been possible because I did indeed spend a year and a half at Papendal. But those Team NL trainings now take place in Eindhoven. I am always welcome to do the physical trainings with them but I usually just do everything at home. And that is fine. It is more fun to do gym work together but it takes me almost two hours to go there for a one-hour training. For physical tests I do go to Eindhoven of course.”
It is often motivating to do physical training with others. Is that the case for you too?
Cas Valk: “Certainly in the gym, if it suits me that’s fun. But I don’t really make special arrangements. If I have to cycle or mountain bike, I sometimes do that with someone else or together with Lynn. But I actually do most of it alone. You train for yourself, so of course you have to keep an eye on your prescribed heart rate zone and load. Sometimes it doesn’t work so well to do everything together.”
Compared to the EMX250, the GP will also have the Friday start training. How do you feel about that as a rider?
Cas Valk: “On one track it has more advantage than on another. Sometimes you are like in Spain – then there was coincidentally no start training because of the weather – but there are quite a few altitude meters. Then it is sometimes important to experience how the engine works with the start. Is the start still good or does something need to change? Do we need to adjust something with the gears and things like that. It is more of a check to see if everything is okay. But 9 times out of 10 everything is fine and it just goes according to plan.”
The winter has been very turbulent due to the financial problems of the KTM group. Did you notice anything of that as a rider?
Cas Valk: “I didn’t really notice anything about it myself. I do have some dealings with KTM of course, but most of the interaction I have is with my team. I do have an arrangement with KTM in terms of finances. The transfer didn’t come through for one month, but fortunately that all settled down. Apart from that, I didn’t notice anything myself. There are a lot of people who asked me questions about it. I didn’t really worry about it myself. I did expect that things would turn out well again. And so far, things have turned out well.”
Speaking of stress. Do you notice that more is happening around you now? Performing at the highest level is something different than riding at the front in the EMX. Are you being looked at more now? Are there more media requests and such, or is that still okay?
Cas Valk: “It’s not too bad. But yes, you get a lot of messages via social media or personally of course. I have quite a few people who told me that they were a bit surprised. That they were impressed. That’s always nice to hear. So yes, quite a few people message you. And also a bit more attention from the press. But I think that’s just great.”
You have always taken it easy with other young riders. There are young boys who quickly create a lot of noise, where parents create a hype as soon as their child performs well in the youth World Championship or the EMX65. That has never happened to you. Neither to you, nor to Lynn. Are you grateful for that, that you have been able to continue building calmly?
Cas Valk: “Yes, I am actually quite grateful for that. I don’t think it is always good to just be in the spotlight. Sometimes it is quite nice when there is not too much attention. And then you can still drive results. When I compare myself to other boys who have been in the spotlight from a young age, it gives you a good feeling when you are in front of such boys. I don’t mind at all that I have never been in the spotlight too much. I don’t like that very much.”
What is it like to finally be back in a Dutch team after all these years?
Cas Valk: “It’s great, it’s also a lot easier of course. Both in terms of training and logistics in general. Last year I had an English team of course, but they had the workshop in Belgium. Belgium is still a two, two and a half hour drive from my home. Now my team is forty minutes from my home, so that’s a lot closer. Then I can occasionally pick out some tracks near me to train on, for example when Joël is not there, that makes it all a lot easier. And of course the language is also nice. I can speak Dutch with the team boss and the team manager. My training mechanic is Dutch, my competition mechanic (editor Ross Hill) is English, I brought him from my previous team. I have a really good connection with Ross, he is also an incredibly good mechanic. That’s why I’m happy that he came with me.”
The last question, and perhaps the most important one. With those good results, you are of course also in the spotlight of all the factory teams. Many decisions for next year are made quite early, so a strong start like yours is a plus. Do you still have an agreement with KTM? Or are other teams now knocking on your door?
Cas Valk: "At the moment there is nothing in negotiation. I definitely have the possibility to stay at KTM. But that still depends on a few things of course. So yes, I am of course also open to other offers and then we can always see. It is not that I am completely stuck, so to speak."
Clear! Good luck with the upcoming matches and thanks for your time.
Cas Valk: “Thank you, everything will be fine!”
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: Fullspectrum Media, JP Acevedo, S. Taglioni
