VFormer factory rider Christian Burnham (52) will shine on the podium twenty years after his retirement from the Motocross World Championship—or at least his creations will. Burnham has emerged as an artist in recent years. Anyone who makes it to the podium in Lommel on Sunday will be able to show off a real Burnham!
He narrowly missed the podium during his active career. In 1999, he finished fourth in the British 500cc GP at Hawkstone Park. Now, he's finally making it.
“I was thrilled when Ann (ed. Plas), Johan (ed. Boonen) and Jo (ed. De Munck) from MXGP Flanders asked me to create artistic trophies. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first podium finish or if you’ve been a champion at it—no one gets to the top three in Lommel by chance. You have to earn it. It’s tough, even for the very best. It’s a punishing circuit, with a reputation as one of the most demanding sand tracks in the world,” said Burnham.
Authentic sand from the circuit
Incidentally, that sand plays a key role in the surprising trophies. Each piece features sand from the famous Lommel circuit, poured into a kind of gel. "Every top rider—whether Belgian or not—is determined to win here. The Grand Prix in Lommel on the 'Heeserbergen' is a classic, just like the Tour of Flanders is in cycling."
Individual handicraft
From the frames, the sand, and the stencil print of the rider to the plastic number (1, 2, or 3) and the descriptive plaque at the bottom—a great deal of handwork goes into these works of art. "Each piece is slightly different. The way the sand splashes, or the way the rider is detailed—no two trophies are exactly the same," explains Christian.
Each trophy comes with a certificate of authenticity and a stand. Clearly not a run-of-the-mill trophy. Moreover, the artist had to produce a whopping sixteen awards: three for each class (MXGP, MX2, EMX125, and EMX Open), and one for the winning team manager in each category.
Love-hate relationship
The Belgian-British Burnham completed a lot of training laps in Lommel, even in harsh winter conditions. "I performed quite well there, and was quite fast in the sand. Along with the other Belgian GP riders, I rode hundreds of laps there every winter, preparing for the new season. I didn't enjoy it—it was grueling. Especially because I went there when the track hadn't been leveled. That made it extra challenging, just like during a real GP."
I was really looking forward to the 1997 Belgian Grand Prix in Lommel. Unfortunately, it didn't work out; it just wasn't my day. Sometimes riding in the sand comes naturally, and the next day is a struggle. That's just part of it, isn't it?
Family feeling
The riders will share that challenge again this weekend. For Burnham, that tribal, that sense of community among riders is an essential part of the sport. Motocross is a family sport par excellence, including the often long journeys together.
That's why the 'Born to Ride' banner is so central to my work. For most riders, motocross is a lifestyle. One that's often passed down from father to son or daughter. Just look at Liam Everts or Jarne Bervoets. I used to race against their fathers, now they're the ones making the big time! It's a real shame Liam can't compete this weekend. But what if Jarne makes it to the podium in the EMX125? That would be pretty cool," concludes the four-time German champion.
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: Dieter Jans
