TWhen I made the switch from international to classic cars a few years ago, I thought it was more like a swan song for AMC Orp-Le-Grand. Now it's clear the board has chosen the right direction. Especially when I saw what there was to see and experience yesterday along the banks of the Kleine Gete. Lots of people, a great mini motorcycle show, adjoining bargain market, and dozens of veterans from past MX battles. The setting for the Trophy 875 couldn't have been more successful. And the icing on the cake was a number of renowned winners.
Multiple European champion Brad Anderson failed to propel his team to victory. The Briton won all the Trofee 875 Evo races, each time ahead of Ken De Dijcker and Nicolas Vennekens. Vennekens won the 250 class, and Mattéo Puffet stood on the podium for the umpteenth time as the 125 class winner. Puffet had even lost the VMCF title for Orp. Shortly after, he and his TBT Racing team (De Dijcker, Jean-Marc Balbeur) were declared the winner of the Trofee 875 Evo. The strong Britons finished second, thanks to their weaker third-place finisher, Genge Keiren. The Caprani family finished third.
A driven Laurent Lacasse won all the heats in the Trofee 875 Classic, ahead of Didier Stommen and Killian Branco. Branco, who, along with his ART teammates Paul Stauder and Romain Jacquiot, would go on to win the Trofee 875 Classic ahead of Suzuki Geboers.
The final team class was the Trofee 875 Vintage. All heats were won by the indestructible Jan Blancquaert, riding the very rare Czech Puki motorcycle. He beat teammate Bjorn Verdoodt and Dennis Wagemans. Team Belgium Twin Air also took the overall victory, with Stan Feyaerts in third place. Second place went to Husqvarna Bens, ahead of the AMC Orp-Le Grand team itself.
As a tribute to Gaston Rahier, there was a strong GP125 race. Both heats went to Mattéo Puffet, who won ahead of Neville Bradshaw and Tom De Belder. Steve Ramon finished fourth.
The side races went to Marco Briers in the Evo class and to Danny Scheers in the Classic.
Orp-Le-Grand delivered a very fine anniversary edition. One minor criticism of the excellent organization: the celebration could have been a bit shorter.
Foto: Start Trofee 875 EVO, holeshot Brad Anderson. Credits Peter Borremans
As a bonus, a truckload of photos from MX buddies: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wv3UjCmqhHLtNABFA
