MMotocross rider Mike Vanderstraeten (34) died yesterday when he was hit by a tractor while pulling out a tree in Tessenderlo-Ham. Emergency services tried to save him, but were unsuccessful. He is survived by his wife and three-year-old son.
Mike was known as a promising youngster. In 2008, he was picked up as a Motorsport Future talent, along with riders like Cedric Grobben, Dietger Damiaens, and Dieter Vromans. That same year, he won the first MX Rookie in Lommel.
In 2014, Vanderestraeten even won the EXM300 in Lommel. A year later, he won the BMB Openingscross in the same Lommel. Despite his major international breakthrough, the Looie native remained closely involved in motocross.
After a break of a few years, he competed for the Fun MX Team in the Inters class of VLM. He did so successfully, by the way. He then continued his career in the Belgian Oldtimercross Championship, where he also won a series of races in the Pre-95 Masters category. In 2022, he was part of Team Belgium (with Dennis Verbruggen and Marco Briers) and promptly finished third at the RSP Classic in Arco di Trento.
Mike Vanderstraeten was a tough motocross racer and, above all, a wonderful person, whom we will never forget. The editors of Motocrossmag and MXVintage wish Mike's family and friends strength during these difficult times.
