VLM Ranst: Glenn Bielen at the party!

Glenn Bielen has long been among the top riders in the VLM Inters, but even there, victories are not a given. Today, the young Yamaha rider pulled off a double race win in Ranst.

The Aerden brothers gave Bielen a tough time, but bad luck and pain decided the day's standings in Bielen's favor. A total of 18 Inters at this VDS MX event.

RWeek 1: Brent Aerden's crash opens the door for Bielen

Tyla Van De Poel took the lead at the start ahead of the Aerden brothers, Haanen, and Verhelst.

Brent Aerden stormed to the lead as early as lap two, with his brother Enzo on his wheel and Bielen in third. Van De Poel was unable to capitalize on his strong start and was quickly relegated to fourth position after a mistake. Bielen waited for his chance, moved past Enzo into second place, and joined the thrilling three-way battle.

Brent Aerden, Bielen, and Enzo Aerden rode barely fifty meters apart for many laps. Two laps from the end, fate intervened: Brent Aerden completely lost control on a jump and flipped over hard. Bielen immediately took the lead and rolled away to the race victory. Brent resumed in fifth position, fought his way past Schepmans and Van de Poel, and still finished third.

In the Inters 250, Dieter Vromans dictated the race for a long time, but the barely sixteen-year-old Lars Huysmans took control around two-thirds of the way through the race and claimed the series victory ahead of Vromans and Boyd Van Endert. In the Inters B, Joe Vanderreyt was in a class of his own. Moreover, he rode in sixth position in the general classification for a large part of the race.

Series 2: Aerden brothers run into bad luck at the start

In race 2, Tyla Van de Poel took the holeshot again, but this time Bielen was immediately in second place. Kevin Schellens and Karel Schepmans also got off to a good start.

However, there was no sign of the Aerden brothers! Just before the starting deck dropped, Brent's starting system started acting up. Every effort was made to fix the problem, but to no avail. Brent started eleventh, his brother Enzo even fourteenth.

After two laps, Bielen relieved Van de Poel at the front and built up a solid lead. Meanwhile, a determined Brent Aerden clawed his way back: he quickly climbed from eleventh position to fifth. Enzo was no less impressive, also cutting through the peloton. Around a third of the way through the race, Brent was already in second place, while Enzo fought a thrilling duel with Van de Poel for third. Two yellow jerseys on the podium, but the race victory went to Bielen once again!

Lars Huysmans closed the day with an impressive double victory in the Inters 250. Joe Vanderreyt was also the undisputed master of the Inters B in the second heat.

Next week, the VLM caravan heads to the Haag-Tildonk circuit, with a new layout on Koubergstraat.

Final score Inters 500
1. Glenn Bielen 50pts, 2. Brent Aerden 42pts, 3. Enzo Aerden 42pts, 4. Tyla Van de Poel 36pts, 5. Karel Schepmans 32pts, 6. Thallon Verelst 29pts, 7. Kevin Schellens 27pts, 8. Arno Van Mieghem 27pts, 9. Jamie Haanen 25pts, 10. Sven Wouters 11pts

Interest 250
1. Lars Huysmans 50pts, 2. Dietter Vromans 44pts, 3. Boyd Van Endert 40pts

Inters B
1. Joe Vanderreyt 50pts, 2. Raf Belmans 44pts, 3. Chiel Vanhaeren 38pts, 4. Sten Sauvillers 36pts, 5. Alexander Verbeeck 34pts, 6. Dean Van Clapdorp 15pts

Comments: Frank Janssen
Photos: MX Grietje