Will Wouts take care of Sturm in Glen Helen?
Stormtroopers In any case, Kevin Wouts seems to have regained his speed. The past GPs have gone better and better and the Antwerp man of character even wrote history for his team, Sturm-JJS Motors-Kawasaki, last weekend with their first victory in the ADAC MX Masters!
Your victory in Germany must be nice?
Kevin Wouts: "Count on it! Things also went well during the ADAC MX Masters in Fürstlich Drehna. I qualified third on Saturday for the MX Masters in Freising, so that in itself was a good start. I even set the fastest time in the warmup on Sunday morning. I was two seconds faster than the second! In the first heat I was fifth after the start, I could keep up with the pace but I couldn't move up. There was one line and it was impossible to pass. A little later I even had to pull over because the engine was broken. It was a mechanical problem that was no one's fault, but it made me whole irritating by. Now I had a good start and I was on a roll... For the second series I was like, they can all, uh... how do I put that neatly... up the highest tree! I was extremely stimulated. When I took the holeshot I was as happy as a child. The riding went perfectly throughout the series and to my own surprise I was even able to win the series easily. Hopefully the train has left now.”
After a bad start to the season, is it now clearly on the rise?
Kevin Wouts: “The preparatory matches were really disastrous, I can't describe it any other way. Things have actually improved from Bulgaria onwards. Things had been going well in training for some time, but for one reason or another it did not materialize in the matches. In Mantova I took my first point. In Portugal I also took a step forward. I rode a strong first series and took three points. Unfortunately I crashed in the second heat. For Bellpuig I had made a completely wrong tire choice in the first moto. That's why I just didn't get involved. In the second heat I became 19 in Spainde. That was actually disappointing because I was 16 for a long timede and there was no apparent reason why I relapsed at the end.”
Has the level increased compared to last year, and in any case are there fewer injured people than the flood of injured people at the beginning of 2009?
Kevin Wouts: “Last year the injuries were a real plague. It started on Saturday that they were driving around like crazy. People are still driving fast now, but taking unnecessary risks does not yield anything. At the beginning of the season there are boys who want to prove themselves extra and get over their heads. Like now, after about five GPs, the cards have largely been shuffled. By this I mean that everyone has a clear idea of their sporting position. No one is going to take extreme risks to move up one place. The season is still long and drivers who are well placed will also drive defensively.”
The Kawasaki KX450F is not a popular choice for private riders in the MX1 World Championship, but you like the bike?
Kevin Wouts: “Absolutely, the Wouts-Kawa combination is really starting to take off march! I really like it and that was the case from the beginning. Of course, I don't have much experience on a 450 yet, but I never had that feeling with the Honda. The power of the engine, the suspension, the handling... for me the picture is perfect.
What do you expect from Glen Helen?
Kevin Wouts: “From what I have seen on the internet it looks like a super fun course. It doesn't seem that difficult, but we'll see...
For a pilot from a small team, it is already a tour de force to be there in San Bernardino because the unplanned American GP takes a big bite out of the budget?
Kevin Wouts: “I was surprised when I was told that I could go to Glen Helen! The team had already promised in Bulgaria that if I could score in the World Cup, even just one point, they would arrange everything. The team came into contact with a local dealer through Kyle Chisholm, who rode the German SXs for Sturm. They have made an exchange deal that their son can come and ride the German Supercross next winter and we can borrow a Kawasaki for Glen Helen. I'm very pleased that everything turned out okay! The past few months have not always been happy, but I am very happy with the support I have received from everyone. I would like to thank my parents, my girlfriend, the team and the sponsors for that. Thank you. And MXmag thanks for the interview of course!
You're welcome!
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