Season start: VLM for dummies
VLM has its origins in Central Limburg where a number of motocross fanatics in 1965, Sports after Labor, an independent motocross federation. After a few years the federation changes its name and goes as BLM (Belgian Motorcycle Enthusiasts Union) through life. In 1998 the name was changed to VLM (Flemish Enthusiasts Motorcyclists Union).
Over the 80s and 90s, VLM managed to build a strong reputation as the amateur motocross association of Belgium. The hegemony that VLM exhibits in the FAM and Imba confrontations is a strong example of this. VLM has now left the IMBA and is fully concentrating on national events.
In 2010, VLM organizes competitions in three different provinces. The center of gravity of the VLM calendar is in the province of Antwerp, and competitions also take place in Limburg and Flemish Brabant. A map on the VLM website clearly shows this geographical distribution. This geographical spread also means a certain diversity in circuits. In the north of the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg, VLM mainly visits sandy circuits. The Flemish Brabant circuits have a harder, loamy surface. On an average VLM competition day, riders can get their money's worth in 14 different classes.
General info:
Registered office: Linkhoutstraat 219a, 3560 Linkhout-Lummen
Tel.: 013/44 30 43, E-mail: vlmbureel@scarlet.be
Acting Chairman: Eddy Houtmeyers
Chairman Sports Committee: Francis Bielen, Email: vlmsportcommissie@telenet.be
Series format:
– Recreational and leisure riders
– Promises MX2
– Newbies MX2
– Newcomers MX1/3 A
– Newbies MX1/3 B
– Juniors MX2
– Juniors MX1/3
– Nationals Open
– Inters Open (Inters A MX1/3 + Inters MX2 + Inters MX B Open)
– Sidecars A and B
– Quads Open
Calendar: The 2010 VLM calendar can be found here
The circuit top 3 of: Jelle Grade
Who is better placed to analyze the VLM circuits than current VLM Inters MX1/3 A champion Jelle Grade? The Betemo rider provides explanations about his three favorite circuits:
1) Baal-Tremelo: “The matches at the Balenberg are real home matches for me. Moreover, the Balenberg has that little bit extra for other circuits. It is one of the few hard circuits on the VLM calendar. But it is also a natural technical circuit. The circuit has also been a crowd puller for years.”
2) To compress: “I may have chosen the Balenberg as my favorite race, but I am still a fan of sand circuits such as the one on the Keiheuvel. A race at the Keiheuvel will always be special, even though we do not ride the entire circuit there in the VLM cross. Yet organizing club DIGA Racing always manages to make something special out of it. Add to that the fact that the masses always find their way to the Keiheuvel and you always have successful competitions.”
3) Lommel: “As a sand hare, I naturally also feel at home in the Heeserbergen. I think the changes that the circuit has undergone in recent years have been successful. Still, I especially like the GP version of the circuit. Last year we rode the final of the MX-Rookie on Friday on the GP circuit and that was very successful.”
Credit photos: CDS, Willy Van Thillo/MTM-Racing
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