John & the boys: the Beursfoon column
“A hobby that got out of hand,” is how John Beijer himself describes the Beursfoon-Suzuki team. In daily life, Beijer is a stock market analyst and owner of Beursfoon, an independent stock market information company. Because blood flows where it cannot go, the passionate hobbycross rider founded his own team in 2003. Initially the team supported youth riders, but in 2010 the team is bigger and stronger than ever. Because the boys from Beursfoon are big hitters nowadays. GP winners Marc De Reuver en Kevin Strijbos will compete in the MX1 World Championship, the upcoming talents Donny Bastemeijer en Jose Butron represent the team in the MX2 World Championship and the European Championship 125 2T.
From the start, we thought it would be nice to include a team manager in our list of columnists. Fortunately, John was immediately won over by the idea. Coincidentally, let the first column start after an eventful week. After all, with the recruitment of Kevin Strijbos, Beursfoon was the focus of attention... Timing is everything, as we say!
John Beijer: “It was a witch's cauldron here last week. Perhaps you can compare Kevin's transition with an opportunity on the stock market! Then you have to act quickly. We had heard that Kevin was interested in getting back on Suzuki. We thought you shouldn't miss an opportunity like this! We then quickly got in touch with Kevin's manager. At the same time, we learned from Suzuki Netherlands, Suzuki Belgium and our sponsors. The agreement was also concluded quickly. At the moment it is still a madhouse to arrange all practical matters. The special parts for Kevin are coming in drop by drop, that's it flatout fighting to get everything right for it ONK in Mill. Fortunately for the boys, there are two weeks until the next competition. With such an additional driver, you also get a lot of practical issues. A mechanic there. How are we going to solve that in terms of transport or space under the tent? That takes some puzzling, but it is satisfying once you have arranged it.
As that first ONK match approaches, the tension increases. Together with the World Cup, that is our main goal. That is of course also the case when you look at the potential of our drivers. And we remain a Dutch team. On the other hand, it is not a matter of life and death. Then it is appropriate to slow down Marc (De Reuver)'s enthusiasm a bit! The ONK is fun, but the GPs are of course even more important. To have Marc there is fantastic. We are both from Amsterdam and we already have some history together. In 1999 he was the first rider we sponsored with Beursfoon. Actually, I was already very happy with our drivers before the season. That feeling is now even better with Strijbos there. No icing on the cake but a whole jar of jam!
Sometimes things go crazy in life. 10 years ago I would never have thought that I would be running a GP team, let alone with riders of this caliber. Like the cross track in Amsterdam (MC Amsterdam) had still been there, this would never have happened. I really mean that, I was still too busy driving. Then I rode there about three times a week. Not so fast, because I was an eternal Junior. But I had a golden time there, just like the 500 or 600 other members of the club. I am proud that I have been able to expand the team as we have done in recent years. Or to put it in stock market terms: muddling through is not an option! We are fortunate that I have found a group of people in my circle of friends who faithfully support us. In addition, Beursfoon-Suzuki always tries to present itself professionally. That approach works because we have already managed to convince important sponsors. I have to admit that managing a GP team on a daily basis is quite a task. Due to my busy activities Purse phone it's just difficult to combine. You don't just do it on the side. Moreover, I also have a family with two kids. That is why I am very happy with how Suzuki Netherlands has joined this project. They think along and support us. Last year something went wrong with communication within the team because I didn't have enough time. We learned from that. Tjeerd Meppelink is now even more involved with the team to lighten my burden. Tjeerd is the PR manager of Suzuki Netherlands but above all a crossman through and through. Just like me, he gets a kick out of creating something special with Beursfoon-Suzuki.
Marc De Reuver and Kevin Strijbos naturally receive a lot of attention in the media, but we are also very happy with our talents Butron and Bastemeijer. José Butron has a lot to offer, although he is not very well known. In 2008 he was leading the MX2 European Championship until he suffered an arm injury. It was there last season ONK in Rhenen like a series on stage. That's not possible if it isn't there. If Butron does what he has to do, he can go very fast, but he remains a Spaniard. And you have to chase their feathers every now and then! For Bastemeijer, 2010 will mainly be a learning year, but we really believe in Donny. It's also great that it's new EK 125 two-stroket will be in the support program for the GPs. For him it is an ideal training ground and for us it became a feasible option to acquire an additional talent. You can do the math if you otherwise have to send an extra bus to the MX2 European Championship, that is not feasible. This is a win-win for everyone.
This will be an exciting European Championship, all young guys who want to flame, on two-strokes no less. I love it. Suzuki Netherlands wanted to commit to a youth rider to help him in the longer term and they were also keen on promoting the two-stroke. For example, they previously had Jeffrey (Herlings) on Suzuki, but Donny is one of our biggest talents in the Netherlands after Herlings, so it is certainly a great opportunity for him. In the ONK MX2 I'm also curious if he will pull it off. Top ten would be nice, because in the Netherlands the MX2 level is quite high. You have Herlings of course, Ceriel Klein Kromhof, Herjan Brakke and Glen Coldenhoff and then the Belgians: Roelants and Verbruggen.
Speaking of Belgians by the way. The Beursfoon-Suzuki workshop has been in Belgium since last year, in Lommel. That was a big step forward for us. It is also more efficient because we were always hours away from Amsterdam to Brabant. It is also much easier to get things arranged in Belgium. You have some jobs nearby. Really perfect for the team. Motocross is also a popular sport there, here it is only football that counts. You certainly have that in Amsterdam. Some business associates are very enthusiastic when I invite them to the cross. Fortunately, because when people ask about your favorite sport and you answer motorcross, you often get something like this: Everyone has their hobby, they say. Everyone who reads this probably knows that feeling, whether that hobby has gotten out of hand or not (yet). This brings us back to square one! I'd say enjoy driving, but unfortunately I'll never get around to that again. Or come and see the team at one of the matches.
Until the next column,
John Beijer
Beursfoon-Suzuki MX Team
Photos credit: CDS, Beursfoon-Suzuki
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