Sven Breugelmans: “I don't make predictions.”
Sven Breugelmans is undoubtedly the most important newcomer at VLM this season. On Sunday, the two-time MX3 world champion will start at the Keiheuvel in his very first VLM race since 1995. The Rijkevorsel native drew a line under his rich GP career at the end of last season and moved to the BeTemo-Yamaha team in the interim season. Breugelmans thus returns to the federation where it all started for him in the mid-90s: VLM.
Sven, how did you end up at BeTeMo?
Sven Breugelmans: “One of the BeTeMo board members supported me in the past when I started my career in the VLM. Even after I exchanged VLM for the BMB in 1996 and later started riding GPs, we kept in touch. When I had enough of the GPs at the end of last year and had plans to ride in an amateur federation, that man told me to come and talk to BeTeMo first. And so the collaboration came about. I started my career at VLM and I also ride in my own region every Sunday. After years of long journeys by motorcyclehome and endless hours of waiting in airport terminals, I had just about had it. Moreover, I also have a daughter who I would like to see grow up. I am happy that I can look back on a wonderful GP career and have tasted a lot of cross-country racing in other countries, they will never take that away from me. But now I am just as happy that I can compete at a decent level for fun at BeTeMo.”
We assume that both the VLM and FAM titles at the Inters MX1/3 A are among your goals?
Sven Breugelmans: “Let's first wait and see what the first matches give. My GP experience will not play as big a role as everyone thinks. The typical VLM circuits are completely different from what I was presented with in the GPs in recent years. Moreover, I am still recovering from injuries to my right wrist, a not insignificant part of the body as a motocross rider. My pulse will probably never be 100% again, so let's see to what extent that will affect me. That's why I don't venture into predictions.”
In addition to the competitions in VLM and the FAM championship, will you also compete in BC competitions?
Sven Breugelmans: “That chance certainly exists. I haven't compared calendars yet, but at VLM we get six delegations per season. The VLM championship obviously has priority, but through those delegations I would still like to attend a Belgian Championship or ONK competition every now and then.”
Your last competitions in VLM date from the autumn of 1995, when the federation was even called BLM. But which are your favorite circuits based on the current calendar?
Sven Breugelmans: “Then there is one circuit that stands out and that is the Balenberg in Baal-Tremelo. A circuit that would certainly not be out of place on the BC calendar. In my opinion, the Balenberg is even comparable to the Kesterheide. It is also a circuit that will suit me better than the meadow crosses.”
Have you exchanged information with teammate Jelle Grade to evolve the Yamaha?
Sven Breugelmans: “No, Jelle and I work separately. Jelle has adjusted his engine separately with his own mechanic. I did that with my father, who helps me tinker with the engine during the week. We may already be teammates at BeTeMo, but it's every man for himself. It would therefore be a bit strange to exchange adjustment data with your biggest competitor.”
That brings us seamlessly to the next question, who will be your biggest competitors at VLM?
Sven Breugelmans: “I suspect that the strongest competitor is in the same team as me, Jelle Grade. It is not without reason that Jelle is the current VLM champion. On typical VLM circuits you should absolutely not underestimate him and the other veterans because those guys really accelerated there last year. Now that Bas Verhoeven and Jimmy Huymans are no longer there, there are two fewer serious competitors. As far as the other boys are concerned, I absolutely cannot yet estimate what they will be capable of over an entire season.”
I assume you train differently now?
Sven Breugelmans: “Yes, after years of being a professional motocross racer, I now work in a two-shift system as a truck mechanic at Sita in Beerse. That also means that I can only train physically a few times a week. Now, that in itself is not such a disaster because a VLM competition simply requires less of your body than a GP. Moreover, I also experience this a lot differently than before. Everything is a bit more relaxed now than during my GP years. So I can now finally have a pint with my mates on Friday, something that was absolutely out of the question during the preparation and the season during my professional career. I do notice that I still lack some riding time on the motorcycle. That's because so far I have only been able to ride the Yamaha during the weekend. But when summer time returns at the end of March, I will also be able to train with the motorcycle once every fortnight on a weekday afternoon. For comparison, during my years with Jacky Martens I rode the bike four or sometimes five times a week during preparation. As the season passes, that frequency decreases.”
Photos credit: Photographic Art, CDS, Rolf Verhagen
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