Green flag: Stop the press!
Even during the silent years, they wanted to stay informed about the latest developments hot off the needle-news. If urgent and important news arrived, the printing of the newspaper had to literally be stopped or postponed. Hence the slogan: Stop the press! We can hardly imagine it nowadays with the rich news offering on the net. Or perhaps in another meaning... Because with an abundance of press performances this week, things could have been a little less!
On Monday, the Red Bull KTM factory team continued the habit it had created Bengt Van Velthoven and the De Carli Team - just continue. Before the Valkenswaard GP, Cairoli & Co have been introduced to the press, friends and sponsors in Belgium for several years. This time it could be a little more because the orange men went to the Hasselt dance temple the Versuz. Stefan Everts also took the opportunity to explain the KTM SX-350F. The evening was spent talking to Joël Smets and he was allowed to work again on Thursday in Herentals to manage the Motorsport Future press conference! Both very nice events by the way, although there wasn't much new to be learned. Rui Gonçalves, who is making his MX1 debut in Valkenswaard, said that he does not have high expectations for the time being. Logically. Yet it remains extremely interesting to see what a 'normal' rider can do on the 350. Without prejudice to KTM's latest, Cairoli will probably still go fast with square wheels!
Square also played this week in Honda Park. Or at least for Jonathan Barragan. Kawasaki's Spanish acquisition fell during training and dislocated his right hip. Out at least six weeks for the Torreador from Madrid. A major blow to the plans of the Kawa factory team, which had to make do without Sébastien Pourcel for a long time last year and has not played for the MX1 world title in years. Probably not this year either... The fast Swiss also went on Tuesday Julien Bill made a mistake in Olmen. Fortunately, no serious injury in itself, but Bill will not be there in V'waard. The Frenchman Loic Larrieu made his comeback.
In the discussion about power versus weight, it is easy to ignore the fact that lower weight and more agility are enormous advantages for the average rider. Also - or rather certainly - in the sand by the way. So watch out for that Yentel martens (Nestan-JM Racing-KTM) this weekend! Yentel already showed by finishing sixth in Gemert that a two-stroke is far from over! Also the young Frenchman Cedric Soubeyras is doing far from bad on his KTM SX 250. In the category of animated bar debates, the MXoN sometimes appears in Zolder 2003. You know where 'The Legend' took on Ricky with his four-strokeThe GOAT' Carmichael on a 250cc two-stroke. Armed with a super high-performance HRC Honda, this flagman has his own thoughts about the so-called technical disadvantage that RC had that day... You may agree or disagree via max@motocrossmag.be...
The positive news for KRT came last week with an easy victory Xavier Bow in Mons. The young Frenchman has been one of the revelations of the season so far and is doing well on the 450. The course of the MX in the Bois brulé itself was also positive. The changes to the circuit, wider and clearer, were welcomed by the riders and spectators. Mons also tried it with a new formula where the drivers could earn a lot of starting money. In any case, the top performers present gave it their all.
Whoever always goes for it, wide open, is of course Jeffrey herlings. 'The bullet' also did not escape the Stop the press! Because there were so many questions from the media after his fantastic performance in Mantova and with Valkenswaard in prospect, the press was convened in Valkenswaard on Tuesday. Jeffrey gets to tell his story between KNMV national coach Leon Giesbers and his boss Stefan Everts. Very down to earth and yet ambitious, as we know him. As an added bonus, Herlings was also allowed, by exception, to complete a few laps on the circuit. Check here the Omroep Brabant video about the press conference.
And yes, because you cannot stand on one leg, there was another press conference on Wednesday. In the solemn setting of the Gravenhof in Dworp, the MX Pro Series, or the 2010 Motocross Championships. Despite some difficulties in the run-up, the BMB proudly announced a partnership with the promoter 720 degrees. And this year too, the MX Pro Series promises to be one of the highest-quality national championships in Europe. Important innovations are the qualifying series of 15 minutes plus one lap in the afternoon. In the afternoon two series of 30 minutes + 1 round will be completed. An excellent initiative that should certainly benefit the tension and this will also bring the competition format more in line with the format in the GPs.
In any case, the list of regular participants in the MX Pro Series looks very impressive again: Steve Ramon, Ken De Dycker, Sébastien Pourcel, Kevin Strijbos, Tanel Leok, Jeremy Van Horebeek, Davide Guarneri and Marvin Van Daele. Just to name the main drivers. Marc De Reuver will also be extensively admired in Belgium. Only in Orp-le-Grand is the Beursfoon-Suzuki rider in principle just there due to the coincidence with the ONK. This also applies to Dennis Verbruggen and Joël Roelants.
Photos credit: CDS, Ray Archer, Olivier Evrard, Photo-Impact
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