Controversy surrounding BMB Seniors
Last Wednesday the Motocross working group of BMB Sports Committee In Brussels. The meeting agenda included a score which related to the current BMB motocross season. The most striking decision was that the current top three of the BMB Seniors championship – Jan Blancquaert, Pascal Bal en Edmond Natterman – has to compete in the Nationals from the first race after Kester. That decision was made after examining the results.
A controversial decision to say the least that immediately deprives these riders of all chances of a possible title. The question is therefore how the latter should sell this mandatory switch to their sponsors and supporters. It was clear that Blancquaert and Bal were head and shoulders above the rest of the Seniors peloton. Both in their forties regularly beat opponents who are 10, 15 and sometimes even 20 years (in the case of Jan Blancquaert) younger than themselves, with the regularity of a Swiss watch.
Moreover, the criteria used by the BMB sports committee for this forced promotion are vague or insufficiently formulated. It is difficult to say that Blancquaert, at 48 years old, does not fit the profile of the BMB Seniors. Especially now that the season is half way and the three PhD candidates no longer have a decent chance of a good ranking at the Nationals MX1/MX3. At least, if they accept this decision and do not switch to another federation.
We therefore dare to wonder whether this is the right way to treat the handful of Seniors who take the championship seriously and compete in every race. Would it be better for the BMB Sports Committee not to consider the mobile chicanes that have been present at the start of the Nationals MX1/MX3 peloton for many years?
Photo credits: Photo Impact/Michael Hennebert
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