Green Flag: Election fever
It is mid-June, the weather is bad and in the Netherlands and Belgium the population is following the antics of the politicians with suspicion. The heroes of the word (whether given or not) with their smart suits, promises and/or doom-laden tidings have been on TV in recent days and weeks. In the Netherlands they already know how the cards are shuffled. In Belgium, this only happens on Sunday. And that is quite difficult for fans of off-road motorsports. Given that something like compulsory voting is still in force in Belgium (if that were not the case, perhaps only the candidates showed up to vote for themselves), the government is more or less forced to organize the elections on a Sunday each time. . A mandatory election day on a weekday would entail quite a bit of absenteeism (if only because of the people who have to man the election offices).
By the way, we do not understand why there is an action committee (usually anti iets) is being founded by people who may not have a hobby themselves, and there are no action committees against the landscape disruption called election boards. But all this, of course, is completely beside the point.
In concrete terms, the 2010 Federal elections mean that you can only watch one motocross race in the whole of Belgium on Sunday. But what kind! The BC competition on the Kesterheide is one of the few Flemish motocross monuments that have stood the test of time. Yes, even the former strong woman of the ABVV, Mia De Vits, cut her teeth on it a few years ago. Mrs. De Vits did not think it was possible for the Kesterheide to be transformed into a motocross circuit for one day a year. That is why she and a handful of like-minded people went to court, where she was severely defeated.
Anyone who goes to Kester on Sunday will see the drivers at work on a refreshed circuit. A number of jumps and dismounts were redesigned and tightened up a bit. However, the layout of the circuit was not affected.
We can only say one thing with certainty about the battle at the Inters Open: it will be extremely exciting! Judging from the level of form that the riders present showed in the last two GPs, it is very difficult to pick one winner. None of them stood head and shoulders above the rest. Maybe we should keep an eye on the returners. What can Priem and Barragan do after being out of action for weeks? And how did the Reuver digest his pelvic infection? One person who could urgently use a dose of success is Ken De Dycker. De Dycker was very strong in Glen Helen, but that form was not reflected in the results. In Saint-Jean d'Angély, Keeno was very mediocre and never really appeared in the play, let alone on screen. But the Monster Energy Yamaha rider does not let his head down and has worked overtime over the past week, together with his technical crew, to finally get the YZ450F to his liking. Whether he will reap the fruits of that test work in Kester remains to be seen on Sunday.
That Ramon and Van Horebeek are at 2 and 3 respectively in our Kester poll doesn't really surprise us. Both are riding a home race at the Kesterheide and have already won there in the past. After his double series victory during the first BC competition in Beervelde, we almost dare to call Ramon a certainty for the podium. Provided good starts, Van Horebeek should also be able to play for a podium place. The (provisional) leader in the poll, Kevin Strijbos, is now advancing unabated in the World Cup standings. The Wuustwezel native is getting stronger every week, but will he be able to take victory at the Kesterheide on Sunday?
At the Inters the big favorite is of course called MX2 Nick Trieste. Here and there we heard people wondering whether these series should actually be run. Nevertheless, we think that Trieste will certainly be able to count on opposition, and then from its own region. Motorsport Future rider Jens Getteman lives in the East Flemish Welle, a sub-municipality of Denderleeuw. And Denderleeuw now borders the Flemish Brabant Liedekerke, the hometown of Nick Triest. You understand, this could well be an unprecedented regional match.
The boys and girls of the EWC are working in Poland this weekend. In addition to a strong speedway scene, which in terms of crowd numbers is hardly inferior to football, Poland also has an enduro tradition. This weekend, the home country can count on two assets: Tadeusz Blazusiak in E1 and Bartosz Oblucki in E3. Blazusiak, who last week made the infamous Erzberg Rodeo won for the fourth time, may not be an absolute winner in classic enduro, but it still left a fairly strong impression in Lovere. Oblucki, on the other hand, has had a less good start to the season, but now seems to have gradually adapted to his new class.
In the E1 class, nothing or no one seems to be able to stop Antoine Meo, especially now that Johnny Aubert had to miss a GP. In E2 and E3, on the other hand, there is tension. In the Queen Class, the difference between World Cup leader Ahola and Cervantes is only 6 points. As much as the one between David Knight and Christophe Nambotin. Jean-François Goblet is the best-placed Lowlander. Goblet is currently ranked 12e place in E2, just 3 points out of 10e, Fabien Planet.
Finally, MXM cannot ignore the World Cup madness that has broken out worldwide today. Here in Belgium it's not too bad, but we can imagine that in the Netherlands the Orange fever is increasing day by day. Our favorite road racer, Ten Kate-Honda's Johnny Rea, recently visited Soccer City in Johannesburg, the stadium in which the Dutch team will play Denmark on Monday. JR's colleagues all thought it was nice and quickly kicked a ball on the sacred grass. However, as an ex-cross rider, JR had other plans for this gigantic stadium. Which? You will notice that in the video below.
Have a nice weekend and hopefully see you in Kester!
Photo Credits: CDS Images, KTM Images/Jonty Edmunds
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