La Chinelle: the high mass of the Belgian Enduro
The famous one 12 hours from Chinelle were founded 30 years ago when ex-world motocross champions Joel Robert wanted to set up an off-road endurance event. Robert got his inspiration for this from, among others, the legendary 24h in Brittany. It was the start of a great success, in recent decades many big names from Belgian and international motocross and enduro have appeared.
As always, the 12 hours are ridden over three different series. Traditionally the first series starts at midnight. This series lasts five hours. The second series starts at nine in the morning and lasts until one o'clock in the afternoon. However, the participants do not get much time to recover because barely an hour later they have to return to work in the final series.
To a duel between Gas Gas and KTM?
As is often the case, it is dangerous to put forward a favorite team in this match, so here is an overview of the strongest teams.
In both 2008 and 2009, the victory went to the team of Gas Gas importer Danny Crosset. This year Crosset is again aiming for overall victory with an EC 300 two-stroke machine. A first team consists of: Cedric Melotte, Kevin Fors en Kevin Gauniaux, they are clearly the spearhead. In addition, there is a second team with Thierry Wansart, Jérôme Martiny en Frédéric Gauniaux.
Kawasaki Dealer Jadoul Motorsport gambles with Eric Hubin, Dimitri Vanhoenacker en Benjamin Halleux on three crossers. The team is managed by former Endurance World Champion Richard Hubin.
KTM en Husaberg Dealer DAM Racing deploy no fewer than four tems. The most striking thing is the team with Wim Vanderheyden, Cedric Cremer en Christophe Descamps on a Husaberg FX 450, a real cross-country machine and therefore ideal for this type of work. In addition, BK Enduro shares promoter Thierry Klutz a KTM SX-F 350 with Filip Van Dijk en Pascal Berlingieri. Another SX-F 350 is available at the KTM dealer Fiorentino can good old Jan Blancquaert links to the brothers The carpenter. It is another strong KTM team Strike Racing team from ex-Supermoto celebrity Christopher Bertrand. Bertrand uses an EXC 450 for Sebastien Soyeurt, Gregory Neefs en Eric Delannoy.
European affair
Sherco importer Michael Vukcevic shares a Sherco 300i with Stéphane Denuit en Corentin Pochez. TM Belgium put with Adriën Vandommele, Steve Goblet en Lamberty Karadeg a strong team on an EN 300 two-stroke. With too Rieju en Beta At the start, almost all European brands are represented during this high mass of the Belgian Enduro. Finally, I would like to mention that MX MAG also deploys a team. Our French-speaking colleague Olivier Evrard comes together with Jeremy Fraselle en Vincent Hercot at the start on a KTM SX-F 350!
The complete list of participants of the 12 Heures de la Chinelle as well as that of the 2 Heures, the competition with classic motorcycles and all practical information can be found here.
Photo Credits: KTM Images/R. Scheidl, Plan-B, Gas Gas Belgium
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