Forza Pota! Davide Guarneri's column
Hello everyone!
The past week was a bit strange coming back to Belgium after our exotic trip to Brazil! It was very hot in Campo Grande and it was also a tough journey, a huge difference with the weather here. But the least you can say about such a GP is that you end up in a place where you would otherwise never go. Brazil is such a huge country, completely different from Europe and life is very relaxed. Because we did a bit of sight-seeing before the match, you also approach such a match with a different feeling.
I cannot be completely satisfied with the Brazilian GP. In the first series I was third for a long time after Philippaerts and Nagl. So I made reasonable progress, but Cairoli and Desalle were too fast, so I lost two more places. I also found my rhythm in the second heat, until I came across the famous man with the hammer. It was such a very big hammer this time. Do you know the size they use to set up the marquee on the cross? The heat really hit my body and I had to slow down. Frustrating because I know that with better fitness there is more to it. In the end I came sixth in the final standings. My manager Pier reassured me afterwards. You can see such a result as the glass being half empty or half full. But the fact that I have joined the battle with the MX1 top riders and that I know the speed is there gives me confidence for next season. Before that happens, I want to end this year on a high note. Also in the BC.
For me, last weekend was the first time I rode in Orp-le-Grand. I didn't know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. What a nice circuit! Technical, and a smooth surface on the hill. Really something that suits my style. Too bad I just missed the podium, but yes I was unlucky in the first moto with a stone stuck between my frame and the brake pedal! My riding went well, but there is little hope left for the Belgian title. Whether I finish second in the championship or Tanel, it doesn't really matter. The season has already been long and it makes no difference to the team. We take second and third place, but whoever comes second or third remains the same. As long as you can be satisfied with your match and we have provided a spectacle for the audience... Then it's fine!
As you may have seen, I had an unfortunate fall in Loket and immediately clutched my back. We feared a hernia, but luckily it wasn't that bad. This was also evident from the scan. The doctor thought it was an inflammation between two vertebrae, the L4 and L5, and the muscles on the sides that were tense. It was very painful and I could barely bend my back, luckily we were able to treat it well with painkillers and magnet therapy. Some people thought it was an old back injury that had come back, but it wasn't. So you can see that even a small fall can have major consequences, because my crash in Loket was really nothing!
When I open motocross magazines or go on the internet, there is always a buzz about transfer rumors this time of year. Sometimes it is unbelievable what is written. Really funny even if you know how the fork really fits to the handle. This is usually about other riders because no pages are filled about me yet, hahaha! I am very satisfied with my current team. The collaboration with my mechanic Gaëtan and with the team boss Steven (Lettani) is very cool. There was not too much pressure, everything actually went according to plan. As a rider you must of course weigh all possible options and, especially in these times of crisis, it is also important to make good choices. It is important for LS Motors to have a Belgian rider next season. I also have offers from other teams… To be honest, I haven't decided yet. There's a 50% chance I'll stay. No matter how it turns out, I've had a great time here this year. That is why there is a very good chance that I will also ride the Belgian Championship in 2011. First and foremost you can earn some money there, the level is high with about ten riders at World Championship level and on the other hand I just think the races are great fun! The circuits are fun and a lot of people come to watch. Only Balen wasn't really my thing.
I also consider the Belgian Championships as a good training ground to fight for victories in MX1. If you make a mistake in Belgium or the Netherlands, such as in Gemert, you can still correct it. In the GPs it's a different story, you have to fight to get points! This allows you to drive more relaxed, even if the pace is very high. You can push your limits without having to pay cash for every hiccup. You know we had some riders this year who came over from MX2 like Boog and Bobryshev who maybe did better than what people expected. I get that reaction too. Still, I'm not excited about my season. I cannot call the championship itself excellent because my speed was not translated enough into results. I am now tenth in the standings, but I certainly could have finished higher. There is no single reason for this. As usual, it is a combination of circumstances: physically I have to become even stronger, I made stupid mistakes and in Loket I had super bad luck with a clutch lever that broke... That reasoning also applies to my teammate Tanel. When you see how fast he is, he is also below his value. Although it is always difficult to speculate where you should have been! And all the drivers in the top 10 or just outside are simply very good.
We now have two more GPs and it would be nice if I could make up for something. I know it will be very tough in Lierop this weekend, but I want to do everything I can to achieve a strong result in the Herselse woods. I also owe that to Marnicq Bervoets. Marnicq has helped me a lot this year for all kinds of things: I was allowed to stay with him, he helped me with my training and during competitions. I am very grateful to him for that. I have met a lot of people in my career, but Marnicq is really a super guy.
The last GP is in Italy, Fermo. It's quite funny that they always go to a new location for the Italian GP! Fermo used to be a very special job. Really gigantic and vast. It took you three minutes to complete a lap! Of course, that is no longer possible with the FIM rules for a Grand Prix. The circuit will be shortened and I think it will be a fun course. The surroundings also look beautiful. In Fermo one section is completely on a large descent, the surface is hard but not concrete. You do have some grip on the top layer and underneath it is hard. Hopefully it doesn't rain there because you have a lot of clay that will stick to your bike!
To complete the calendar, I have to talk about the MX of Nations. Although of course a lot of ink has already been spilled about the Italian team this year! I can't say much about the position of Tony, David or their teams. It is also quite difficult because the Italian association's project with the blue shirts, the maglia azzurra, has been running for five years now. This also includes the training of talents and they do merchandising with the blue shirts to collect budget. It really doesn't matter to me because the blue shirt itself. But I understand the teams and their sponsors. Especially in these times of crisis, because they pay the pilots. Ultimately, I cannot get involved or show solidarity with Cairoli or Philippaerts. Simply because my sponsors, including SEL which takes care of the transport of the motorcycles, are happy that I am going to America! Then it's hard for me to refuse, right? And besides, it will also be a very cool race against the Americans and so on. Unfortunately the Italian team is not as strong as it could be but Cairoli and Philippaerts are irreplaceable. I just hope to do a good job there. Because I grew up in the mountains, I think it would be fun to race in Thunder Valley at such an altitude. Who knows, I might still have a home advantage in America, hahahaha.
Ciaooooooooooooo!
Davide 'Pota' Guarneri
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