Kevin Wouts enjoys a meal!
After a strong first season (including an MX Masters day victory in Munich-Flughafen), Kevin Wouts returned to Germany in 2011 where he plays for Pfeil-Kawasaki. The young Hoboken native moved from 8th place in the ADAC MX Masters final standings to 5th place. Kevin also competed in the German Open Championship and the German MX2 Championship. Even though he was less in the spotlight, Woutkse patiently continued his career with our eastern neighbors. That deserves a conversation!
How do you look back on 2011?
Kevin Wouts: “From a sporting point of view it could have been even better. I've had good and bad crosses. But I am very satisfied with the team and everything that is happening around it. I have not regretted my transition to Pfeil-Kawasaki for a moment. The atmosphere at Pfeil is excellent, the engines run perfectly and everyone is very friendly. Things went very well at the beginning of the season. In the strong ADAC MX Masters I came third in Fuerstlich Drehna after Roczen and Siegl. I won a series in both the Open German Championship and the German MX2 Championship (DM MX2). I finished 7th in the Open championship (DM Open), third in the MX2.”
Your best end result was on a 250, which is quite surprising.
Wouts: “I just had a great time in the MX2. You can ride it much more playfully and the KX-F 250 is a great motorcycle. In addition to the competitions, I also trained with it regularly and I really enjoyed it.”
The DM championships are not as well known as the ADAC MX Masters although they also have a very good level. Tell me more about the German circuits.
Wouts: “Well, I was very surprised that there were so many sandy courses on the calendar! Until July we did three quarters of the races on soft tracks to real sandboxes. Templiner and Wolgast, for example, are very sandy. But you certainly have nice courses outside the ADAC MX Masters. My entire program was also nicely filled: 20 crosses.”
How is your German?
Wouts: “(laughs) That's even better! No seriously, I do my best to speak German. Even if it isn't perfect, I know it is much appreciated. I also think that is important, the more languages you speak the better. And my German has already improved a lot!”
Compared to last year, you weren't able to make as much progress as you wanted?
Wouts: “You could put it that way. A week after the GP of Lommel I broke a bone in my hand, a piece of carpal bone, and that hurt terribly. I had been quite regular until then, but the next race I really gave up. Ried im innkreis in Austria was simply a disaster. I had to fight through the pain and managed to get to two 16th places as best I could. If you take into account my two clean results in the last two races, I am close to Soubeyras and Schiffer who finish second and third. Everything was close at the front because Günter Schmidinger, the champion, only had 6 points more than Soubeyras. Next year I want to resolutely go for the title in the ADAC MX Masters.”
That's strong language!
Wouts: “Maybe so, but I know it's possible. Moreover, I now know what to expect, both from the opposition and the circuits. I have also made progress on a technical level, I just lacked regularity. Time trial itself will never be my strongest weapon, but in the races my lap times were comparable to the top 3. Even though my position isn't great at the beginning of the race, I know how to work my way forward. My starts will also have to be better. Fighting for what I am worth is my strongest point.”
How is your hand doing now?
Wouts: “Very good, it doesn't bother me at all anymore. The doctor removed a small piece of bone and now everything is going perfectly.”
You will also stay with Pfeil-Kawasaki next year?
Wouts: “Absolutely, my program actually remains the same. Also regarding my training, I have been working with Willy Linden for years and it is going well. That man knows me perfectly! As I said, I am very satisfied with Pfeil-Kawasaki and I will stay where I am. It's just possible that I won't be able to score points in the German MX2 championship. The German association wants to close that championship to foreign drivers. We are still looking with Harald Pfeil to see if anything can be done about this. If that doesn't work out, I will do some more international races or who knows, maybe a few extra GPs. Although GPs do of course require money. In any case, I will also ride in the ONK, especially the first four races and also Axel. Actually, I would like to ride the entire championship.”
Would you like to return to the GPs?
Wouts: “I actually see this more as an intermediate step. I'm still only 21, I still have sporting ambitions and I continue to work hard to get better. To go to the GPs, you also have to make sure that the material is correct and that you have enough sponsors. I realize that all too well. It doesn't get any easier, my diel will remain to earn my living as a GP rider.”
Are you still abroad for a training internship this winter?
Wouts: "I don't go to Spain specifically to train. Together with Yves Devlaminck I give training in France, in the meantime I take advantage of the better weather there to be able to ride in good conditions.”
Enjoy and thanks for the conversation
Wouts: "No problem! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Harald Pfeil, my sponsors, my parents, my girlfriend, my trainer and my supporters.”
Credit photos: Pfeil-Kawasaki
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