MX Belgium: Stepchildren…
Despite the anything but pleasant Easter weather, it was still full house in Valkenswaard on Monday. It goes without saying that many Belgian motocross enthusiasts had also found their way to the Eurocircuit. After all, many of them had been hungry for top-level cross for months.
It was good to see a GP live for the first time in a long time. I will not deny that the Belgian Championship (and yes also the ONKs) is close to my heart, but a GP is of course of a different caliber. If only because of the international audience.
With a Belgian GP winner in the MX3 and two second places in the MX1 and MX2, the Belgians certainly did not do badly. But the days when we dominated the Valkenswaard sand seem to be over.
Yet I believe that Joël Roelants could do nothing against the very strong Jeffrey Herlings. Although I also fear that the latter has such mental dominance that Roelants and Van Horebeek may no longer be able to beat him this season. Whether it was an MX2 GP or a race in the ONK MX2, there was no difference for the spectator. And Jeffrey will probably have a bad time too, he was just doing his thing and can he help it that he is the best sand rider in the world?
After his good performances in the ONK MX2, where he regularly managed to beat Roelants, I also expected Jeremy Van Horebeek on the podium in Valkenswaard. Van Horebeek rode strongly, especially in the first heat, but a podium was ultimately not possible. Perhaps a disappointment, but the focus will now be on the hard circuits and I certainly expect Van Horebeek to be at the front there.
Furthermore, it was not a 'big feat' for the MX2 Belgians. Nick Triest walked through the riders' park with a shoulder bandage and could well be out until the French GP at the beginning of June. For various reasons, there were no points for Julien Lieber, Kenny Vandueren and Jens Getteman. That is no shame for 'rookies' Vandueren and Getteman. Although picking up points in Valkenswaard seems a bit easier for a Belgian World Cup debutant than picking up points in Sevlievo. For Lieber, who is in his second year, there could have been a few World Cup points. The positive surprise came from Belgian MX2 champion Kevin Fors. Fors took 3 World Cup points in the second series. Perhaps not that spectacular in itself, but certainly not bad for a debutant.
However, the difference between Fors and 'final year MX2' Van Horebeek and Roelants is enormous. An immediate consequence of the stepmotherly way in which the MX2 is treated in Belgium. It would be shortsighted to only point the finger at the BMB and the organizers. The media is also sick in the same bed. For example, on Monday evening there was nothing about Roelants and Van Horebeek on either Teletekst or the Sporza website. Strange, right? Outside of the specialized media, the Belgian MX2 GP riders should not expect much media attention. Some amateur top players have already been in the newspapers more this season than Van Horebeek and Roelants combined.
Actually, the MX2 GP Belgians are a bit like the stepchildren of Belgian motocross….
Gallery: Kawasaki Racing/Sarah Guttierez
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