BK MX2: Interview with Jens Getteman
18-year-old Jens Getteman has quickly become one of the trendsetters in the BK MX2. After a 3rd place last year in the Belgian Championship, Jens would like to take it one step higher. And if possible, 2 steps of course. Just before the start of the Monster Energy MX2 Trophy in Mons, mxmag spoke to the talkative Standing Construct-Suzuki rider.
How important is the BC to you?
Jens Getteman: “The Belgian championship is certainly important. I was also third in 2010, so I missed it every time. Every year I start to win the title, but especially in MX2 there are always new riders such as Damon Graulus and Brent Van Doninck.”
Are you satisfied with how the first part of the GP season went? As a debutant, 2012 is certainly a learning year. You already managed to score points in Bulgaria.
Getman: “Still, I expected a bit more from it. Even before the World Cup started, my shoulder dislocated in the ONK. Part of my hairstyle was also torn off. Actually, I'm still struggling with that. In any case, it will have to be operated on, but because I won't be able to do anything for 3 or 4 months then we will try to postpone that. Without that injury I would have been able to train better and would certainly have progressed further. But the adjustment from European Championships to World Cup is also major. To gain half a second, you have to work hard. Go look for it, that half second!”
Tell us a little more about the difference between the MX2 European Championship and the World Championship.
Getman: “We really keep going from the beginning to the finish. That was something different in the European Championship. There we start more cautiously in order to have something left at the end of the heat. This is not taken into account in the GPs!”
Taking the speed of the GPs into the BC should be an advantage?
Getman: “I can certainly take that speed and experience that I gained in those few GPs with me. But the circuits are completely different. I have certainly learned something from fighting from the beginning. I fell a bit short in the Belgian Championship.”
Because of that shoulder injury you probably also have to follow adapted training?
Getman: “It does indeed have consequences. Like last week in Axel when I fell during training. In the first series I only came 12th. I had to give up for the second series. Afterwards I had pain for about three or four days. Then it goes away again, but while driving it comes back. That's not easy to drive. I'm just going to try to make the best of it.”
Who are the men to beat in the Belgian Championships this year?
Getman: “First of all, hefty, of course. Kevin is the champion for a reason. I also expect something from Damon Graulus, my teammate. He is doing well, although he has only recently switched to the four-stroke. Brent Van Doninck is also very fast, but we still have to wait and see what happens with his knee. Mike Kras is no longer available on the foreign side, but I think my other Standing Construct teammate Nikolaj Larsen can also surprise.”
What do you think of the circuit in Mons?
Getman: “It's not my favorite course at all. Last year I fell because my motorcycle got stuck behind a tree root! It is a circuit where you have to be very focused.”
You didn't go to Mexico and Brazil, does the break you've had now help you prepare for the French GP?
Getman: “I am at the motocross school in Lommel and we went to Germany for a 10-day internship. There I was able to prepare myself well for the hard part. Those two overseas GPs and the hour difference must have been tiring. So in that respect I have a bit of an advantage.”
Standing Construct has three young drivers with you, Damon Graulus and Nikolaj Larsen. Does that provide additional motivation for competition under the same roof?
Getman: "Definitely. If we ride together, you keep that focused in training. You also try to push your limits, because to begin with you want to be the fastest in your own team. But we all get along very well. There is a very pleasant atmosphere. We have ridden together a lot, especially this winter. Now that is somewhat less. Because I am at Topsport Vlaanderen together with Damon, it will happen that we will train together on the same circuit.”
Thank you for your time and good luck!
Getman: "No problem you're welcome."
Photos: CDS
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