Jens Getteman is ready for Qatar!
After a nice fifth place in his first race of the season, last week during the “Dash for Cash” in Lommel, Jens Getteman keen to continue the trend in Hawkstone Park. The 20 year old 24MX Honda Racing rider ultimately left Shropshire, England, with a liberating feeling and a nice podium finish after Shaun Simpson and Matisse Karro. Jens couldn't have asked for a better way to permanently erase the disastrous 2013!
Getteman's teammate Xavier Bow made his first appearance on the Honda in his own country. The fast Frenchman completed his dress rehearsal after canceling Valence in Lacapelle Marival. With a 5de in 8. th place in the MX1 and a withdrawal in the final series, Lacapelle became a mediocre race for Boog. However, his strong catch-up race in the second round confirmed that Xavier is also ready for the start of his World Cup campaign.
Getteman struggled in the morning with pumped up arms, but as the day progressed the Topsport Vlaanderen rider got into his rhythm better and better. Thanks a 6de in 4. de Jens managed to take a place in the heats on an MX1 final podium. In the combined MX1/MX2 super final - in which the MX2 riders started with a 5 second lead - Getteman rode to fifth place. Another great performance with which he finished second in the MX1!
Jens Getteman: “Hawkstone Park was a great race for me. I love the atmosphere there and I love the course, but I didn't expect to do so well! I was second away in the opening heat but then I went a bit too wide which caused me to lose a few places. In any case the feeling was good, without that mistake it would have been a 4de place resident. In the second moto I started fourth. I had to give up a spot to Todd Waters, but I was able to hang with him. Then he pulled away a bit, towards the end it seemed like I could still overtake him, but the heat was too short for that. Thanks to that fourth place, I ended up on the podium! The only downside was that there was barely half an hour after the podium to prepare for the Super Final.
The start of that Superfinal was very hectic. Especially because Shaun Simpson's fence fell earlier than that of the other MX1 riders. It was very hectic in the beginning so that I actually had no idea where exactly I was sitting in the MX1! By the end I was absolutely dead. Both three (Lars Van Berkel) and four (Martin Barr) were within my reach but the tank was completely empty. At least I feel good. My lap times were also positive and regular, the engine is running great, so I'm really looking forward to the start of the World Championship.”
Xavier Bow: “The first race of the season always brings some stress. That was the case now too. Especially since this was the only preparation due to the loss of Valence. At the beginning of the day the track was quite difficult, but after that it quickly improved. Besides a physical test, it also became an opportunity to work on my adjustments. Throughout the day we have further refined both the suspension and engine settings.
My first heat was okay - I crossed the line just after Joël Roelants - but nothing more than that. Even though I'm only 8th in MX1, I had the best feeling in the second moto. I had a bad start but I was able to come back strong. This was not easy, especially with the other lines of MX2 pilots. You really had to look for overtaking opportunities. I had an excellent start in the final. I was second behind Frossard, but a stone on my glasses forced me to give up early. Driving without a rolloff was impossible because of the flying stones. I tried a few more laps but had to drive slower and slower. Not much of Lacapelle will stick around. For me, the 2014 season really starts under the lights of Losail!”
Photos: CDS, Pascal Haudiquert/Mediacross
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