BK Sidecars is looking forward to a fantastic opening weekend!
Last year it was snow clearing for the organizing MC Santi, a few days before the kick-off of the Belgian Championship, but this year it looks like we will be facing the first clouds of dust on and around the legendary Horensbergdam in Genk next Sunday. Glorious weather is forecast, the Genk circuit can be prepared perfectly, and the sun is currently shining brightly over the Belgian sidecar cross scene! Because in 2013, both the European IMBA title (Corthouts-Vandenbulck) and the world title (Adriaenssen-Vandenbogaart) went to Belgium, and no fewer than six stages for the Belgian championship are planned for the new 2014 motocross season.
The fact that both Adriaenssen-Vandenbogaart (also reigning Belgian champion) and Corthouts-Vandenbulck will soon be at the start in Genk for the opener of the 2014 Belgian Championships is the crowning achievement, after a lot of work behind the scenes last winter, to to once again raise this BC to a higher level.
The interest in the race in Genk was great, and the organizing MC Santi had to apply a 'numerus clause', with of course primarily an eye for the national riders, who received permission from their respective federations VLM, MCLB and VMCF to participate in this prestigious Belgian Championship. In this way, whether desired or not, the Belgian sidecar cross is a textbook example of interfederal cooperation.
And that leads, for example: that we will soon be able to see a strong West Flemish MCLB delegation at work on the Horensbergdam, led by their A-champions, the Dierckens brothers, supplemented by, among others, the strong teams of De Soete-Waerniers and Vanderhaeghen-Callebaut. The 2013 VMCF summit is also present, with champion Dirk Vanleeuw and Descheemaecker-Vanuytsel in the lead.
World Championship riders Adriaenssen-Vandenbogaart (who are showing their factory Husqvarna on Belgian soil for the first time), Hendrickx-Mucenieks (World Championship bronze in 2013, and back this year riding a four-stroke KTM), Van Daele-Smeuninx and Andreas Clohse with his new passenger Olivier Raskin, will encounter more Belgian opposition than they would like in Genk. Because a very young armada is also descending towards Horensbergdam. Probably still too young to compete against the experienced World Cup and Belgian Championship players, but already full of ambition and brimming with talent. Or are we perhaps still underestimating the Sanders-Boxtaele, Vanluchene-Soenens combinations and the Antwerp Janssens brothers?
If the prize flowers from this Belgian season opener do not end up in Belgian hands, they can only go to the Netherlands. Vice world champions Bax-Stupelis and ten-time world champion Daniël Willemsen (now riding with Hans Tjoink) are the foreign privateers on the coast. The Visscher brothers are also established values, for whom the Belgian circuits no longer hold any secrets.
We would also like to draw attention to the starting numbers 130 and 94 in the busy sidecar class. We see Sven Verbrugge at the start with number 130. Sven won three world titles in the past as a co-pilot with D. Willemsen, but is now trying his hand as a helmsman, assisted by the young Tim Schoenmakers. And with number 94 the only female participant starts, namely Sabrina Van Calster, who is preparing at the highest level to soon head to the World Cup. A brave lady!
In addition to the sidecars, there are of course also solo competitions in Genk, including the new promising class two-stroke 125 cc. The national MX2 ride together with the national, two-stroke 125 cc, while the national MX1 ride separately.
The Inters will then bring, in addition to a series of Finnish and Swedish international riders, the Belgian top riders Kristof Salaets, Marvin Van Daele, Jilani Cambre, Jeremy Delince, Dietger Damiaens and good old Thierry Klutz behind the starting gate. These will contest their heats at 13.30:17.10 PM and 14:17.40 PM. The sidecars start at XNUMX p.m. and a second time at XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.
And for the early birds, MC Santi has a nice surprise in store in Genk: You can drive in your car until half past nine and park it in the riders' park near the circuit. Let the good times roll!!
Text: MC Santi – Special Regulations for the match in Genk
Your reactions