Difficult opening round of the 250cc European Championship for Robin Bakens
Last weekend in the mud of Bulgaria the first round was completed for it European Championship 250cc. Belgian Robin Bakens was there and was looking forward to it. In preparation, Robin went riding in France at circuits such as Campagne-les-Hesdins and Naours. A lot of testing was done and the results were impressive. However, there is nothing that can prepare you for what the young East Flemish player faced on Saturday and Sunday.
De first workout was also the last due to a shortened program. The riders of the European Championship 250cc received one session before the competitions. With more than 40 riders on the track and mud up to knee deep, it was not easy riding in Sevlievo. The otherwise rock-hard concrete track had been transformed into a true battlefield where you had to drive in almost inhumane conditions. Waiting in the pit lane until a dry track was formed, Robin's tension increased. The Yamaha rider finally pressed once, which was good for a 30e qualifying time.
On Saturday the first series finished. The start of this series did not go smoothly, in one of the first corners Robin went out of the ideal line because there was a lot of queuing, but outside this line it was pure mud. Bakens' front wheel slipped and he fell. Finally, he was able to start a huge catch-up race. In round 8 Robin was already at 25e place and he still drove faster lap times than the boys before him. Unfortunately a sputtering engine threw a spanner in the works and he finished 33rde within.
On Sunday there was a small warm-up of 10 minutes and almost immediately afterwards the second heat. This second round went anything but well, a bad start in combination with bad driving resulted in a bad result. Robin came in as 30e and had the following explanation ready for us.
“I don't understand what went wrong in this second series. It just wasn't going anywhere, everything I tried, every line I took... nothing felt right and after about 10 minutes I really had a mental dip. It is really something I have never experienced before and hopefully will never experience again, because it was not pleasant to drive this way. Now I'm going to recharge during the competition in Wuustwezel to be ready again for the Belgian Championships in Moerbeke-waas. The next European Championship will be in Spain on May 11.”
Thanks to: Steven Braems drilling and concrete works, Arai Helmets, Leatt protectives, EKS Brand Goggles, Gaerne Boots, BEST products, Putoline motorcycle oils, Yamaha Belgium, Van Hasselt exhausts, TMV, Twin Air, No Limit Graphics, Fietswereld Bijvank, Renthal, Muc -Off, Acerbis, Bakens Yamaha, Pirelli, Spirit suspension.
Photos: Bavo Swijgers/MXlife.be
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