Column: You got me!
In Goes we met Olav Heijt. Who is that man you may ask? He is Dutch with an extremely smooth writing style, he is very interested in motocross, but he likes to look beyond just the results. Olav likes to look for what, who or what behind all this. In Goes we agreed that we will also share some pieces with you here, for the entire repertoire you can visit MXInfected!
As we walk past the cash register I can already hear the roar coming from the hall. Goosebumps, especially when such a “fat one” goes into the limiter. It has now become the most normal thing in Zeeland. “Supercross in the Zeelandhallen”. The spectacle has been held 22 times before and has experienced spectacular growth. Not only in terms of surroundings, but certainly also when you open your program booklet. Named riders will be at the start. I prefer not to mention names because I will always forget someone, but it promises to be a wonderful day.
My children are nervous. Their first time and my second. Somewhere in the very beginning I was there once and today. It's actually because I had an opinion about it. I say “had” because I came back completely from that. I always thought it was very dangerous. The fall of Joerie van Liere last year is still in my memory. From there I thought I knew that we actually can't do that here. Too few training facilities, which means that the risk of injuries is quite high in my opinion. I decide to accept it and we take a seat in one of the stands. There is a very nice atmosphere in the hall. A DJ has been hired to expertly put together the full program accompanied by loud music. The man knows his trade because he has the attention of the audience and therefore also the taste. The variety of music and commentary from the two fantastic announcers makes even the rematch seem like a final. There is a breathtaking battle going on in every heat to get the audience into their seats. “Our” boys, together with riders from Belgium, England, Denmark, Spain and even one from “The States” ensure very exciting heat races and rematches. High jumps by large and very small men with an “oversized” heart. Partly due to the training camps in the past two weeks, there is a lot of control among the riders. No crazy risks and fair fights. Of course, it's all about timing and insight. I now understand that if you don't have that, you don't even think about participating. It would be like doing a trapeze jump without first practicing with a safety net. Once you're released, you can't go back. At a few moments, emotions flare up a bit in the "witch's cauldron", but that is part of this "mega attraction".
As the finals approach, the sold-out hall starts to buzz more and more. A beer has already been consumed here and there and the DJ knows how to get everyone into seats. They do a wave and sing along at their loudest. It secretly reminds me a bit of the atmosphere in the stadium of a football match I recently attended. One big crowd with the same passion. One big crowd with friends you don't even know. When the finals start there is no stopping them. There is no point in sitting anymore and children sit on their shoulders. Wonderful actions. Block passes and triple jumps. There is fighting going on steering wheel to steering wheel. Spurred on by the audience, the men go to extremes. Announcers go crazy and shout the men to higher realms. Screaming Spaniards next to me stamp hard on the wooden floor. My daughter is jumping on her seat and is in favor of “the American”. My boys prefer the local heroes.
I am for everyone. I am for the Municipality of Goes, the organization, the announcers, the KissMissen, the sublime performance of Alex van den Broek, the show of Jimmy Verburgh and Marco Stallman, the DJ and for two men especially. Mike Kras for his courageous decision to hang up his helmet and Joerie van Liere, just because he was there! It was beautiful, I enjoyed it and I'm convinced. Absolutely…
Text: Olav Heijt – Photos: Frederik Van Eeckhoven
Also to read
Jago Geerts: “I want to come back to Lommel”
Jago Geerts is working hard to bounce back from an injury he sustained in early March during the opening race of the 2024 MXGP World Championship in Argentina. The Belgian, who at…Andrea Bonacorsi on his move to MXGP: “That was the most difficult decision of my life”
Reigning EMX250 Champion, Andrea Bonacorsi, will move to the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team for the remainder of the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship season, replacing…Entry lists MXGP of Portugal
The Motocross World Championship will continue next weekend with the fifth race on the MXGP calendar. In Agueda, Portugal, in addition to MXGP and MX2, the boys from EMX250 and EMX125 will also compete…Tom Vialle is chasing the US title
There is one race left in the US East Coast Supercross Championship. It will take place in two weeks in Salt Lake City, the city that has become accustomed to…
Your reactions