PR: Mathias Van Hoof – Successful first mission
After two and a half months of inactivity due to his hip dislocation at the end of 2014, this first outing at the opening of the BK Enduro in Hautrage was seen as a test for Mathias Van Hoof. With barely 200 test kilometers spread over four rides, it is an understatement to say that Mathias was not quite ready for it. Yet he immediately managed to achieve a very nice 4th place in the E1 Beloften, despite the complete lack of training.
As far as the weather was concerned, the numerous participants, the opening round of the 2015 Belgian Championship had 224 participants, were able to kiss both hands with this first sunny spring day.
The riders were presented with a 40 km long loop with two specials. The first, 8 km long, special was driven in a quarry. In addition to a very fast circuit, the riders also had to deal with some rocks, which provided quite a spectacle. The second special test was more of a cross test where the riders rode from one pasture to another. Here it became a combination of jumping mountains and artificial obstacles. This special was an absolute crowd pleaser. Both drivers and spectators could enjoy themselves here.
Before Mathias Van Hoof could or was allowed to start, the Racing Center rider first had to visit the sports doctor last Wednesday and an extensive physical test ensured that the KTM rider from Halle Zoersel could prepare himself last minute for this season opener. It is a matter of assessing how much of a delay the healing process of the dislocated left hip has caused (cf. Indoor enduro Schijndel December 27, 2014) compared to the new competition.
Mathias, with number 142, started his first competition in the Promises/Espoirs category with a small heart and very limited ambitions. A safe competition strategy was chosen in advance. Drive sensibly and in a measured manner with a view to finishing. The latter was absolute priority. Miraculously, the first part of the race went better than expected, especially considering the very limited motorcycle training. In the first round, Mathias twice recorded the seventh fastest time, but in the second round he suffered from cramps in his left leg, as a result of the serious injury he sustained earlier. The belt came off a bit, but Mathias wouldn't be himself to try to force anything in the last round. He actually rode a second chrono (!!) in the penultimate special, but that meant that he could no longer do everything he could in the last special of the day.
That is why the KTM Racing Center rider looks back on a more than successful first competition and looks forward to the 2015 season with hope. Mathias Van Hoof: “I wanted to gain weight and rode at 70% of my ability, so I am very happy with the result. Podium places are definitely part of the ambitions and possibilities, although I must admit that the competition is very stiff. But I was just wrong in my very first match with the Beloften. The first two podium places were occupied by top performers such as Gauthier Lillo (winner U1 Hautrage) and Antoine Magain (following at just 09'XNUMX in the final result). My time will come!”
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