Van Horebeek takes a step forward after winning in Gemert
Yamaha Factory Racing rider and 2014 vice world champion Jeremy Van Horebeek has not had an easy start so far in the new Grand Prix campaign, in which he was expected not to make it too easy for Cairoli. A fifth place in Qatar was unfortunately followed by two DNFs due to a crash in the Thailand qualifying series. As a result, he misses the start of the season a bit, where he started the series of twelve podium places last year. The 25-year-old Van Horebeek therefore needed some confidence again and won both series of the opening test of the Open Dutch championship in Gemert last weekend.
'JVH' went to test with the Italian factory team the week after Thailand before traveling to the Netherlands to work on the correct adjustment of his YZ450FM engine. “Everything went well in Gemert, but it is still not what I want and so we will have to keep working,” he said. “It went well last weekend and I learned a lot about myself and the bike.” Van Horebeek was indisputably the fastest and led both heats from start to finish.
While many riders are already thinking about the long trip to Argentina. Van Horebeek will prepare for the next match this coming weekend. Then we get the opening test of the Belgian championship in Moerbeke-Waas. The Yamaha rider still needs to gain some speed to compete with his new teammate Romain Febvre, who joined the team as an “MXGP Rookie”. Febvre immediately made an impression by finishing in the top three in the heat of Thailand last GP. Last year, Van Horebeek was alone in the MXGP class for Yamaha and he had Christophe Charlier under the awning, who was used in the MX2 class by Yamaha.
Text: Adam Wheeler / OTOR
Photo: CDS/Bavo Swijgers
Also to read
Team HRC Honda to Portugal with Tim Gajser as the only rider
The 2024 MXGP World Championship kicks off the first of three straight races this weekend in Agueda, Portugal for the fifth round in this exciting battle. The next weekend it will…VIDEO: Roger De Coster about communication with the riders
In a video interview with Roger De Coster, the difficult start of the KTM boys in the US is discussed. It's about the set-up of the engines and how everyone...An update on Tyla van de Poel's injury
Tyla van de Poel crashed during the EMX125 in Arco di Trento and broke his tibia and fibula. Another pilot hit his front wheel on a ski jump, causing him to...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…
Your reactions