Brent Van Doninck about his GP debut
During the Argentine Grand Prix we saw two remarkable debutants at work in the FIM World Championship MX2, with the young Briton Adam Sterry who finished in eighth place and the strong Belgian Brent Van Doninck who finished just as well as ninth in the first series. . The 19-year-old rider from the Kemea Yamaha MX2 team started in Neuquen instead of his teammate Damon Graulus. The team has therefore changed riders from the European EMX250 Championship to the MX2 World Championship. Brent Van Doninck made his entry into Patagonia after having ridden some remarkable national competitions on the Rinaldi YZ250F motorcycle.
“They told me to do everything I could and that there weren't any high expectations set yet,” the Rookie said. “They just want me to learn the whole system. I already had a few good matches in the last few weeks and I wanted to show something. I was very nervous and also very tense, but luckily everything went well.”
Van Doninck had to withdraw in the second series with a damaged front brake, just like his colleague 'MX2 Rookie' Benoit Paturel. The young Frenchman finished eighth in the first series on the Kemea bike, meaning the team immediately had two riders in the top ten. The rider from Herentals won the second round of the Belgian MX2 championship last weekend.
“I knew I was in good physical condition, so I was able to pass some riders,” said Van Doninck. “I am really happy with this first GP and to be able to finish in the top ten, it was certainly not bad and I now have something to build on. I didn't finish in the second heat and that motivates me even more to finish two heats well for the next GP and be in the top ten. I will definitely have to work even harder for that.”
Brent Van Doninck's speed in his first MX2 adventure was impressive considering he had to undergo a 12.000km trip and then also have to discover the Grand Prix system. In addition, the adjustment to the special GP YZ250F factory engine that gave him a bit more power than his engine in the EMX250 class. “The engine is really great and the team has worked hard on it. The factory engine is much stronger and you cannot compare it with the other engine I have ridden so far,” he admits. “The bike I had for the European Championship is also good and has a normal kit that is perfect for training and a normal race. But… in the GPs everyone seems to have a factory machine!!!”
Text: Adam Wheeler / OTOR
Photo: Bavo Swijgers/CDS
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