Van Horebeek looking for his '14 level
After three rounds of the FIM MXGP World Championship, we already have four riders who will be among the main contenders and will constantly fight for the podium. Only Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jeremy Van Horebeek is still struggling to join the group of Clement Desalle, Max Nagl, Tony Cairoli and Ryan Villopoto.
The reason for this is that the Belgian did not get further than a few fifth places and also did not reach the finish in two series. The 2014 vice world champion had some doubts about the set-up of his factory Yamaha after the Thai GP, but further testing and victories in the national championship races in Belgium and the Netherlands gave him some confidence back.
It seems that the inclusion of MXGP Rookie Romain Febvre in the team will play a role, with the Frenchman in particular performing very well on the YZ450FM and already taking a top three place in his second outing in Thailand. In 2014, Van Horebeek had the full attention of the entire Italian team because he was also the only MXGP rider, but now also faces competition from his own team. It was therefore expected that JVH would do as well or even better than in 2014, where he took no fewer than twelve podium places.
The simplest explanation is that the competition in the MXGP is much higher this year and the rider himself admits this: “This year the level is very high. We just have to keep working and I feel like I'm on the right track now.”
In Argentina last weekend, Van Horebeek injured his left thumb in a crash on the long wave section in the first series. But he was still able to recover somewhat and finish ninth in this first heat. There was still some uncertainty, but he determinedly rode to fifth place in the second series, which was his best series of the season so far.
“I don't know why I crashed again,” he said. “It's not that I'm driving over my limit. I saw a lot of other riders in front of me and they were f**king crazy. I don't understand how they can stay on the bike. Like Ryan (Villopoto) in the second series, I can't believe he stays on it when he keeps driving from left to right everywhere. This is certainly not a criticism, but if I do it I'm wrong. I don't understand why it's happening, but my speed is there and I will be back there soon."
Text: Adam Wheeler / OTOR
Photo: Yamaha Racing
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