Column: Wannes Van De Voorde
Those who reach the very top receive the most media attention and are rewarded with the best contracts. Before this happens, every rider has traveled a long and hard road. That is why we would like to introduce you to Wannes van de Voorde (14), who is fighting hard to achieve his goals. From now on, we will regularly let him speak in his own column on MXMag!
“Where do I start for people who don't know me yet? Maybe a column like this is more difficult than I thought hahaha. I live in Sint-Katelijne Waver, near Mechelen, and I have an older brother, Thomas, and an older sister Sarah. At school I follow 3de years of Electromechanics at the VTI in Lier. Especially for my Dutch friends, I will occasionally post something in the dialect here, then the roles will be reversed and you will learn something hahaha. 😉
I actually started racing on the quad in the garden and on a moped when I was three years old. Probably like a lot of riders! Step by step we then started looking for tougher competition. First JMS, UMC and MC Lille, later also in the KNMV. And two years ago I started in 85cc at the BMB. Last year I became Belgian champion among youth. I came 5 in my first European competition in Sint-Isidorushoevede and with the Belgian Junior Knights we won the Coupe de l'Avenir in Baisieux. Because I was also the best individually in the 85cc, the Coupe de l'Avenir was a truly wonderful experience! In my own municipality I also received an award as “Talent of the Year”. Very cool, 2016 was certainly a successful year.
Without my regular trainer Jurgen Van Bellingen I would never have reached this level from MX-Academy! I can also say that I have learned a lot from the training and education from the Belgian association with Yves Devlaminck. And at the end of 2016, however, I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate in the first MXGP Rookies. Maybe you have heard something about that? This was a pilot project by FIM-Europe together with YouthStream and the KNMV. In short, you could say that as a young talent you live as much as possible as a professional! It is full-time training to become a motocross rider. In practice, this means many hours of sports per week, all in the best conditions with experienced and professional people such as the Dutch national coach Marcel Hartman who was in charge of the project. Below you can see some impressions of me and the other riders as MXGP rookies!
As an MXGP rookie I spent four months in the High Performance Center stayed in Papendal. Call it the Olympic sports center of the Netherlands, where around 350 athletes from 12 sports live and train. That alone was very special! I was the only Belgian in the group among three Dutch riders, Marcel Conijn, Raivo Dankers en Raf Meuwissen and one German Marnique Appelt. We were guided there in terms of physical training, nutrition, mental training and motor training.
In the morning there was time for normal school work, physical training in the afternoon and motorcycle training on Wednesday afternoon... A tough program!
"In any case, I thought it was a great honor to be one of the first MXGP rookies. "
For me there was one downside: I had to deal with two broken collarbones in quick succession during this period. Because I had recently switched to the 125cc, I was able to run fewer hours in the winter than what was planned. Being present during a motorcycle training course and not being able to drive yourself is "to strain your finances". On a positive note, I discovered a new talent: taking photos hahaha. I still had to keep quiet and then I took pictures of the other riders... But Bertje and his fellow photographers shouldn't be afraid for now, I'll just keep racing. 🙂
Two weeks ago I said goodbye to my “MXGP rookieship.” A lot has happened to me during those four months as an 'MXGP rookie', but I will certainly take that experience with me! From our head coach Marcel (Hartman) and his assistant Herjan Brakke, fitness trainer Dave O'Mahony (that you grellige with his beard in the photos above), mental coach Henry, physios Sander and Anique, doctor Hiske, school counselor Tijn, nutritionist Anja tot Carlo Hulsen and to all the other people who helped: many thanks!
Now back home, we are trying to do everything even better this season. In addition to the motorcycle training with Jurgen (ed. Van Bellingen) helps Ricky Nijs me, for example, for the physical training and nutrition. In the meantime, of course, the cross season has already started and that started very well for me. Even though I had only ridden the bike a little, I was able to win straight away at the Belgian Championships in Moerbeke. A great start for me, my team (Photos-Bertje & Co MX team) and our main sponsor Denicol!
After Moerbeke the more serious work started with the ONK in Axel and last week the DDutch Masters in Oss. In our dialect they would say: "You were probably amazed at how the flames were burning there?" That's not too bad. My 15de place in Oss and 16de space in Axel is of course much less than in the BK. But the level in the Netherlands in such competitions is simply super high! Especially because there are a lot of international riders at the event each time, so it's more of a mini-European Championship. That competition is the best learning experience because I also want to participate in some European Championship competitions this year.
This weekend I will ride back in my own country in Lommel where the second round of the Belgian Championship takes place. And during the Easter holidays there is time to catch up on some motorcycle hours thanks to an internship with the Belgian Junior Knights in the first week and in the second week there is an internship with MX-Academy. So now you're all in. If you see me, or my dad or my mom, let me know what you thought of my first column! Or if you want to know something for next time or you think I should definitely discuss a certain topic... I'd love to hear from you. And now that we know each other a little better, my friends and family call me Wanny!
See you on the track,
#65 Wannes
Photos: Jarno Schurgers, Photos Bertje
Also to read
VIDEO: A walk through the paddock in Philadelphia
Tonight, round 14 of the AMA Supercross will be held in Philadelphia. Our American colleagues from MXA walked through the pits to photograph all the bikes, and we…Phil Nicoletti is quitting
Phil Nicoletti has decided to end his career after this season. The American (35) will finish this season with Team Club MX-Yamaha-Muc Off and then after…Tiny van Erp passed away
Earlier this week, Tiny van Erp passed away. De Brabander made a name for himself in the motocross world for decades with TvE Sport and he was also closely involved in the Grand Prix...VIDEO: Inside MXGP and the Yamaha riders' race in Trentino
Inside MXGP is at round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Trentino, Italy. And in Yamaha's white and pink anniversary colors in honor of 50 years of YZ! “You thought that…
Your reactions