Interview with Freek van der Vlist (Creymert Racing)
Only the result counts and you are only as good as your last match. However, sometimes it would be useful to place an asterisk next to a result. We are doing this for Freek van der Vlist. In Valkenswaard the Creymert Racing rider showed top-10 speed, but he also had to deal with a lot of bad luck. The 21-year-old rider from Apeldoorn has already achieved success this season with ONK victories in Axel and Mill. That's all well and good, but Van Der Vlist clearly has more to offer!
A Dutch top talent. Freek drove around with that label for a long time. In 2013 he rode to the Open Dutch title in the 125cc, he won the European Championship round of Assen and came 6de in the EMX125 final standings. After the Kemea Reytec VdLaar Yamaha Team he moved to HSF Logistics. In his first year of EMX250 he finished 12th in the final standings, in 2015 he did one place better and took the podium in Assen. Last year, in which he finished 26th in the MX2 World Championship, did not bring what he expected and so 2017 is a year of truth...
How do you look back on the Valkenswaard GP?
Freek van der Vlist: “Looking at the whole weekend I was certainly not satisfied even though the speed was good. I did well in all sessions: 9th in the free practice, 13th in the timed practice and 4th during the Warmup on Sunday. In the qualifying heat I missed my start due to the drumming, so I ended up only 26th. In the first moto I fell twice through no fault of my own. Each time there was a rider in front of me who crashed and whom I could no longer avoid. The first time I lost at least thirty seconds, but I was able to get into the points again and then with three laps to go someone crashed again right in front of me. Really bummed. In the second moto I had a very bad start again. I came back to 15th but my lap times were around 9th to 10th place. So for me it was a disappointing weekend.”
Rematch in Kegums next week then?
van der Vlist: “Every year is very different in Latvia. Sometimes it is quite loud and strange. Sometimes the track is very sandy and beautiful. So just wait and see.”
This was your third GP because you previously rode in Trentino and Indonesia
van der Vlist: “That's right, I was able to participate in Indonesia because we could combine it well with Shana's (ed. Freek's sister) first WMX competition. The material went there together, which made it financially feasible.”
Valkenswaard's pace was no surprise to anyone who had seen it earlier this season. Is it going well in itself?
van der Vlist: “Those victories like in Axel and Mill are nice, but that is not the level where I have to prove myself. But the first Dutch Masters in Oss was not bad either. I came back twice after a bad start. In Harfsen I was sick but I finished fifth in the second heat. There I showed that I could handle the speed of Brian Bogers and those boys in the first fifteen minutes. In terms of speed it is certainly not bad, but all the pieces of the puzzle have to fit together. Hopefully we will get a good result again.”
Where should a good Freek van der Vlist end up?
van der Vlist: “I think I belong around 12 right nowde, 13de place. To achieve this, all the pieces of the puzzle have to fall together. Hopefully I can have a few outliers in the top 10 before the end of the year.”
In any case, as a spectator it seems that your bike is also competitive.
van der Vlist: “We are doing well for each other. The team is doing their very best and the engine is certainly not bad, but we still have to work on the start. We are somewhat lacking in motor skills. Now that difference with the start in the GPs on a metal plate is becoming even greater. There used to be wheelspin in the sand, but now you have immediate grip there, of course. We are still figuring out what the right setting is because if you are not there at the start, the chance of a really good result is lost.”
You're not really a fan of the new starting system?
van der Vlist: "Anyway. However, factory teams have much more resources to adapt and work on that. Moreover, those factory engines also have a lot more power. In the past, the advantage was rather limited by that wheel spin in the sand and now you always have grip! This makes the difference with my bike or those of other B-teams bigger. That is a disadvantage in our case.”
In smaller teams there are not only fewer opportunities for development, the drivers are also more dependent on themselves. Is that also the case for you?
van der Vlist: “In principle, I work full-time on cross country, but I don't have a training technician, for example. As a result, I have to maintain my motorcycles myself. That will take quite some time. I try to work during the winter months because otherwise it is not financially feasible. In addition to racing, I still have to arrange quite a bit myself.”
If you work a lot on the engine yourself, you will also understand better what is happening. That is positive again.
van der Vlist: “I'm sure I'm doing better than average in terms of adjustments and such. Even if the feeling, for example with the suspension, is not so good, I quickly find out which way we should go. Sometimes that knowledge also comes in handy in a race to finish while someone else would leave the race. However, at the highest level where I am now it is not always an advantage. They don't let someone who can't do it do it themselves, but I happen to be able to work on my own engine.”
Many people see you as a typical Dutch sand rider, right?
van der Vlist: “I have certainly made progress on hard tracks. Although in the end I will always remain a sand rider. That's what I grew up with, and I only started riding on hard tracks at a late age. If I ride hard a lot it gets better and better. But if I have to go to the hard surface after a long time in the sand, I still have difficulty with it.”
You and your sister are quite popular. You have quite a few supporters, do you have an explanation for that?
van der Vlist: "Not really. Apeldoorn is quite nice cross-minded and there are indeed some people who follow us. I don't know why that happens, but it is fun of course!”
It's quite special to participate in motocross at the highest level with your sister?
van der Vlist: “That in itself is of course great! It is difficult financially for my parents. As a child, one of you would go to football and the other would go cross-country, that is of course not a good thing. I really like it when Shana does well. Shana has also not yet shown what she can really do. I am proud of the fact that we as a family have made it this far in this sport. We are not well off financially or anything, but I am proud that we always get the most out of ourselves.”
In fact, it is now also a matter of putting Freek van der Vlist on the map in the GPs.
van der Vlist: “Yes, it is now a bit of a year of truth for myself, so to speak. For me it is not a bottomless pit into which you throw money every year. I just want to perform well so that we can do even better next year. Then I think of all areas: in terms of the engine, financial, you name it. Of course I hope to have an offer from a top team to show myself there as soon as possible.”
Does that bring extra pressure, knowing that your parents have put all their time, energy and a lot of money into your sport?
van der Vlist: “I don't really feel that as pressure, it's just time now to perform. I think so too. I've just had two years that I'm dissatisfied with. Whatever the reasons. It's just time to show who I really am and what I can really do. I have a lot of motivation, I know that I am fit and at the same time I try to take steps in the areas where I am not great.”
We wish you every success in this, thanks for the interview!
van der Vlist: “It'll be fine, you're welcome!”
Photos: Eric Laurijssen (portraits), Huub Munsters
Also to read
Micha Boy de Waal also the strongest in Marum
Earlier this month in Lochem Micha Boy managed to win de Waal. During the fourth race of the KNMV Dutch 500cc Championship, the Brabander won again. The JH MX Service rider…Sander Agard-Michelsen also wins in Marum
The fourth competition, the KNMV Dutch 250cc Championship, was won by Sander Agard-Michelsen. The 24-year-old rider managed to triumph in both heats on the Marum circuit. The Norwegian won in…Participate in the Summer internship of Pro MX-Stage in Veldhoven!
Pro MX-Stage is organizing its summer internship in Veldhoven on July 29, 30 and 31! This 3-day training camp offers a great opportunity to improve your skills, whether you're a beginner, advanced…Kooiker wins, Visser the new leader in NK125
On King's Day, cross-country skiing is traditionally held in Marum. During the fourth race of the KNMV Open Dutch Championship 125cc, Dex Kooiker (photo) managed to win both heats. The Yamaha rider…
Your reactions