Podium Damon Graulus in our own country!
The 39th International 'Motocrosss du Doudou' in Mons was the first competition in his own country for Damon Graulus. The 24MX Honda rider continued the positive trend of recent months and faced the second consecutive week on the podium. Jeremy Van Horebeek won the race, Ken De Dycker came second.
Mons was not only the third round of the Belgian Motocross Championship, it was also the last dress rehearsal for the Grand Prix of Trentino for World Championship riders next weekend. Graulus started his competition day well. During the very short qualifying sessions he achieved the second fastest time behind top favorite Van Horebeek.
On the first lap, Damon crashed after his front wheel was touched. To make matters worse, it took a while before Graulus could leave again. The motivated 24MX Honda rider then pulled off a major catch-up race. Erik Willems came back from the very last place to within 8,5 seconds of fourth.
The bad start of the first heat was made up for by an excellent opener in heat two. Damon led the debates in the first round but was no match for MXGP star Van Horebeek. Initially, Graulus managed to maintain contact with the Yamaha factory pilot. However, a bad fifth lap temporarily cost him second place. In the second half of the race, the multiple National MX2 champion put things in order. Damon dealt with De Dycker and came within 8 seconds of the winner of Horebeek.
Damon Graulus: “I'm happy with the driving itself. As I get more into the rhythm of competition, things get better and better. We have also made progress with the engine in terms of suspension. The second heat was also good. I had a dip for a while but then I was able to recover well and although I wanted to pick up the pace, it is clear that Van Horebeek is simply faster at the moment. Too bad about that fall in the first moto. I stood still for a long time, so I had to come back from very far away. My pace was good in that catch-up race, but we have to get rid of those kind of mistakes like that fall. Here I was able to finish fifth, in an MXGP race you can forget it after such a long delay!”
MX1 first heat
1. Jeremy Van Horebeek, 2. Ken De Dycker, 3. Steve Ramon, 4.Erik Willems, 5. Damon Graulus (24MX Honda), 6. Kenny Vandueren, 7. Daymond Martens, 8. Dietger Damiaens, 9. Joey Smet, 10. Roy Silliën, 11. Bryan Boulard, 12. Jérôme Benonit, 13. Donny Schmidt, 14. Bram Valckx, 15. Jochem Walckiers , 16.Joshua Feytons, 17.Kevin Vangenechten, 18.Jelle Vanhoof, 19. Kevin Spruijt, 20. Keanu Du Tré
MX1 second round
1. Jeremy Van Horebeek, Damon Graulus (24MX Honda), 3. Ken De Dycker, 4. Steve Ramon, 5. Erik Willems, 6. Dietger Damiaens, 7. Kenny Vandueren, 8. Roy Silliën, 9. Daymond Martens, 10. Joey Smet, 11. Jérôme Benonit, 12. Donny Schmidt, 13. Jochem Walckiers, 14. Joshua Feytons, 15. Bram Valckx, 16. Keanu du Tré, 17. Mathieu Vanderrecke; 19. Ronny Van Hoven, 20. Glenn Baelemans
Final ranking BK Motocross Mons MX1
1. Jeremy Van Horebeek 50, 2. Ken De Dycker 42, 3. Damon Graulus (24MX Honda) 38, 4. Steve Ramon 38, 5. Erik Willems 34, 6. Kenny Vandueren 29, 7. Dietger Damiaens 28, 8. Daymond Martens 26, 9. Roy Silliën 24, 10. Joey Smet 23…
Photos: Ivo Moeys
Also to read
VIDEO: Andrea Verona and Josep Garcia dominate in Romania
The 3rd GP of the Enduro World Championship was held this weekend in Romania. Andrea Verona and Josep Garcia shared the victories. Steve Holcombe put his Honda on the…A medical update from sidecarcrosser Jason Vandaele
After the second series of the Grand Prix sidecar cross in Heerde, Jason Vandaele had to go to the hospital for a medical check-up. There was a broken rib, two fractures to his eye socket...Dano Verstraten breaks tibia and fibula
Last week Dano Verstraten fell during training. The Brabander broke his tibia and fibula. As a result, the season of the 12-year-old cross rider is over prematurely. …The GasGas riders about their MXGP Galicia
The sixth Grand Prix of the season was held under the Spanish sun. Jorge Prado-Garcia lost the lead in the standings in the mud of Agueda. For their own audience…
Your reactions