Five minutes with Brent Van Doninck!
After a mixed overseas campaign, Brent Van Doninck gave himself a breakthrough in Valkenswaard. The Belgian Kemea Yamaha rider rode to his first podium of the season this weekend. As a result, he also rose to sixth place in the standings of the MX2 World Championship. A huge boost for Van Doninck, who last rode in the GP top-3 in Assen 2015. We featured Brent as rider of the week!
Did you become impatient when things turned sour in the spring games and in Qatar?
Brent Van Doninck: “I really wanted to be there immediately after my disappointing 2016. On the other hand, that is not always possible! That's why I planned to start the year quietly and then build up confidence. The results in Qatar and Indonesia were not yet great, but I knew that things would turn out well. Because I was also very fast during training.”
With the speed you had here, there was certainly more to do because the starts remain difficult.
From Doninck: “That's right, by the time you get to the front, the first three are gone! In the first race I came from 23. And in the last part of the race, after such a catch-up race, you feel that you no longer have the energy to continue attacking. At the moment we - all three Kemea drivers - are looking for a good start. Fortunately, the start in the second moto was slightly better. In the meantime, we are working hard to find a solution. There are small improvements every week, hopefully we will get there soon. Fortunately, I have already had good starts this year!”
As you approached Seewer in the second moto you ultimately chose to secure your podium. The 'old-school' Brent Van Doninck would probably have continued with the risk of a crash?
From Doninck: “That's of no use to you. In the meantime I have become a bit smarter! Wisdom comes with age, right? And I still have some time, I could still ride MX2 in the next two seasons. That's the happiness of having a birthday in January.”
Last year you struggled with a hip and thumb injury and climbing onto the podium here in Valkenswaard is great timing!
From Doninck: “It was a very nice weekend and as you say, it is also a home GP because I live barely 15 kilometers from here. With so many of my fans there, it made my stage special.”
You are now sixth in the World Cup standings, are you satisfied with that?
From Doninck: “That's going in the right direction, yes. I was already regular in the last matches and that was important for the final score. Beforehand I had set myself a top five goal. If I achieve that by the end of the year then I will be satisfied.”
The next Grand Prix in Latvia will also be sandy, which offers possibilities.
Van Doninck: "I don't want to pin myself down too much on a specific Grand Prix, but of course you look forward to it more if the form is good and if you know that the course suits you. That is the case in Kegums. Now it's time to continue the positive trend!”
Photos: CDS, shotbyBavo, Loïc Lassence
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