Five minutes with Bengt Laeremans
It had been since September last year that Bengt Laeremans entered the competition. It is no secret that the likeable top performer is a few pounds shy of his optimal weight. Yet the 40-year-old Laeremans (built in 1976) managed to beat the entire Belgian enduro top during the 4th Antwerp Endurocross. A top performance that we will be happy to return to!
If you won here last year, you naturally want to do well. How did you prepare yourself for the Antwerp Endurocross?
Bengt Laeremans: “Prepared is a big word actually. Playing around on the bike, doing some motocross, some enduro and trials. Very versatile, but absolutely not competition-oriented. It had been since the Vintage Motocross des Nations at Farleigh Castle last September that I had completed a race.”
What did you change on the bike for this race?
Leremans: "Not much. The suspension was of course harder than for enduro and because you always have to accelerate briefly, it was also set up a bit more aggressively.”
Throughout the day, Cédric Melotte seemed to be the man to beat. How did you prepare for the Super Final?
Leremans: “I honestly didn't feel great in the heats. Also because of the heat and (laughs) the way you sit, I'm not in great shape! The races are not long but I can assure you that Endurocross is very intensive and explosive. I had found a number of nice places where something was possible. The final itself was super cool, especially because I didn't steal the victory! I came to the front from fifth place at the start. And the duel with Cédric Melotte made it even more fun. I have fought against Cédric since I was a youth, so many years ago.”
Bengt in a duel with Cédric Melotte
Is this your best victory in Endurocross?
Leremans: “Certainly, because last year I had to compete against the sub-top, so you can say that I was lucky with the opposition. Now they were all there: Jef Goblet, Cédric Melotte, Cédric Cremer, Kevin Gauniaux, you name it, the entire Belgian enduro top was present because the Endurocross now counted for the Belgian Enduro Championship. If you can beat all those top performers, that's fun!”
Why don't we see you competing in real enduro competitions anymore?
Leremans: To be honest, endurocross really suits me personally. Starting together, the explosive… I have all that from motocross. The bends are also favorable here because there are tracks like in the cross. In a typical enduro corner without a track it is much more difficult for me to develop speed.”
In the Superfinal you earned €1.000 over 7 minutes plus one round. That's a nice hourly wage Bengt!
Leremans: “Ha, ha, ha, I know! But as an amateur you can hardly call that pure profit. I had some costs for this race such as a new exhaust, new tires. Since I'm not exactly a factory rider, I have to pay for that myself. Come on, there was just some left over for something to eat with my crew afterwards!”
Photos: Plan-B
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