In the footsteps of Jens Getteman
Jens Getteman belongs to a select group of Belgian top crossers. Both on and off the motorcycle, this requires many sacrifices from both a pilot and his entourage. Not only to reach this level, but especially to stay there. That's why we followed Jens Getteman's trail and followed him through some of his training routines and competitions. Take a look behind the scenes!
Jens Getteman currently competes for the Pfeil Kawasaki team in the German MX1 Championship and the MX2 European Championship. Even though Jens is only 23 years old, he has been competing at the highest level for some time. He started his international career at the age of 14 in 2007 when he competed in the European 85cc Championship. That year he turned 9de in the European Championship and he also finished 4thde in the Dutch championship. The following year Jens again competed in the European Championships combined with the ADAC 85cc. At the end of the season he was also allowed to participate in the 85 cc World Championship where he ultimately finished 12de became.
After that season, Jens switched from the 2009cc engine to the larger MX85 engine in 2. In his first year on the 250 cc motorcycle, Jens finished 18th in the BK MX2, and 15e in the Junior European Championship MX2. The following year, Jens immediately switched from the Junior European Championships to the regular MX2 European Championships, where he finished the season as 14th.de, and he also 3de became in the Belgian MX2 Championship.
In 2011, Jens entered his second year in the European MX2 Championship and switched to the Kemea Reytec Yamaha team. That season Jens achieved his best result in the MX2 European Championship with a 10de place in the final rankings, and a nice 2de place and a series of victories during the GP of Valkenswaard. In addition to the European Championship, Jens also competed again in the BK MX2 that year, where he matched his performance from the previous year with a 3rd place overall.
In the 2012 season Jens finally made his big GP debut during the GP of Valkenswaard for the Standing Construct Suzuki team. In his first year of MX2, Jens managed to collect a total of 61 points to end the season in 25thth to finish in the rankings. In the same year, Jens also won his first title by crowning himself Belgian MX2 champion.
After only one year of riding in the MX2 World Championship, Jens decides to move to the premier class of motocross, the MX24 class, together with the 1MX Honda team. Unfortunately, Jens also had to deal with a lot of injuries that year, as a result of which he 'only' finished the season with a 49th place in the World Cup final standings. The following year, Jens again gets his chance in the 24MX Honda team alongside ex-Kawasaki factory pilot Xavier Boog. But unfortunately, 2014 was not Jens' year due to injuries, and he only managed to score points in three games. After these two seasons full of setbacks, Jens decides, in consultation with his trainer and manager, to take the step back to the MX2 class the following year.
For 2015, Jens found accommodation with the Jtech Honda team to participate in the MX2 World Championship for them. Together with the Italian Jtech team, Jens managed to finish in the top twenty of the World Cup despite missing 6 matches. Jens also found refuge in the MX2016 World Championship in 2, this time with the Silver Action KTM team. This season also did not go entirely according to Jens' wishes, and that is why he switched to a private KTM halfway through the season after the race in Spain in order to compete again in the MXGP class. And he did so well, including a twelfth place in the Belgian GP ahead of names like Jordi Tixier, Tommy Searle,... and he certainly showed that he had the speed on the 450cc.
Ultimately, these performances helped ensure that Jens found accommodation with the Pfeil Kawasaki team for this season. Jens has already shown some beautiful things on the Kawasaki this season. For example, he won the first match of the ADAC championship in Drehna, and after a number of years of bad luck, luck finally seems to be turning around and Jens seems to be able to show his true potential again.
Photos and text: Dieter Jans
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