Interview Dutch Masters promoter Arno Van Den Brink
The Dutch Masters of Motocross has without a doubt become one of the most beautiful championships in Europe. This weekend a grand finale in Lichtenvoorde should put the icing on the cake! That's actually putting it mildly. Because a frenzied crowd that comes to cheer on the greatest MX talents in the Zwarte Cross atmosphere makes this weekend unique in the world! A while back, MXMag spoke with promoter Arno Van Den Brink (motocrossplanet.nl), one of the driving forces behind the success of the Dutch Masters of Motocross.
About ten years ago, the ONK, with all due respect, did not amount to much. For several years, the Belgian Championship, then under the banner United Telecom Trophy, was almost the largest national championship in Europe. Now the roles have been completely reversed. Things can change, Bredero said. What have been the keys to success according to Arno Van Den Brink?
How do you look back on this season of the Dutch Masters of Motocross?
Van den Brink: “It was again very successful. In Oss we made a very strong start with an exceptional field of participants, but Harfsen and Emmen were also good. Always with many spectators and great competitions. We have been able to maintain that positive trend throughout the year. It was also good to take on a new job like Emmen. Because we are an Open Dutch championship, it is important to organize competitions throughout the Netherlands. So also in the north of the country, although the focus in cross country is elsewhere. Moreover, they have invested a lot in Emmen in recent years, so the club deserved to receive the Dutch Masters of Motocross.”
Speaking of investing, a total of €147.900 will be paid out for the MX1 and MX2 over the four races. That's huge by motocross standards. But it is a very different approach than the starting money used in Belgium.
Van den Brink:“That's right, but if the prize pool is so high and they start calculating, it still becomes interesting for many drivers. This applies not least to Jeffrey Herlings. You also have to give such a rider a reason to want to come. I am not only talking about the prize pool, but also about the organization and level of the competition. Jeffrey must of course also be able to justify to KTM why he wants to ride Dutch Masters.”
General media attention for motocross is also on the rise in the Netherlands?
Van den Brink:“Yes, of course, Jeffrey is the big driving force behind this. But we try to make that attention as broad as possible. When we sit down with the NOS, the GPs are discussed and there are regular live streams on the NOW website, but individual items are also made about Jeffrey Herlings. And the NOS comes to record every Dutch Masters competition. In general, there is more media attention for motocross and the 'Max Verstappen' effect also helps so that traditional media do not only focus on football and the other major sports.”
How important is the final of the Dutch Masters of Motocross during the Zwarte Cross
Van den Brink: “First and foremost, it is of course great for the drivers and teams. Driving in front of thousands of people is of course very cool. But it is also a fantastic promotion for motocross. Through such a final we can bring motorsport to the attention of a very wide audience, which is very important for motocross in general! To appeal to a new audience, sometimes you have to try something crazy. The collaboration between the Zwarte Cross and the Rijksmuseum under the banner Dutch Masters is a good example of this. Jeffrey Herlings and Brian Bogers posing with Aunt Rikie for Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch', isn't that fantastic? Two Dutch motocross riders, top performers in their field, who are mentioned in the same breath as Dutch Masters. It doesn't get any better!”
Bringing top riders to a national championship is becoming increasingly difficult.
Van den Brink: “Every winter we discuss what went well during the season and what points need to be worked on. A good point in the winter of 2015 to 2016 was a meeting with all the major teams. This way we also heard from them where we needed to improve. One of the most crucial elements was putting together a good calendar. When we started in 2015, competitions coincided with the overseas GPs. Of course, you cannot get top players to start that way and you have to share the media attention. This year we have succeeded in a nice calendar.”
Compared to 2016, the championship has gone to an even higher level. Especially with a fantastic final such as during the Zwarte Cross.
Van den Brink: “That was also the approach for this season. We were satisfied but we wanted to take the championship one step higher. The KNMV also shared that opinion and that was very motivating. That is why Patrice Assendelft, director of the KNMV, said that the association should also put more effort into this and give it an extra blow! That is why we have been very busy attracting new sponsors. Not only myself, but also Patrice Assendelft, Rinze Beerder (motocross secretary at the KNMV) and other people have done a lot of work last winter. This has created one strong team with one goal: to create a very nice championship in the Netherlands. We know that with a good prize pool you are almost assured of good participants, then you have a larger audience and more media attention. In this way, crossbreeding can also grow in the Netherlands. We are happy that it was successful.”
What was the biggest adjustment for yourself in a new role as a promoter?
Van den Brink:“I'm actually a web editor at Motocrossplanet, and I have quite a lot of experience in that. But I have also been riding motocross all my life, so to speak. When you go to a competition as a web editor, you see a lot of things that make you think 'This is not going well. If you did it that way, it would be better.” I remember when I started in Gemert with a try-out as a promoter. We had to divide the paddock and in advance we had made a drawing of who should stand where. After fifteen minutes it was already one big chaos! Then you discover that it is more difficult than what it seems from the sidelines. Then I also realized that you have to deal with the KNMV, the promoter and the clubs. Everyone has their own people and volunteers they work with. The collaboration between those three parties must really run smoothly if you want to achieve success. Over the years, that combination has improved many times over, and mutual respect has also grown enormously. I don't do it alone, the KNMV doesn't do it alone. We all have to do it together and the clubs are well aware of that. In the beginning I thought: 'This is completely different from typing stories on the internet every day and thinking that you know how it works.' Only when you are in the middle of it do you notice how difficult it is for a club to to organize a big competition. There is so much involved.”
And you also have to be flexible enough. What you would ideally want and what is actually possible in practice do not always match.
Van den Brink: “Exactly, setting up the double pit lane, for example, was not always possible this year. Because the jobs didn't allow it everywhere. That's why we decided not to do it this year. We will look at that again for next year.”
The puzzle pieces must fit together. If that goes well, there are many parties that contribute to success.
Van den Brink:"That's how it is. The people on the ground, the employees of the various clubs, are invaluable. A very important link in the organization Henri Sanderman (ed. chairman of the KNMV motocross committee). That's a man with a lot of experience. He is also the ex-chairman of the Markelo club, so he knows exactly what is involved in organizing a major competition. That was also nice for me to have someone like that there. If necessary, he can properly manage decision-making so that not too much is postponed. Henri was also decisive in the new name: Dutch Masters of Motocross. The ONK says nothing for foreigners. In order for the competition to appeal internationally, it was important to have a name that also says something. And from that came the Dutch Masters of Motocross.”
How did you actually get involved with the Dutch Masters?
Van den Brink: “We contacted the KNMV in mid-2014. Then they were looking for a promoter to take things to the next level. We have written a multi-year plan for this and we started it very carefully in 2015. In retrospect, it was also a good idea to start with a very small piece first. After that, we went further and further in implementing that plan. We also adjusted some elements along the way. We have a lot of contact with Henri Sanderman and Rinze Beerder to make adjustments where necessary.”
The ONK also did quite well this season.
Van den Brink:“It was always the intention that the Dutch Masters of Motocross would lift the entire sport. That also seems to work. Now that there is a good basis with the Dutch Masters, we can also see whether we can take the competition under the Dutch Masters, the ONK, to a higher level. This year, many good riders already participated, and if we can do more with the ONK in terms of promotion, we can also look for more sponsors and increase the prize money. This makes it even more interesting for Dutch and Belgian riders to also ride in the ONK.”
Photos: Huub Munsters, Jeroen Roest, Motocrossplanet
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