Five minutes with Dietger Damiaens
Despite a poor start to the season, Dietger Damiaens is currently the man in form at the VLM, and his hunger for success has still not been satisfied. With a number of great challenges still on the agenda, Dietger knows what to do in the coming weeks, and that is precisely why we visited Dietger and asked him the following questions.
Dietger, you will also be competing in the VLM this season, how does it feel to be the man to beat there within a few weeks?
Dietger Damiaens: “To be honest, I didn't expect this myself, as I had never ridden on VLM courses before. Only on the real cross courses such as Lommel and Genk did I expect to be able to compete for the win. My results of the past few weeks have therefore given me a huge confidence boost.”
Where did your choice for this championship come from?
Dietger: “There are few BMB races this year, and being able to compete is still better for me than just training. I also think that outside of the BMB, the VLM has the highest level in Belgium, and since my friend Sara will compete in her competitions there on Saturday at the JMS, I ultimately decided to participate in the VLM this season as well.”
Was it difficult to make the switch to the VLM?
Dietger: “Mainly the adjustment to the courses, and the first 10 minutes of a race where there is very aggressive driving took some getting used to in the beginning. The series are also shorter, which also makes driving a bit more intensive.”
How do you actually explain your dominance of the past few weeks?
Dietger: “Thanks to Eli and Hugo, I am currently reasonably strong physically, and I can continue to ride consistent series. I also have the experience I have gained in international competitions, and all this together ensures that despite sometimes a poor start, I still manage to find my way to the front.”
Did you expect to come out so strong?
Dietger: “I expected to be able to compete at the top. But unfortunately, with Cedric Grobben, a major competitor has disappeared due to injuries, which also makes a big difference.”
Can we actually call your season a success already?
Dietger: “Due to a knee injury I sustained in the winter, my start to the season did not go as hoped. As a result, I had to start the season with a lot of training behind. Fortunately, after a few adjustments and a lot of training, everything went a lot better, so my results lately have been what I expected. So I can say that I am satisfied with my season so far. But there are still a number of important competitions on the calendar, including the 12h La Chinelle. Only then can I really say whether or not my season was a success!”
Will we see you again at the VLM next season?
Dietger: “I currently have no concrete plans for next season, but normally I will be there again next year.”
Do you have any further ambitions at an international level?
Dietger: “This year I will normally participate in the Lommel GP. However, without any real expectations, we will see how it goes. This would also be a great opportunity to connect more closely with the sub-top GP pilots during other international competitions.”
Finally, what could you absolutely add in terms of performance this season?
Dietger: “I am not that many points behind the leader in the championship in the MX1 class of the BMB championship. That's why I'm going to do everything I can to still win the title there. We will also attempt to win the 12h of La Chinelle with our team DAM Racing. So those are still some things I hope to score with!”
Text and photos: Dieter Jans
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