Interview Jeffrey Dewulf (Motorshop Desmet KTM)
In the BK MX2, Jeffrey Dewulf was a regular for the title for a long time (25), but now that he is competing in the MX1, he seems stronger than ever. In Belgian competitions he is always at the front, in the MCLB he outclassed the competition, he recorded a third place during the Dutch Masters in Harfsen, but he also showed his speed in the MXGP. This weekend 'JD123' will be at the start in the GP of Limburg for the Italian Team Steel Dr. Jack. On the way to his final motorcycle training, MXMag caught up with Dewulf for a fascinating conversation.
It is better to see many riders at work in a competition. How they toil with the engine, fighting against themselves and the track, that commitment is disarming when they compete against competitors. But only in training? Not so pretty. Then there are exceptions such as Jeffrey Dewulf. The stylish West Flemish man lets the engine do the work, steers his KTM SX-F450 exactly where he wants it and Jeffrey understands better than anyone what the engine is telling him. Beautiful to see, the comparison with mentor Steve Ramon is never far away. Call it West Flemish craftsmanship or 'Made in Jabbeke'...
Especially in terms of driving, you have rarely been as strong as this season. Do you agree with that?
Jeffrey Dewulf: “That is indeed how I started the season. In general we are very satisfied. I had a good winter, but the past few weeks were a bit less so. It was very warm in the Ottobiano. Like everyone else, I went very deep there. The following weeks, until the GP in Loket actually, I walked around feeling tired. One week after Ottobiano I showed up sick at the start in Portugal. Afterwards it turned out that my blood values were not good, including that I had an iron deficiency. In fact, I mainly rested in the run-up to Lommel, Kester was a first test.”
Did you change anything about your training last winter because the progress is noticeable compared to last year.
Dewulf: “Not really, actually. Every year I go to Mallorca or Portugal at the beginning of December for a training internship. Normally that is together with Steve Ramon. This year Clément Desalle was also there. An important difference from previous years is that I have not changed brands. Otherwise you often find out during the first races that you are not yet where you want to be in terms of suspension or engine. Being able to just stay on KTM worked out well. The package has only gotten better.”
Your strongest years as a sportsman are also coming.
Dewulf: “That's what they say. One talks about the age between 19 and 21. Others say it is between 27 and 29. I also think it depends from rider to rider.”
You have competed in many different competitions and championships this year. What performance are you most satisfied with?
Dewulf: “The GP in Valkenswaard. I had a good start at the gate in the first moto, but I got trapped in the first corner, that fast chicane. As a result, I had to start the race in 25th place. Everyone who knew me thought it was a hopeless task in such a field because the level is also very high in the MXGP between 15 and 20. Still, I was able to push well for a whole series and that's how I finished 16thde On. I had to throw up between sets, maybe because I ate something wrong. With little energy in my body I could still do 19 in the second heatde become. All in all, a successful weekend. With a better start there might have been more, but you never know for sure.”
Does it help you get into the MXGP rhythm more easily now that you are competing in more Grand Prix?
Dewulf: “Everyone says that it makes a big difference if you can do several GPs instead of one at the beginning of the year and then another at the end. I won't say that you have more stress, but I do feel like 'it has to happen now' because you have no other opportunities. I am happy that this collaboration with Team Steel Dr. Jack arrived, but in some areas it may have gone a little too quickly. Then I'm talking about testing the engine and such. For the time being I use my own engines, including my own suspension. Of course, if it turns out that the team's racing engine is faster on hard surfaces or in the sand, we can switch. Ottobiano was quite good, but unfortunately I got sick the Thursday before Portugal. Even with a fever, that was a very difficult weekend physically and mentally. You can't afford to say 'I'm not driving, I'm going to jump on a plane and leave again.' Driving in those conditions is very frustrating, so I tried to make the best of it. “
How did you end up at Team Steel Dr. Jack?
Dewulf: “Via Ufo and Tom Van Ewijk of Rino Trading (ed. importer of UFO). Tom also supports me with parts and Ufo is closely involved with Team Steel Dr in Italy. Jack. They were looking for a replacement and Tom presented me with the opportunity to drive for them. I first went there to test and we had a good discussion about how we could best approach it. I also didn't want to just throw my sponsors at the door because I'm in a team.”
Are you still going to compete in Italy? You were on the podium in Bosisio Parini in the MX1 and you won the Superfinal.
Dewulf: “I actually don't know yet. There are still two games left in the championship but I don't know that I'm looking forward to it that much after what happened in the Super Final (red. Dewulf was moved back 10 places because he allegedly ignored a yellow flag). Neither myself nor the team take that lightly. So if I prefer to ride in Belgium, Team Steel Dr. Jack don't blame me. They were happy just to have me there.”
How can you combine GPs with a full-time job?
Dewulf: “I am lucky to work in our family business. Since that deal with Team Steel Dr. Jack, I focus entirely on the cross. Now when it is super busy I will help out for half a day or a day. In any case, it is not the case that I work from 8 to 5 and then train. You also know that it is better not to participate in the World Cup. Then you make it difficult for yourself.”
At the beginning of this season you also talked to 24MX Honda, why did that not happen?
Dewulf: “Gosh, let's stick to practical problems. Their suspension man didn't want to work for me as well, even though we had actually already arranged everything ourselves. In fact, it was already too late for us to just change everything. The conversation only became concrete when the contract with Milko Potisek was broken. I tested the bike and I certainly liked it, but the biggest problem was lack of time. The owner of the team, Marc Boone, understood our situation, he said, 'Who knows, we might speak to each other before next season.' We have been in discussions with each other for several seasons now, that's part of it.”
What did you think of the Dutch Masters of Motocross this season?
Dewulf: Normally I always ride the entire ONK. Now unfortunately I had to miss Lichtenvoorde because I had that Italian match. I think the Dutch Masters were stronger than ever. You used to have 2 or 3 top riders, now you have 6 or 7 top riders. The first race in Oss even had 8 or 9 top players at the start. For me it was a championship with ups and downs, also with some bad luck. In Harfsen I had one good series and missed the chance for a podium. I already fell into training in Emmen. But in any case, it is a championship that I like to ride in because there is strong competition.”
How does it feel to ride in the MCLB the following week?
Dewulf: “That's a big difference. I ride the MCLB competitions at the request of Motorshop Desmet, which supports me with KTM motorcycles. I am very grateful to Roland (Desmet) for his great input and for understanding that it is important for me to be able to compete internationally. While it is of course not that interesting for him if I ride in the Netherlands, France or a GP. On the other hand, it is nice for Motorshop Desmet if I win the series when I ride in the MCLB. The MCLB type of courses are not ideal preparation for a GP, but it remains a competition which is still better than training.”
What do you expect from the GP in Lommel this weekend?
Dewulf: “I don't put any pressure on myself at all. Certainly not now and not given the level. You could have driven just as fast for a 14de of 16de place as at 20 p.mth to become! It goes so fast and if you are not 100% physically, as was the case in Loket, then you simply don't get involved. You have to be completely fine first and then it is difficult enough. Everyone knows that Lommel is special. Anything can happen, in one round you can go from 5 to 1 or from 1 to 10. It is always very difficult and the material also makes a big difference. In any case, we are lagging behind the top 15 there. Certainly the top 10 has factory material, then you have teams like Wilvo-Yamaha, which are also no losers…. Not everyone understands how tough MXGP is. Like after Valkenswaard, when you hear someone say 'what does 16de for.' While in retrospect it was still a good series. I just want to give on Sunday and stay on two wheels.”
What do you think of the changes to the circuit?
Dewulf: “I think they are very positive. Something new is always good and the fact that they have taken visibility to the public into account with that new start. For everyone who has trained a lot, it now also requires adjustment. The job is of course the same for everyone, no one is at a disadvantage.”
Photos: BrentMXpics, Francesco Scaccianoce Photography, Andrea Forloni
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