Interview with rising star Erik Willems!
You can bet that October 8 is circled in red on the calendar of 19-year-old Erik Willems. Together with the Belgian Masters of Motocross and the Coupe de l'Avenir, the denouement of the Motocross Championships will take place in Baisieux. The ambitious Husqvarna pilot proved with his great performance in the EMX300 that he is one of the rising Belgian stars! In the Motocross Championships he was in conflict with leader Dietger Damiaens all season. In the run-up to that super exciting final, we sat down with Erik.
You are 11 points behind Damiaens in the Belgian Championship, so there is still a chance for you in Baisieux. No matter how it turns out, you have given color to the Belgian Championship.
Erik Willems: “That's right, we were evenly matched and that battle makes it interesting. Dietger is very good, we are almost at the same level. Too bad I had mechanical trouble once, but that can happen. Actually, after Orp-le-Grand I was faced with a dilemma because the Coupe de l'Avenir manager Robert Gielis had selected me for the Belgian team. Because both matches unfortunately coincided, I had to make a choice. I chose to go all the way to the end in the BC. We'll see how it turns out!”
This season was about your breakthrough in cultivation. What is your explanation for those good results?
Erik Willems: “I didn't work too hard this winter. I postponed the really tough training sessions a bit. I held back a bit because the first race for the EMX300 was not until May 21 in Teutschenthal. There was no point in going too fast. In the first BMB match I just wanted to start well, stay calm, not fall and score well. In the beginning I certainly didn't have the ambition to drive everyone home. A good final score in the Belgian Championship was important, but you have no choice but to look at such a championship race by race. That strategy has worked out well.”
What did you do last year?
Willems: “I have ridden quite a few inter competitions in France, in the BMB I participated in Orp-le-Grand and Balen, among others, and I have also ridden some ONKs. In France he rode in the top 10 in the Elite in Romagné and Saint-Thibery. He also rode in the top 10 in Markelo and Oss on a 450 Yamaha. My goal is to ride in the GPs in 2 or 3 years and I know how important it is to be able to compete on all types of courses. Okay, personally I think it's better in the sand than in the sand, but that's fine. Actually, there are more riders who are fast on the sand than on the hard surfaces, so I still have to work on that.”
Do you work with a trainer?
Willems: “I don't have a personal trainer, but I do have regular telephone contact with Yves Devlaminck. I also sometimes do an internship with Jeremy Coen and I do have a physical coach, Matthieu Beulens, who also trains Jeremy Coen. He puts together a program. I also try to meet strong riders to ride together, such as Nicolas Dercourt, I have also ridden with Jeffrey Herlings. I often drive in the north of France. Apart from Hélecine, there is no circuit that is really close, but because I live quite centrally, in Waterloo, there are several interesting circuits that are not too far.”
Do you feel that there are many supporters who support you because you ride a two-stroke?
Willems: “Yes, although it remains a challenge of course. Like for example in the second round of Orp-le-Grand it was very tough! The first moto went well, I was 6th until I had a problem with the rear brake. There was nothing at the back for four laps, so I ended up 12th. And of course you don't need an engine brake on a two-stroke! It's not simple, but I do enjoy riding a two-stroke. At the invitation of Stefaan Minne from Husqvarna Belgium - thanks Stefaan - I went to the 2018 Husqvarna presentation in Veldhoven. I actually tested all the engines there. Okay, I was a little faster with the 450, but I still enjoy myself most on a two-stroke! My next race will be the EMX250 final in Villars sous Ecot where I will be at the start with a 250 two-stroke. Maybe I'm the only two-stroke there. Well, we'll see how it goes. My first goal is of course to qualify.”
It's clear that you have a good feeling with two-strokes.
Willems: “That's right, I'm very satisfied with the feeling of the Husqvarna. Together with Ronny Van Hove we worked hard on the engine settings.”
Of course you want to go to the GPs, but in the EMX300 there are more opportunities to get into the spotlight. Is the intention next year to ride for the title in the EMX300?
Willems: “It's not quite done yet, but it is indeed the most obvious option to go for the title in the EMX300 on a Husqvarna. Unless of course a better offer suddenly comes along! I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do nationally. Whether I ride a 450 there or a 250 two-stroke. In the Netherlands, for example, you can ride a 2018 two-stroke in 250. That could be interesting to ride in the Dutch Masters against strong riders such as Thomas Covington, Thomas-Kjer Olsen, Bas Vaessen or Calvin Vlaanderen.”
What do you do besides racing, are you still studying or do you have a job?
Willems: “I completed my secondary education at the Cardinal Mercier college in Braine l'Alleud. That was a school that was very sports-minded and I also followed sports! I graduated there in June 2016 and since then I have been working two days a week in my father's company, a garden contractor. This way I have the rest of the time to train and concentrate on motocross. Hopefully there will be more support in general for next year, but in any case there will already be support from ADEPS (ed. French-speaking counterpart of Bloso). I want to take it step by step and, above all, avoid injuries. That worked out well this year. In previous years I suffered an injury every time I was at a good level. I know the road is still long, but hard work is rewarded!”
You're still young enough, what's next in your plans for 2019?
Willems: “Ideally, I can win the EMX300 title next year and then move on to the MXGP in 2019. My age is in my favor. I can make even more progress than, for example, Jeffrey Dewulf or the former top players such as Steve Ramon or Ken De Dycker. That makes sense, of course. I am very eager to learn and constantly want to learn. To return to your question earlier, I also know that I would benefit greatly from a good driving coach. Someone who is always there when I train, someone who sees what I need to improve. My dad doesn't have that experience at all. He has ridden a bit of enduro but nothing more. I started cross-country when I was 4 years old, but then I switched to jumping. My mom rode horses and I did that until I was 5. From then on I always rode motocross. Although we have always tackled it quietly, with a small truck somewhere in a corner of the riders' park. My dad supported me because I wanted to ride and get better, not because he wanted to chase a dream or anything! That in itself is good and perhaps it is my strength. I always had to push my dad, it wasn't the other way around. For many riders, it is the parents who push and some young guys cannot handle that pressure and then they stop.”
Many riders who start young get so burned out.
Willems: "Precisely. If I am where I am now, it may also have something to do with those circumstances. And I still have ten years ahead of me to achieve what I want. If I'm still at this level in 3 or 4 years, things will probably be different. Then why would I work hard every weekend? But motocross is my pass and that's why I'm going all out!”
What are your best qualities as a motocross rider?
Willems: “The fact that I keep my head down when driving because I am perhaps a bit more mature for my age. Sometimes it pays to be a little more wait-and-see instead of attacking like a young dog. Seeing which lines the rider in front of you is riding and then striking is often a better tactic. I also try to make good use of my physical fitness. The way you use your legs on a wave section or while braking. I brake much later than most other riders. It is clear that I have to work on my starts. Even this year there was more in the EMX300 with good starts. Such as in Switzerland where, despite a fall in the first moto, I achieved the fastest lap of the race. In the second series I had a very bad start, not even in the top 20, but I came back to sixth place. At European Championship level, experience is simply super important!”
Were you surprised when you reached the podium in Teutschenthal?
Willems: “I certainly didn't expect it myself, no! Actually, I always started the race very calmly, just two good starts, staying upright and choosing good tracks. When I came to Russia the approach was very different: Ha, I can win here! I did stupid things there because I was always looking ahead instead of concentrating on my own race. Then you are making a mistake. That also happened to me in Ottobiano. Lommel was already better, but I lost quite a bit there in the second moto and ended up 11th. On the other hand, I set the third fastest lap of the race in that race, but without the end result that doesn't count!”
Good luck in the coming competitions!
Willems: “Thank you!”
Photos: Plan-B, Dieter Jans, shotbyBavo, MXGP
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