Looking back at the GP Sidecars Oss: 2014
In 2014 there was another GP sidecar cross on the Witte Ruysheuvel. The MC Oss once again managed to organize the opening round of the World Cup on April 12/13 of that year.
Ben Adriaenssen/Ben van den Boogaart became World Champion for the first time in 2013 and they were also one of the favorites for the title in 2014. Runner-up of 2013 was again Etienne Bax who, together with Kaspar Stupelis, was eager to dethrone Adriaenssen. Unfortunately, this did not work out for Bax/Stupelis at the end of the 2014 season and Adriaenssen/Van den Boogaart became World Champion again.
Adriaenssen defeated them in the legendary GP in Bessenbach of 2014, where Bax and Adriaenssen fought for victory for almost the entire second heat. However, Bax also had bad luck a number of times in 2014, resulting in expensive points being lost. We already saw an example of this during the first World Cup round of 2014 in Oss.
The qualifications that year did not pose any problems for virtually any top team and everyone was eagerly looking forward to Sunday where the first points for 2014 would be distributed.
During this GP in Oss a lot happened here and there throughout the field during both GP heats. For example, we saw the British teams of Millard and Wilkinson both get stuck in the sand during their battle in the last lap of the first heat, we saw Marcel Willemsen who had difficulty climbing a hill in the second heat and had to turn around to to try this again and also the well-known 'holes of Oss' again made that opinion combination, and certainly not the least, choke and go over.
At the front, however, there seemed to be no problem for Etienne Bax in the first heat. Every lap they increased their lead over the surprisingly good acting Willemsen/Bax and just behind them Adriaenssen/Van den Boogaart.
However, after a good twenty minutes of play, that changed. Willemsen visibly started to catch up. Suddenly something strange was visible about the combination of Bax/Stupelis. Bax was no longer sitting relaxed on the machine as he had in the previous rounds. When one looked closely, it became apparent why. The footrest on the left side of the motorcycle was suddenly broken off by the pounding against the sand of Oss!
Bax continued and at first simply let his leg hang on the outside, but this simply became too heavy. Bax then decided to adopt a different sitting position in order to complete the match. Bax continued with both legs in the sidecar, but logically he had to slow down, causing Willemsen and later Adriaenssen to pass by. The temporary 'amazon from Bergeijk' still managed to finish third and just keep Hendrickx/Mucenieks behind, with the strong Van den Boomen/Van de Wiel behind them, who finished fifth and later surprisingly did this again in the second heat.
Daniël Willemsen was clearly very happy with his surprising victory in the first heat and naturally wanted to repeat this feat during the second heat. However, things went completely wrong for Willemsen/Bax at the start when they collided with Adriaenssen and ended up straight into the fences against the pit lane. The side pan suddenly made a sharp turn and the rider and driver were catapulted from the machine. Willemsen/Bax mounted their iron steed again and finished the second heat, but outside the points. The speed wasn't really there anymore during that second heat and after the finish it became clear why. Daniël Willemsen got off the motorcycle completely 'out of the world'. The hard blow on the starting field caused Willemen to suffer a serious concussion and he was treated by medical staff on site immediately after the match.
At the front, Bax now did what he had to do, namely win. His third place in the first heat and the win in the second showed that they had been the best in Oss and the day's victory was claimed with one point difference over the number two. Second place in the day's results went to Adriaenssen/Van den Boogaart who also finished the second heat as 2e crossed the line. The third podium on the podium was reserved for Hendrickx/Mucenieks, who also started the 2014 season with two fourth places.
New insights? Did Ben van den Boogaart just wave or did he already indicate on Saturday morning that they would come second during the GP in Oss?
Text: Emil Bilars
Photo: www.orangehat.nl
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