Clément Desalle wins anniversary edition in Mons!
The riders had to deal with deep ruts in Mons. Nevertheless, the second round of the BK Motocross could be completed in overall good conditions. Home rider Clément Desalle, loudly encouraged, rode to a logical double series victory. However, he was not given the victory because in the second heat he still had to fight for a deserving Ken De Dycker.
After the many cancellations, it was great to be able to ride in the Bois Brûlé in Mons! RMAMC Mons could also count on considerable public interest for the 40th edition.
Clément Desalle who rarely drives in his own country, naturally started as the favourite. In the time tracking the MX Panda was 1,3 seconds faster than Ken Dycker, Kevin Strijbos qualified third. Strijbos took the holeshot in the first moto but could not make a fist against Desalle. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider raced to an easy victory for De Dycker, who was struggling with sore arms. Strijbos crossed the line in third place. Dietger Damiaens completed an excellent round and showed himself to be 'best of the rest' with a fourth place.
A surprising one Steve Ramon grabbed the holeshot in the restart. However, the two-time world champion soon had to make way for Desalle. It seemed to be heading for an easy victory, but that turned out to be premature. A mistake half the match offered a strong comeback! De Dycker approached and squeezed out a quick final lap, although that proved insufficient to worry a controlling Desalle. Wash again Kevin Strijbos third, which also placed the Standing Construct KTM rider third overall.
Dietger Damiaens more or less kept pace with Ramon, but had to put up with the experienced hand. Yet another strong example from the 38-year-old veteran who is clearly not worn out yet. In the final score, Damiaens beat Ramon in fourth place by one point! MC Mikkola's Roy Sillien finished a regular day in sixth (5-6).
Double hit Erik Willems
Was on paper Daymond Martens maybe the biggest name but Erik Willems took the lead in the combined Inters/Nationals 250 series. During the qualifications, Martens was convincingly the fastest ahead of reigning champion Mark Boot. It became very exciting in the heats. Lead starter Mark Boot led almost the entire first race and could smell victory. The sympathetic Zeelander jumped too far onto a ramp with less than half a lap to go and landed unluckily. In the end Boot had to settle for third place. Willems beat Martens by 2,1 seconds!
Willems was the fastest to get to the end. The Bihr-Husqvarna rider withstood the pressure from Martens but it remained exciting until the end! Ex-Enduro winner Martens was stranded at just two seconds. Mark Boat did what he could. Hampered by a painful shoulder and a headache from his crash, he rode it safe and finished third. Tim Louis recorded his second fourth place of the day. Tallon Verhelst, 5th and 6th overall, was the strongest in the Nationals 250.
Impressive Liam Everts
Polesitter Wannes Van de Voorde in Marnick Lagrou kept each other in balance at the Promised. Lagrou won the first heat ahead of Van De Voorde, but the F4E rider took revenge in the final heat. Romain was able to join the podium thanks to two third places. In the youth category Liam Evert head and shoulders above it all. Although that is probably too weakly expressed, in English they would say he 'crushed it'. Liamski, who was followed today by the Sporza camera, drove the competition to pieces.
In the first moto he finished 1 minute and 6 seconds ahead Pako Destercq. At the finish of the second heat, the difference between Everts and Destercq, who was again second, was no less than 1 minute 49 seconds. Yoran Moens was third every time.
All results here
Race 1 Inters & Nationals 500
1. Clement Desalle
2. Ken De Dycker
3. Kevin Strijbos
4. Dietger Damiaens
5. Roy Sillien
6. Steve Ramon
7. Kevin Vangenechten
8. Heikki Geens
9. Jochem Walckiers
10. Ronny Van Hove
Race 2 Inters & Nationals 500
1. Clement Desalle
2. Ken De Dycker
3. Kevin Strijbos
4. Steve Ramon
5. Dietger Damiaens
6. Roy Siliën
7. Heikki Geens
8. Jerome Benonit
9. Ronny Van Hove
10. Kevin Vangenechten
Final score Inters & Nationals 500
1. Clement Desalle 50
2. Ken De Dycker 44
3. Kevin Strijbos 40
4. Dietger Damiaens 34
5. Steve Ramon 33
6. Roy Siliën 31
7. Heikki Geens 27
8. Menno Van Meer 26
Race 1 Inters & Nationals 250
1. Erik Willems
2. Daymond Martens
3. Mark Boot
4. Tim Louis
5. Tallon Verhelst
6. Bryan Angels
7. Tanguy Gabriel
8. Remi Fraikin
9. Jerome Biets
10. Kristof Van Vaernebergh
Race 2 Inters & Nationals 250
1. Erik Willems
2. Daymond Martens
3. Mark Boot
4. Tim Louis
5. Bryan Angels
6. Tallon Verhelst
7. Tanguy Gabriel
8. Remi Fraikin
9. Michael Bruyninckx
10. Jerome Biets
Final score Inters 250
1. Erik Willems 50
2. Daymond Martens 44
3. Mark Boot 40
4. Tim Louis 36
5. Bryan Engelen 32
6. Rémi Fraikin 30
Photos: Pascal Haudiquert, Gino Maes, Raf Verachten
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