Heavy fireworks at Zwarte Cross next weekend.
The Zwarte Cross, the largest festival in the Netherlands, will be the scene of the final races of the Dutch Masters of Motocross (DMofMX) this weekend on July 13, 14 and 15. Dutch and international top riders will compete with each other for three days for the highest honor. The program promises heavy fireworks in all classes, from 85cc to 500cc.
TASTEMASTER
Trendsetter at the highest level, the 500cc, is our compatriot Jeffrey Herlings. The Brabander is well on his way to the world title in the premier class of motocross, the MXGP. He is also in the lead in the DMofMX, with a 30 point lead over number 2. But although the victory can hardly escape his notice, Herlings also has the following: 'To finish first, you must finish first'. That is why fans can also enjoy his masterful steering skills at the Zwarte Cross and the fierce battles for the other podium places. Because during the final weekend in Lichtenvoorde, every point can be decisive.
TENSION IN ALL CLASSES
There is also great tension in the other classes. In the 250cc, Belgian Jago Geerts is only 13 points ahead of Dutch South African Calvin Vlaanderen. In the 125cc, the top four are even closer together, with only five points difference between number 1 and number 4! Our compatriot Raivo Dankers only has to catch up with the Finnish leader Emil Weckman by three points, while Raivo in turn is only two points ahead of his compatriot Raf Meeuwissen and the Swede Filip Olsson, both with an equal number of points. In the 85cc, the title battle is between the Dutch fighters Kay de Wolf and Kay Karssemakers. After his failure in Oldebroek, the latter will go all out to close the gap.
RETURN FAST MEN
At the Zwarte Cross we also see a few fast guys at the start who were not able to ride all the DMoMX races, such as the fast Czech Petr Polak in the 125cc. Our fellow countryman Rick Elzinga also takes action, after having had both arms in plaster for 3,5 months. In addition, the Russian Vsevolod Brylyakov, the British Martin Barr and the Belgian Brent Vandonick (#250) will be at the start in the 172cc. In the 500cc we see two MXGP riders competing again, the Italian Alessandro Lupino and the Frenchman Maxime Desprey. To top it all off, the battle in the 500cc becomes even more interesting with the participation of French MXGP contender Romain Febvre. As a rookie in the MXGP, he immediately became world champion in this class in 2015, and is now fifth in the standings.
SIDE CAR SPECTACLE
As a first in the Dutch Masters of Motocross series and at the Zwarte Cross, the heavy sidecar crossers will compete on Friday, July 13. Ten-time(!) world champion Daniël Willemsen appears at the start with his baking player Robbie Bax against, among others, their compatriot and two-time world champion Etienne Bax with his Latvian baking player Kaspars Stupelis. Also in this tough class it will soon be hard against hard.
GIRL POWERRR
The Zwarte Cross also means: girl power! Dutch top riders from the women's world championship - such as Shana van der Vlist and Lynn Valk - start with a wildcard in the 250cc to show the tough guys that they can also hold their own in the heavy sand of Lichtenvoorde. Extra reason to come and cheer on these cool girls.
AMERICAN GUEST DRIVERS
American guest riders Justin Starling (250cc) and Malcolm Stewart (500cc) are also looking forward to it. Both top riders from the American AMA series have been preparing for the Zwarte Cross for weeks, as they report on their Instagram accounts. There they clearly show that it will not be due to their moves and speed... Next weekend in Lichtenvoorde it will become clear whether both cross-cracks can live up to their tough language, or whether the best sand riders in the world simply come from the Netherlands...
MEET & GREET WITH MXGP WORLD TOPS
Special extra for the fans: Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 am there will be a Meet & Greet in the Freestyle Area ('Ground Hero') with world top riders from the MXGP World Championship. Ten guns hand out autographs for half an hour. From the 500cc class these are: Jeffrey Herlings (NL), Glenn Coldenhoff (NL), Romain Febvre (F), Max Anstie (GB) and Malcolm Stewart (USA); from the 250cc class these are: Calvin Vlaanderen (ZA), Jago Geerts (B), Justin Starling (USA), Thomas Covington (USA) and Davy Pootjes (NL).
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: NiekFotografie
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