Keeno and Lommel: the indestructible tandem!
Ken De Dycker (34) is also at the start again in the Lommel sandbox. While the average motocross rider is horrified by the grueling conditions, the bear from Lubbeek finds it difficult to imagine that he will not be there during the MXGP of Limburg!
Keeno was on the GP podium at the Heeserbergen three times. In 2009 he won the Grand Prix and a year later he stood on the podium with the Belgian MXON team. To say that De Dycker has 'something' for Lommel is putting it mildly. For someone who rides purely for fun, it almost sounds absurd to compete in the hot Limburg sand. But the KTM rider has always been 'special'.
“No, you can't speak of special preparation at all,” Ken laughs. “My last competition was four weeks ago in the VMCF. I have always maintained my fitness, even on holiday, but in terms of motorcycle training it is really minimal. And resting doesn't make you any faster. My speed in the sand is not too bad, but to maintain that for two 35 minutes is something else!”
Have fun and experience the largest cross festival in Belgium with friends and supporters. That doesn't have to be anything more for De Dycker. This is also a special participation in terms of engine. Never before has the multiple GP winner been at the start with equipment that is so standard. “What kind of special parts does it have? Let's have a look: another handlebar, another sticker set, another seat cover and that's it! I'll go with a 2019 KTM 450 SX-F, but it's so new that HGS doesn't even have a new exhaust for it yet. So even in terms of exhaust, I ride with how the bike came from the shop.”
In addition to racing for fun, De Dycker has also been working behind the scenes as a test rider in recent months. For a while, a trip to the ADAC MX Masters seemed like the next challenge for the WLM Design pilot, but despite a strong second place in Mölln, that track was quickly put aside. “I had some problems in that first race and the second race in Bielstein also did not go to my liking. If you can't compete for the marbles, there's no point in continuing or costing anyone. At the beginning of this season I did test work for BOS GP. Nice to do and they were also very satisfied, but due to the crowds between the GP weekends they did not indicate a follow-up. So be it, nothing is necessary, everything is allowed as far as I'm concerned.”
The fact that he does not necessarily have to achieve a result this weekend also means that Keeno is looking forward to the weekend in a relaxed manner. “I just want to enjoy it, the more people come to Lommel the better! Of course it will be tough, but that is the case for everyone. The top players have been working hard for weeks in these conditions. I don't see any surprises in the MXGP. So you can count on Jeffrey Herlings and a good Tony Cairoli as second. And Clément Desalle on stage in front of his own audience. That would be nice. I think we can expect more battle in MX2. Jorge Prado makes a big impression, but Thomas Covington has also been very busy in recent weeks. Not to forget Calvin Vlaanderen and Pauls Jonass. I'm looking forward to the weekend.”
Photos: Niek photography
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