Column: Geert Gelaude September 2018
A new hero has risen, that much is clear. With less than 23 youngsters, Belgium can once again celebrate a world champion in cross-country. The fifth title in ten years, but in sidecar cross. None other than Marvin Vanluchene with co-driver Ben van den Bogaart are the new number one in the world.
No one would have dared to predict at the start that sidecar sport would have one of the most exciting seasons. The established names were once again tipped off in their race for the title. After the first Grand Prix in Oss, Netherlands, it was immediately a chase race for current world champion Etienne Bax. The combination suffered a major breakdown in the second round, with both driver and co-driver not leaving the battlefield unscathed. But the French former world champion Giraud also had to leave Oss with a significant deficit. Those who were present were ten-time world champion Daniel Willemsen, who won the first strength meeting. Most striking was that the youth continued their advance from 2017 in Oss. Because Koen Hermans with ex-world champion Nicolas Musset in the box came in second. Vanluchene with three-time world champion Ben van den Bogaart already showed their calling card by taking the podium in third place. Throughout the championship, the young West Flemish made his mark on the World Cup, was able to win numerous matches and, together with Hermans, was the most consistent combination. It is therefore logical that the young wolves also take top honors in the final standings. Bax, who had a lot of setbacks but could count on a very strong co-driver, was still allowed to compete on the final podium. Kaspar Stupulis will go down in history as not the co-driver with the most world titles, but as the one who managed to raise the level of co-driver to an unprecedented level. Just imagine standing in the box without a sidecar bracket! Yes, you read that correctly, Bax-Stupelis rode for more than half a race in Roggenburg, Switzerland, for more than half a race without the brace. They kept going to gain the necessary points. In other words, both the driver and the co-driver had to do everything they could to continue whatever they were doing. You don't have to be a scholar to have enormous respect for these two powerhouses. Ultimately, they fought hard and came 22nd under the checkered flag. I only have one word for it and that is Respect!!!!
But all the credit goes to Vanluchene and Van den Bogaart as co-driver who can now join the list of really great co-drivers. Ben can prepare to have a fourth gold medal tattooed on his foot, yes, because he already has four world titles behind this name! Only the legendary Latvian Rasmanis has managed to amass five titles. But next year both men will certainly want to extend their title and Van den Bogaart, as half Belgian, may well be able to join the Latvian. Who knows...
While the new world champion has been announced in the sidecars and we can go to a big party in Assen in the MXGP, where Jeffrey Herlings can be crowned the best in the world, after last weekend in MX2 it remains more exciting than ever.
However, some Dutch people are also active in other disciplines of our sport. Paul Spierings, who will start his very first Dakar adventure in early January 2019, is fully preparing. Paul has just completed the famous Serres Rally in Greece. The Husqvarna rider from Sint-Michielsgestel started with an eleventh fastest time in the prologue and crossed the finish line in fourth and fifth the next day, thus becoming the best Dutchman. As a result, the Aelbers Personeelszaken supported rider rose to an overall fourth place. On the difficult third day, Spierings took a wrong turn, but was soon able to find the right path to continue the race calculatedly and climb another spot in the standings. Paul was then able to find his feet in sunny Greece and ended the competition on the podium. He only has to leave his buddy Wesley Pittens and the Slovenian Svitko ahead of him, which is very good in view of his first participation in Dakar. Spierings knows that the Serres is not yet a Dakar and will therefore start on October 4 in the World Rally Championship, which will be held in Morocco. To take the last two Portuguese matches shortly afterwards to be ready for the real work. We wish Spierings good luck in Morocco and will continue to follow the doings of the man with a mission.
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
By: Geert Gelaude
Photo: Stijn Overbeke
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