Interview with 'beach boy' Yentel Martens
We don't know if Yentel Martens is a typical beach bum, but he certainly feels great on the beach in winter. Y-Mart colored the competition in the Red Bull Knock Out and took a more than deserved podium. This confirmed his top form because Yentel is in the lead in the French beach racing championship together with Milko Potisek.
Convincing winner in the beach race of Berck-sur-Mer, on the podium in Loon and now third in Scheveningen. Yentel Martens is clearly the man of the start of the season in beach crosses. In his first year, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider already showed what he has to offer in the Sand Races, but this winter Yentel is clearly raising the bar even higher.
Congratulations on your great competition in Scheveningen. Afterwards everyone was talking about how removing the log section changed the competition. How did that decision affect your match?
Yentel Martens: “A lot, a lot even (chuckles). That doesn't matter, it is how it is. Glenn (ed. Coldenhoff) was clearly the fastest and strongest. Personally, I am satisfied with third place, but there could have been a lot more.”
At some point you started making up time at Coldenhoff.
Martens: “That's right, I was second and was overtaking Glenn... I had a big lead on third. And then suddenly I was third! In the end I drove over the tree trunks six times - if not more - and I was really struggling. Then I suddenly saw riders passing by. I didn't dare to do that myself for fear of punishment or disqualification. Some riders in front of me only rode over the tree trunks once or twice, so then you lose a lot of time.”
You were on the podium in all the beach races you rode in recent weeks.
Martens: “We are indeed on the right track, but I am not there yet. Now we have to keep working. I am still motivated to work super hard and I feel good, the engine runs well, the mechanics do an excellent job.”
Every beach race is a little different, which also requires a certain strategy.
Martens: “Above all, you have to be in good physical condition and know yourself. In addition, you also need to know how to approach such a day: when to eat and drink. At the Red Bull Knock Out you had to be at the start an hour and a half in advance. You have to get up early and then you have to wait a long time in the parc fermé. Then you go to another closed park where you have to wait another half hour. You also have to wait at the start again. So it is best to take food and drinks with you. First you have a one-hour qualifying race in the Knock Out, then you quickly eat and shower and then get ready for the final and wait again! Fortunately, you don't have to wait as long in Le Touquet.”
All the top experts in the discipline talk about the experience you need to excel in this type of work.
Martens: “Last year I learned a lot about how it works. Now I am much more careful, perhaps even too careful, after I had already taken penalty time last year and was disqualified. This weekend I was too careful anyway. However, I am on schedule both physically and speed-wise. Actually, I am even further conditionally than expected, but the main goal is and remains Le Touquet.”
In the Enduropale of Le Touquet you ride for three hours. The Knockout is a two-hour race. What do you like most?
Martens: “In any case, I opt for a match in three hours, then you're done with it straight away! Now the Knock Out was a very long day. “
Enduro riders are used to it to encounter obstacles and change rhythm. That is very different from what you are used to as a motocross rider on a normal track. In a beach race you have to constantly anticipate to pass those behind you. How do you deal with that?
Martens: “I have already learned a lot when it comes to overtaking. Last year I was far too careful with drivers behind me. Now I dare to take a little more risk when overtaking. So far it's working out well! You just have to look ahead and try to read what the other riders are going to do. The faster you pass them, the less chance you have of hitting them. If you start to doubt yourself, you will collapse…”
There is plenty of sand in Lommel, your home circuit, but every sand circuit or beach cross has its typical characteristics. How do the beach races differ from each other in that respect?
Martens: “You can actually compare Scheveningen with the French beach races. Berck, Scheveningen, Hossegor and Le Touquet are almost identical. Although the beach in Scheveningen is much wider, it is of course also heavy, but not as heavy as Le Touquet, for example. Precisely because it is so much wider. The Enduropal is at least half narrower than the Knock Out.”
You rode at a high level in your own country all year, but the MXGP in Lommel was a huge letdown.
Martens: “The week before Lommel I felt super good, the riding also went excellent. On Friday I suddenly became ill. In the free practice I was able to continue for half a lap and I was exhausted. I couldn't do anything anymore. After the qualifying race I even had to throw up, I performed below par all weekend. On Sunday I simply couldn't finish a moto. Lommel was one to forget as quickly as possible. Then I took a rest, got back on the bike at Keiheuvel and showed that I can keep up with the GP men. (ed. Martens was on the podium twice in Balen). Looking back, I got a boost after Balen. From then on it went even better.”
How do you estimate your chances for Le Touquet?
Martens: “You actually can't say too much about that because so much can happen, especially in that match. As always, I go there to win. Normally the podium must certainly be feasible. “
At the same time, you are now also in pole position for the title in the French beach cross championship.
Martens: “Initially we had not planned to participate in all the races, but now that I am in the lead, that obviously changes the whole thing. So at the beginning of December I will also ride St-Léger de Balson and a week later the Ronde des Sables in Hossegor.”
Will they see you again next year in the famous Enduro del Verano in Argentina?
Martens: “I will definitely go there again in February! That is one of the most beautiful races I have ever done. The people there are very enthusiastic and it is a very popular race there. The sand there is very special, the Enduro del Verano is also more of a desert race than a beach race. The sand looks a bit like Lommel in the summer when it is really mush! In any case, I'm really looking forward to it.”
Thank you for your time, in any case good luck in the coming months
Martens: You're welcome, thank you!
Photos: Father Swijgers, Pascal Haudiquert, Future7Media
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