Interview Sidecar Team Veldman/Cermak: 'Our style together will certainly create a spectacle!
Dutch sidecar cross rider Julian Veldman will start the 2020 World Championship Sidecars and the Dutch Sidecar Masters on a CPD-Racing frame. CPD-Racing is a new name in the field of sidecar frames. Ondrej Cermak, the experienced Czech baking player who is returning to the World Championships after a year of rehabilitation, will accompany Veldman in the sidecar. With this, both one of the most spectacular riders and one of the most spectacular bakers are entering into a pact in 2020 and that will certainly produce fireworks on the motocross tracks at home and abroad.
MXmag spoke with Cermak and Veldman last weekend at the team presentation of the Zijcarcross team Veldman in Kampen.
MXmag: 'Ondrej, to start with you, can you tell us a little about how you get in touch
did you come with team Veldman?'
Be careful:'Of course. Most people know that I experienced a really hard crash with my brother in the last Grand Prix of 2018. The recovery after that crash was a hard and long road in which I even had serious doubts about being able to return at all. once as a baker. Even now I am not yet 100% where I have been before as a bakingist. Team Veldman presented itself at exactly the right time at the end of last year to try it, I felt that the moment had come. We did one race together in the Czech Republic at the end of last season and we both had the feeling that there was a click between us. Of course that was on a hard surface, but I have the feeling that there is also a click on a track with sand, right Julian?'
MXmag: 'Julian, Ondrej indicates that everything feels good even in the sand, can you say something about that, especially about that first time together on the sidecar?'
Veldman: 'Yes, that first time did indeed feel good, just driving fast on a hard track is something everyone can do.
In recent days we have indeed ridden in the sand for the first time and that indeed feels good. The difference for Ondrej is of course... where his brother drove in the sand in second gear, Julian does so in fourth gear. Only I immediately notice that Ondrej is very motivated in that. He is eager to learn and picks up everything straight away. We have now trained for two days in the sand and with the time we ride everything is improving step by step.'
MXmag: 'Julian, do you think you can also learn something from Ondrej? He is of course a very experienced baking artist.'
Veldman: 'Yes, that was immediately in the Czech Republic with that first match on the hard track. He immediately started giving instructions on how to approach corners slightly differently and that immediately went better.
But I told him (laughing), now we are on the sand and that is my territory'
MXmag: 'Ondrej, what can you tell us about Julian's driving characteristics? It is not without reason that its nickname is the frog because it jumps from hole to hole in the sand with its long legs next to the engine.
How did that feel for you the first time?'
Be careful: 'Yes, I was pleasantly surprised when team Veldman contacted me at the end of the previous season. That was because during my career I always wanted to ride in the sand with a good Dutchman. So when Julian contacted me, I saw my opportunity. I mean, look at that first moto in Lommel last year, it was amazing how he raged in the sand there.
Now while driving I feel and notice that he is really smart and experienced in the sand. It's going to be so cool to continue to follow his style in the sand, that will be really nice!
MXmag: 'Speaking of style Ondrej, do you think your two spectacular styles can be combined well?
I mean, you hang so low to the ground in left turns. I have to ask once, have you ever had your butt hurt because it ended up in the chain or something like that?
Be careful: (laughing) Haha, yes indeed. Indeed, I hang so low in the left corners that I sometimes feel the chain or rear tire literally rubbing against me. But as a baking artist you just have to give yourself 100%, it's part of it. (laughing) I can sit quietly on the rear fender and look around at who is standing along the track and so on. But then you have to choose another sport.
So yes, I think that our style can be combined well and that this will provide a lot of spectacle!
Mxmag: 'Julian, Is there anything else news to report about your team and what can you tell us about your brand new sidecar?
Veldman: ' Yes, our sidecar is number 001 of the CPD racing series. A completely new brand. It took some time, but then you see what beautiful things you get in return. The frames are built by Kees Cornelisse and Wim Hones, Wim of course previously made the WHT frames. It looks good and if it's good it drives good too.'
Mxmag: 'What are your goals for the coming season? Unfortunately, you did not achieve all your goals last year. What do you take away from that?'
Veldman: 'First of all, I want to get rid of those double digits on my license plate because I don't like that at all!
Well, in terms of driving, that should be fine, but I have to think every now and then, just go for a longer lap... But I certainly don't have to change anything more than that.'
Mxmag: 'Ondrej, what are your personal goals for the coming season within team Veldman?'
Be careful: '….I think….Well my dream (laughing) is to do better than with my brother in the GPs.
And I will do my utmost for that!
MXmag: 'Thank you Julian and Ondrej for your time and good luck next season!'
Photo: Lien Vandeursen
Text: Emil Bilars
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