Take 5: Raf Meuwissen
The 2020 season has come to a complete standstill due to the coronavirus. It remains to be seen when the competitions will continue or start again. This gives us extra time to question people in our sport, we spoke with Raf Meuwissen again.
Last year you rode in Italian service with Maddii Racing-Husqvarna. How did that go, how do you look back on the season?
Raf Meuwissen: “That's right, I drove for the Maddii Racing Team last year and I think it was a very important year for the rest of my career. It is a professional team with very nice people to work with, so I learned a lot there! Unfortunately, the season did not go as I expected and hoped. The riding was good, but due to a number of injuries the results were simply a bit disappointing.”
You switched to BT Racing last winter. We didn't see that coming, can you tell us how the collaboration came about?
Meuwissen: “No Fear Energy has been my personal sponsor since 2017, so I had been in contact with Bas Verhoeven for some time. I received a nice adult offer and riding with Dutch sponsors is of course always a preference. That is why we decided to drive for No Fear Energy-JUMBO-BT Racing.”
You were in the KNMV Rookie program. What has this brought you and how do you look back on it?
Meuwissen: “The KNMV has always helped me a lot in my career to this day, and I am very grateful to them for that. From the 65cc I will be in the KNMV selection and in 2017 I moved to Papendal to follow the CTO program there. I also learned there to live and work like a top athlete. I look back on this wonderful time very positively.”
Children usually take up cross-country racing because their father raced in his youth. How is that for you?
Meuwissen: “It started that way for me too, I must say I am part of a real cross-family! Dad's uncle (Ben Scheres) always rode for the MON and dad always rode in Belgium where I started. When I started driving in the Netherlands he stopped.”
What does your program look like in 2020? What is your goal for 2020, when will this season be successful?
Meuwissen: “The intention was to ride the KNMV Dutch Masters of Motocross in addition to the European 250c Championship and then take a separate ADAC. Due to the coronavirus, the Dutch Masters of Motocross has been canceled, but it is not yet known how exactly we will deal with this. I expect the ADAC, but we will see about that. My goal was the top six in the EMX250, but due to my injury at the end of last year, that has become an even longer road. I first want to get completely fit and then I want to finish in the top five several times. We will see what that means in the final score later in the season.”
Would you like to add anything to this conversation?
Meuwissen: “I hope everyone stays healthy, we have seen in recent weeks how important that all is! Hopefully the season can start soon and we can enjoy everything we get to do.”
Thank you for this conversation and good luck! We will follow you.
Meuwissen: “Thank you, nice to speak to you.”
Door: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photos: #HuubMunsters
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