Quarantine check with Kay de Wolf
Two years ago Kay De Wolf was still on the 85cc. Now 'the red hurricane' is in its rookie year in the EMX250. To say that De Wolf is taking major steps is an understatement. Since he signed for Husqvarna in the summer of 2018, things have been going fast for the 15-year-old Eersel resident.
Not being able to do what you love anymore takes a lot out of us in these quarantine times. For most of us it is extremely annoying not to be able to race for a while, for others it feels as if they had to donate a body part. I imagine that it is tough for frequent rider Kay to now have to go through life without a motorcycle. Normally the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider would have ridden his second EMX250 race in Agueda, Portugal last weekend.
Your mother indicated that you have already lent a hand in the family business (ed. Hoveniersbedrijf & Boomkwekerij De Hobbit).
Kay DeWolf: “That's right, I like doing it once in a while. Last week we visited one last time to finish a garden. We made a wall with wooden blocks and the end result was beautiful to see. That gives you a nice feeling. I also think it is a nice profession, although it is quite hard work. In itself I don't mind that at all.”
Do you use some jobs as training?
The wolf: “Hahaha, yes sometimes! For example, if I have to go up and down with wheelbarrows, I try to do it as quickly as possible.”
What about your real workout routine now?
The wolf: “In terms of adjustment, it's not that different. The two motorcycle training sessions are now no longer necessary, so we now work more on the physical side. But it was actually like that very often during the winter. Okay, we have often been to Spain to avoid the bad weather here, but we also did a lot of fitness training. Fortunately, I can still work in the team gym. I also have regular contact with Rasmus (ed. team manager) and Jed (Beaton). Only Thomas-Kjer Olsen is no longer here, he has returned to Denmark.”
Have you turned the switch yet in this difficult situation?
The wolf: “I have already accepted that it will take a while before we compete again. Of course, I would like to ride again, the sooner the better. But it must be possible to do it safely.”
Things were going well during the preparatory races in Lacapelle and Hawkstone and in Valkenswaard it felt like you had been riding the 250 for years. Did you expect those kinds of results yourself?
The wolf: "I definitely had a good feeling on the 250. It went really well all winter actually. I have made many steps since the beginning. In the sand I was regularly one to 2 seconds from TKO or Jed. I already knew that my speed in the sand was very good. The way I showed myself in front of my own audience in Valkenswaard certainly gave me pleasure.”
What surprised you most about the switch from the 125 to the 250?
The wolf: "How quickly I got the hang of it! I already rode the 125cc from the bottom, so I expected that I would enjoy the larger engine. That turned out to be the case because I quickly got into the flow! The speed itself was immediately okay, but we have made great strides this winter. I also became fitter and stronger physically. For example, when exiting the corners I noticed that the engine has much more power, it wants to get away from you. Keeping it close to my chest was difficult at first, but over time it got better and you become stronger and stronger.”
We have to wait a little longer for hard tracks in the European Championship. How does that kind of work work?
The wolf: “In the beginning when we trained in Spain we had to struggle with the power. But it is precisely on the hard side that we have made the biggest steps. It's a pity that we haven't been able to show our skills yet, but I think we're in a pretty good position.”
Are you someone who needs little competition rhythm? You were already there in Hawkstone Park this year.
The wolf: "It was more that you had little competition rhythm... It came down to who was best in the mud and then it was survival. It's not normal how wet it was there!”
Mud suits you!
The wolf: “Exactly, even if it rains for three weeks in a row… I still enjoy riding. Mud is always cool, a bit of playing and stuff. Whether it is above 40° C or -10° C, I always want to drive!”
In some championships people talk about riding without an audience, you seem like a rider who is pushed forward by the audience?
The wolf: “Well, you notice a little bit of the crowd, although I don't think it would make much difference in terms of driving. You're still focused on driving. Who knows, maybe it is a solution if there is no other option? On the one hand, there is a bit more tension at a home race, but performing well in front of your home crowd is a very nice feeling!”
Jeffrey Herlings gave during the MXGP Studio Show said he was bored and binge-watched Netflix. Have you discovered anything fun in recent weeks?
The wolf: “No, I even spent less time on Playstation, TV or iPad than usual. Maximum one hour per day. So I have started a new project: At home I am building a track for BMXing. At first it was just a small job, but once you started doing it... Small bumps made it bigger and bigger. I have been working on this for more than four weeks now. I also ride a lot of BMX now, but building it also takes a lot of time. You are not only working with the earth, it also has to become hard. But it turned out beautiful: cool dirt jumps with some curves in them.”
Your younger brother Raff competed in BMX at a high level. Have you ever competed?
The wolf: “Not that, I only did it as training. On the one hand, BMX and motocross are similar, but there are also major differences such as weight. On the other hand, I also spend a whole day whipping on the bike, things that you would also do on a motorcycle.”
Are you also a cycling fanatic next to you? own trainings. Do you follow certain riders or something??
The wolf: “I follow BMX a little bit, but cycling is not my thing. And in the Netherlands we of course have world-class cyclists such as Niek Kimman, Twan van Gendt, and before that Raymon van der Biezen…”
Online motocross is still very different from what road racers are currently doing with their virtual competitions. Are you a gamer yourself?
The wolf: "I do play games like the MXGP video game or Supercross. Also Formula 1, which I do with a racing seat like that. That makes it more real, very cool. Thomas (Kjer Olsen) also has such a special racing seat and my mechanic Julien now too! Every now and then the three of us ride. Julien has only just gotten his seat, but you can tell that he can do something with it. I always lose.”
Keep practicing! In any case, the atmosphere within the team seems good and now that Olsen can start again in top fitness, this opens up perspectives.
The wolf: “Everyone is certainly completely fit and Jed had also started the season very strongly. There is a good atmosphere within the team and that flow pushes everyone forward. You notice that all people in the team feel good and are in the right place.”
Are you a music lover?
The wolf: "Not really. If you ask me what I'm listening to now it's nothing in particular or anything. I don't feel like making playlists or anything. For me, they are mainly English songs. Things like the Spotify workout playlist, Tophits workout, Beast Mode, hip-hip workout... Music that gives energy and boosts your energy. When I'm getting dressed for a match, that Beast Mode playlist is sometimes on. And “Sandstorm” (ed. dance song by Darude) that she thought was cool in Valkenswaard, I had never heard that at a GP!”
Real? They've played it before every start for years. Until you got tired of it!
The wolf: “Ha, ha, ha I didn't know that. Jordy Van Dijk I also think it's very cool. Like his song 'Reality', super cool!”
Last year do you have semen trained with Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne how was that?
The wolf: “Really fun to train with them and see how they ride in the sand. They drive very differently. That's how they found out that I had a line in Lommel that was much faster. Nice to see the differences in style! They were both great to be around too. Just good guys, regular people, no superstars or anything.”
Who did you learn the most from before joining Husqvarna?
The wolf: “There have been a few trainers at my previous team, but I actually learned most by doing it myself. Ride as many laps as possible and spend a lot of time on the bike!”
Do you have an idea of how many hours you have spent on the motorcycle in total?
The wolf: “A lot, a lot! Normally train two to three times a week with the motorcycle and then sometimes do a bit of pit biking on the side. One summer I put 209 hours on the pit bike. So count it out!”
You can also learn a lot on the pit bike.
The wolf: "Certainly. You pick up a lot through play: balance, agility, all things that you can learn just fine on a pit bike. You take that with you on a bigger motorcycle.”
It's still early days, but the speed on the quarter liter is already there. Will we see you in the MX2 World Championship next year?
The wolf: “That depends on the team, they have to decide that. I could also ride EMX 125 for another year this year, but at least now I'm gaining experience on the 250. We have not planned that I would ride GPs next year.”
Thanks for your time!
The wolf: "Don't mention it."
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: shotbyBavo, JP Acevedo, De Wolf family, Red Sand MX Park
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