Pilots in the spotlight: Jens and Jarne Van Laere (MCLB)
The MCLB Repo team moved to Evergem in East Flanders to visit the brothers Jens and Jarne Van Laere. Of course they would have preferred to ride their weekly crosses. In normal circumstances we would have all been with them at their organization, but it is and remains a sabbatical year for our motocross riders, just like other sports.
The brothers are the sons of Mario Van Laere and Ann Versprille from Kalestraat in Evergem. Both are members of the MB Team led by their own dad, among others.
Jarne Van Laere
We will first let the youngest member, Jarne, speak. The youngest of the Van Laere brothers is 12 and has a birthday on December 3. Normally he would ride 85cc in the Juniors this season with the KTM SX85 engine. Jarne will go to the 'First Secondary School' in Oostakker next school year.
“I started racing in the 2017 season with the Nieuwelingen 65cc with my brother Jens as an example,” says Jarne. “Through trial and error… but we have already achieved second place in the Regularity Criterion and sixth place in the Championship. In the 2018 season I continued to work with the Newbies 65cc and came third in the Championship and winner of the Regularity Criterion and winner of the Autumn Championship. For the 2019 season I switched to the Newbies 85cc and again achieved the third podium place in the BC plus again Autumn Champion and winner of the Regularity Criterion. The aim in the future will of course be to do as well as possible, one day becoming Belgian Champion, but at the moment there is still a lot of training and learning to do. During the cross season we will train with the bike on Wednesdays if we get the chance. Now it is of course a different story. In this way I would like to thank the entire MB team, thank you to my brother Jens who assists me a lot during training and competitions. Of course, a big thank you to my parents who do just about everything for our cross, and also thanks to Beirke Mels who always fine-tunes my bike and ensures that everything seems to be in order.”
Jens Van Laere
Jens Van Laere was born on March 18, 2002. He attends school at Gloriex Oostakker, specializing in woodworking. The 18 year old young guy has a girlfriend, Estee. He is of course also a member of the MB team and normally competes at the Inters Open B on KTM 250cc Vierstroke with number 84.
“I started racing through my father Mario, who has been in the racing world for a long time and has raced for 20 years. He won three titles in his cross career, Jens knows. I started with a Honda Pitbike but quickly switched to a 65cc at the end of the 2013 season. I was able to systematically raise my level at VJMO. In the 2015 season I became vice-champion in the Juniors 85cc. In the 2016 season with the Aspirants with 85cc, second place in the B., and winner of the Criterium and Champion of East Flanders. In 2017 I became Champion of Belgium among the Juniors after a thrilling duel until the last round with Jarne Duytschaever, and in 2018 again Champion of Belgium and East Flemish Champion among the Juniors. Last season I took fourth place in the B.K. at the Nationals 250cc. and I became Champion of East Flanders and Autumn Champion at the International 250cc. Normally I do a lot of physical training during the week. If the opportunity arises on Wednesday we will train with the motorcycle. The aim for the future? The transition to the Internationals will of course be difficult, but I hope to learn a lot and increase my pace. It is of course a dream to make it come true in the highest category and one day win the title in the B.K. to be brought in by the Internationals. In addition to motocross, I also like to do all other sports, as long as they are sports... In this way, I would like to thank all my supporters who continue to support me, thanks to the entire MB team, my dad who does everything for the cross and our equipment. , our mother who is always there for anything and everything, and certainly mechanic Beirke Mels who always fixes my motorcycle. Thanks also to Kenny Dult who taught me the right tricks from the early years and always stood behind me during good and bad days. Also thanks to all sponsors of the MB team and Motorshop Desmet from Waregem.”
Photos: Facebook Jarne and Jens
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