Conversation with Dries Michiels (Motorsport Flanders)
After years of stagnation and envy, there is room for optimism and progress again in the Flemish motorsport landscape. In the background, Motorsport Vlaanderen played a key role. Just think of the successful MX for Kids, which introduces children to motorcross. So it's high time for a conversation with Dries Michiels, sports technical coordinator of Motorsport Vlaanderen.
The young Flemish Brabander started a year and a half ago at what was then called the VMBB. Dries has a Master's degree in Physical Education (VUB), an avid all-round sports animal and was previously the driving force behind the Samba football school.
Without any previous background, we thought it would be refreshing to let Dries talk about some hot topics in motorsport and about his own sporting career.
Dries Michiels: “When I started at VMBB, there was still a great need for structure. In many other, larger sports, everything has actually already been recorded from A to Z. There were many growth opportunities in that area, especially in the beginning, which was also a very nice challenge.”
In many ways, motorsport in our country is very conservative. What was it like getting into that?
Michiels: “That was certainly a challenge. Also with MX for Kids by the way. When it became known that we would be driving electric motorcycles, there were strong reactions. In the style of 'that's not real motocross.' However, I think we have to move forward in all disciplines. Not only in motocross but also in speed and other sports where noise is a stumbling block. After all, organizing is always becoming more difficult. I think we can now give a clear signal that motorsport is ready to take steps towards the future. That is crucial for the survival of motorsport in general.”
The tangle of federations and different interests make it extra difficult, especially in the field of motocross, to understand the nuances of many problem files. It's not easy to throw yourself into that.
Michiels: “That's right, for the first few months I had post-its on my desk with the names of all the federations or institutions involved in motocross or other motorsport disciplines. (laughs) In the meantime I know approximately who, what, how and where. But it was indeed not easy to delve into that. I have also heard many stories about the past that were not so nice, from different camps so to speak. That is why it is good that our chairman Kurt Vanborm has turned the page since his appointment two years ago. Since then, a whole new wind has started to blow through the federation to work in a future-oriented manner. Collaboration is key instead of working against each other.”
MX for Kids perfectly illustrates what is possible when everyone pulls together. Actually, that kind of unity is unprecedented!
Michiels: “For me it was just a nice project to help shape. I also knew it was special but I didn't realize how unique it was! The fact that the circuit owners, the motorcycle sector and we as a federation sat together with support from the government through Sport Vlaanderen has shown what is possible when you work together. To see the first results of that approach is very cool.”
How did you end up in this position, was there already a link with motorsport before?
Michiels: “I was not a motorcyclist myself, although as a child I did sit on the back of my father. He always rode his motorcycle and when he went for a tour, I was allowed to come along. As a sports fan in general, all sports fascinate me. Just after I graduated, I came into contact with the VMBB. At that time, they were still busy preparing their subsidy file for Sport Vlaanderen. One of the requirements is to employ a Master of Physical Education to set up everything organizationally, but also to follow up on the decree and develop policy plans. I then filled that role.”
I understand that you are now also on the motorcycle yourself.
Michiels: “I'm working on it anyway! My booklet with the theory for the motorcycle license is ready and I have also started taking motocross lessons. I also intend to obtain my diploma as an initiator. That feeling with practice is of course super important.”
What has been the biggest surprise so far since you started working for Motorsport Vlaanderen?
Michiels: “Especially what was said by the federation and how it works effectively. We have already been able to achieve a lot organizationally, we have already improved a lot in terms of structure, and yet many people had the idea that not much is being done at 'the association'. Or that no one is interested in the sport... Fortunately, that prejudice has been changing in recent months. More and more people realize that Motorsport Flanders is at the service of motorsport, not just one discipline or not just for competitive drivers. We are just as good for recreational motorcyclists as for motocross riders or trials riders and so on. That changing picture is already a great step forward.”
What are the next challenges on your plate?
Michiels: “We have just completed our multi-year plan 2021-2025. We now have to discuss this with Sport Vlaanderen. Two pillars in that plan are investments in youth and innovation. Electric motors are an important link in this. In addition, the environment is in any case a crucial concern so that motorsport can continue to exist in Flanders. We recently launched MX for Kids for motocross, but we also want to focus on youth in other disciplines. We have plans for both speed and trial, possibly in the near future.”
Speaking of electric, Motorsport Vlaanderen has also taken the first, cautious steps in the field of e-mountain bike.
Michiels: “We also helped to develop the competitions that already took place and that were on the calendar this year. That was and is in collaboration with Cycling Vlaanderen. Given the overlap between the two sports, this is a good thing. Only organizing for mountain bikes that only have support up to 25 km/h is too limited. In any case, you should provide a class for bikes that have assistance up to 40 km/h. According to the law, in the second case, e-mountain bikes belong in the 'motor vehicle' category and are no longer bicycles. But they are certainly matches with a lot of potential. We are also in discussions with Cycling Vlaanderen about this to take the next step next year.”
In any case, it is nice that there is consultation in Flanders about this new discipline, because internationally it seemed like a game of tug-of-war between the FIM (ed. the worldwide motorcycle association) and the UCI (ed. the worldwide cycling federation).
Michiels: “It was also very unclear to us what was being negotiated internationally. Cycling Flanders was in a similar position. We immediately said that we would not wait to see what would be decided 'over our heads', but we chose to work together. Last year we kicked off with four fun e-MTB competitions that we organized together with Cycling Vlaanderen.”
Individual organizations such as GP Limburg and the MX of Nations already received support from Sport Vlaanderen, but it took a very long time before support came for the federation itself. Is this a structural issue or are these subsidies (re)examined year after year?
Michiels: “Every year we have to submit a subsidy file and it must be approved. Preparing that file is quite labor intensive. On the one hand, you must be able to present ambitious plans, but at the same time they must also be realistic. Yet there is a good interaction with a lot of support. The government also believes that we can make progress with motorsport, both organizationally and in terms of the environmental aspects, sporting aspects, etc. The fact that we are part of a larger whole through Sport Vlaanderen is also stimulating on a practical level. As a starting professional federation, we come into contact with larger structures, but also small federations whose existence you would not immediately know as an outsider, but which do face similar problems. Consultation with people there is certainly interesting.”
The BMB, the Belgian Motorcyclists' Union, and your Walloon counterpart (ed. the FMWB) are of course still working on their way. How does that collaboration work in concrete terms?
Michiels: “If you look at other sports in Belgium, there are only two or three branches that are still really organized by the Belgian umbrella organization that stands above the regional associations. In football, only the professional sport, the 1A and 1B competitions, is still in the hands of the KBVB. The rest is determined by Voetbal Vlaanderen. Motorsport Vlaanderen tries to function independently as much as possible, but there will always be a Belgian operation. Especially compared to international drivers. Because Flanders or Wallonia cannot delegate pilots as such, it always concerns Belgian pilots.”
As a sports technical coordinator, do you have a counterpart on the Walloon side?
Michiels: “There is contact, but it is certainly not daily. Structural matters will certainly be discussed. We explain our plans, they explain theirs. We look at whether we can take over things or whether we want to do things slightly differently. The focus is different. We do what we think is good for our Flemish riders and the FMWB does it their way.”
The lack of permanent training rounds is and remains a major problem in our sport. What is the state of affairs in that area?
Michiels: “Certainly in that case it is good that we have the support of the government. After all, Sport Vlaanderen has been looking for new areas for years. The belief that exists here and there that the government does nothing for motorsport is certainly not correct. Usually it is local authorities that are obstructive. Together with Sport Vlaanderen we have already visited many potential sites, but things went wrong locally. Making areas of what is there disappear is certainly not an option. On the contrary, we would like to have a motor sports field added by 2024. We still have to see for which discipline that is. Trial, for example, is easier because the surface is smaller and the breakthrough of electric motorcycles will probably happen faster there than in motocross.”
You have of course already attended MX for Kids class days yourself. What did you notice there?
Michiels: “Of course the enthusiasm of the children, the trainers and the parents. It is also nice to see how surprisingly positive electric motors are received. Kids don't think about it because they are just super cool bikes, but parents also suddenly become enthusiastic about them. Many of them have never seen an electric dirt bike. They see that the children are having a great time and that you can still talk normally even if you are standing two meters from the motorcycles when you would otherwise have to shout. Those reactions have stayed with me and it gives extra drive for the future!”
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: Gino Maes, Niek Kamper, MX July, Ridley, Wouter Dreeze, MX for Kids, GasGas
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