Loon Beach race: Watson wins, Dewulf and Van Berkel 2nd and 3rd!
The traditional Loon Beach race does not count towards the French beach racing championship, but it is the starting signal for the season. British specialist Nathan Watson did not disappoint on his debut for Honda SR Motoblouz. But the lowlanders were also in good form. Jeffrey Dewulf finished second each time, Lars Van Berkel (Honda SR Motoblouz) finished third in the final.
During the timed training, Dewulf immediately made it clear that he is ready for the season. The Jabbeken native took pole and was more than 4 seconds - on a lap of 2 minutes 45' - faster than Watson. Dewulf also led for a long time in the first sprint, but eventually had to bow his head to Watson.
Yentel Martens finished third in the opener, although his day would soon be over. In the second sprint, Y-Mart gave up after just 2 laps with a twisted knee. In that second series, Watson and Dewulf provided the spectacle for laps, wheel to wheel. This time too, the Briton comes out on top. An excellent Greg Smets finishes third while Lars Van Berkel and Lars Greekpoor fight out a prestige duel for P5. However, the SR Honda Motoblouz rider makes it.
In the final, Dewulf immediately shows off fiercely. The Belgian KTM pilot rides away from the competition but pays for a crash in cash because he falls back to P6. Watson is given the lead while his teammate Van Berkel moves into second place. Calmly controlling, Watson is able to finish the job, and behind him Dewulf recovers strongly to second place. With Van Berkel, Smets, Vandermierden - also doing well in his very first race in 15 months after his back injury - and Daymond Martens in the top 6 and Greek Spoor in eighth, no fewer than six lowlanders finished in the top 10 in the final of the 20020 Loon Beach Race!
The revelation of the day, however, is the young Matheo Miot who holds his own among the big boys. Miot rode in the first heat (6de) is in the spotlight and also reaches the top 10 in the final.
Loon Beach Race
Race 1
1. Nathan Watson, 2. Jeffrey Dewulf, 3. Yentel Martens, 4. Sven Vandermierden, 5. Greg Smets, 6. Matheo Miot, 7. Lars Van Berkel, 8. Daymond Martens, 9. Lars Greekpoor, 10. Jeremy Hauquier
Race 2
1. Nathan Watson, 2. Jeffrey Dewulf, 3. Greg Smets, 4. Alexis Collignon, 5. Lars Van Berkel, 6. Lars Greek Spoor, 7. Daymond Martens, 8. Sven Vandermierden, 9. Jeremy Hauquier, 10. Matteo Puffet
Final
1.Nathan Watson, 2. Jeffrey Dewulf, 3. Lars Van Berkel, 4. Greg Smets, 5. Sven Vandermierden, 6. Daymond Martens, 7. Jeremy Hauquier, 8. Lars Greekpoor, 9. Matheo Miot, 10. Stephane Watel
Photos: Archive, Stijn Van Overbeke, IG Lars Van Berkel
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