Joël Roelants about HondaPark permit issues
A few days ago the sad news came that the Council of State has revoked the permit of the HondaPark motocross circuit in Olmen. The motorsport world reacted furiously and emotionally about this incomprehensible decision. Joël Roelants also gave his thoughts free rein on Instagram.
The decision to close a permanent circuit such as that of Olmen could also have consequences for the two other circuits in Genk and Lille. It is unclear whether motocross still has a future in Belgium and that is why we would like to publish Joël Roelants' clear view.
Joel Roelants"I WILL NOT GIVE UP, NEVER. The sport that gave and still gives purpose to my life and that of all kinds of people. The sport that became and still does my job for thousands of people directly or indirectly. The sport that has become a lot cleaner, stricter and quieter in the last ten years. Racing motorcycles/cars goes hand in hand with the development of faster, smaller, lighter, cleaner and more sustainable engines. Without racing we wouldn't even be close to where we are today in terms of energy efficiency.
Unfortunately, traveling hundreds of kilometers on open circuits uses more fuel than the few liters we use during practice. It is no longer a matter of changing everything about our sport (it still needs changes, don't get me wrong), but it has become a mentality among some people that we are “criminals”.
One of the reasons I get up every day and train hard is to prepare my body for occasional riding in a relatively safe manner. They can ruin our sport in Belgium but I will keep riding, even if it means I have to drive very far to train. Please give our sport a chance and give perspective to many of those involved. Start by saving the track in Olmen (HondaPark) which has been there for many years and has only become quieter so if it was possible all these years, it still is now.
Thanks for reading and sharing,
Joel Roelants
I WILL NOT STOP, EVER.”
Photos: Nick Weyens
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