Finally, the wait is over
After a long break due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the FIM World Championship will finally get underway this weekend. Location for the first Grand Prix: the spectacular and rock-hard track in Orlyonok. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team heads to Russia with its strongest line-up ever. With Jago Geerts (vice world champion MX2 in 2020), Maxime Renaux (third in MX2 in 2020) and Thibault Benistant (European EMX250 champion last year), the Belgian team has only one dream, one goal in mind: the world title. Just before our trip to Russia, we roped in our three top performers for an interview.
#93 Jago Geerts
1. You finished third in 2019 and second in 2020. That means you…
“… now will finish first? I wish it were all that simple (laughs). Of course my goal is to win that world title. Just like last year. But the knee injury (sustained last Sunday in Ernée) does not make things any easier. To be honest, I don't really want to think about that world title right now. Let's first wait and see what will happen in the first matches of the world championship.”
2. Speaking of your knee, how do you feel?
"I'm feeling good. Not great, but just good. Compared to the beginning of the week, I have made great progress. It was a busy week with many visits to my physiotherapist and laser therapy sessions. With only one goal in mind: making that knee as strong as possible. How strong? I will know that on Sunday after the first free practice.”
3. The World Cup starts in Orlyonok. Do you like that circuit?
"Sure. I think it's a great job. Beautiful layout, some nice jumping mountains and fast but technical. I have good memories of Orlyonok. In 2016 I won the junior 125cc world title. A day I will never forget. And two years ago I was also on the podium in the MX2. So you can safely say that I really enjoy driving there.”
4. Who is your biggest rival for the world title?
“Most people are mainly talking about a new duel with Vialle. But I see other candidates. Guadagnini, for example, is a strong guy. Fernandez is a lot faster than last year. And don't forget my teammates. Renaux was third in the World Championship last year and Benistant moves to our class as European 250cc champion. Two tough competitors.”
5. You are not the only Belgian chasing success in Russia this weekend. The Red Devils start their EURO 2020 campaign in Saint Petersburg on Saturday.
"Real? I knew that the European Championship was starting, but I had no idea that Belgium had to play against and in Russia in the first match. To be honest, I'm not that crazy about football. Give me cycling. I really enjoy watching stages in the Tour de France or Giro d'Italia on television. Much more than a football match. Although I do hope that the Red Devils start their European Championship with a victory.”
6. Interestingly, you changed songs. #193 became #93, why?
“I have always driven #93 in the youth series. When I moved to the MX2018 World Championship in 2, that number belonged to Jonathan Bengtsson. I then added a 1 to #193. When I heard last winter that Bengtsson would be retiring, I immediately contacted him. Whether he wanted to release the song. That was no problem. Finally, I have my favorite #93 back.”
#959 Maxime Renaux
1. Your year started on a low note. During the race in Riola Sardo at the end of February, you dislocated your shoulder. How is that shoulder now?
“That is a thing of the past. My shoulder is completely back to normal after a good rehabilitation in Belgium. Nothing to worry about anymore. I can drive like before again. I am 100 percent fit.”
2. This is your second stint with the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Team, which was then called Kemea Yamaha. Is it a bit of a homecoming for you?
“You can certainly call it that, yes. I already rode for this team in 2015 and 2016. The boss and the manager are still the same people. The rest of the staff has had a few changes, but I know how they work in this team. So it's not a big adjustment for me. It's great to be part of a factory team now. As a rider you only have to focus on driving. A nice feeling. I have some wonderful memories with this team. When I arrived at Kemea in 2015, I had very little international experience. I didn't really know what to expect. But I immediately won the first round in the EMX125, finished third in that championship and took the 125cc world title. Great moments.”
3. 2020 was also a great year for you. Third in the MX2 World Championship and GP winner in Faenza. Is the bar higher in 2021?
“An athlete must show ambition. So my expectations for 2021 are higher, yes. Although I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. First and foremost I want to enjoy racing. It will also be important to perform very regularly and especially to stay injury free. I feel great at the moment. I can't wait to start the World Cup. We are presented with a lot of races in a short period of time. But I'm not complaining, because I can do what I love most: racing.”
4. You only rode one preparatory race, two weeks ago in Crisolles. Is that enough to be ready for the World Cup?
"Yes. I'm not the person who needs a lot of competitions to be race fit. I don't need those preparatory matches to prove to myself that I'm in good shape. I haven't been sitting still either. While my colleagues were working in Ernée, I went deep into training. Crisolles was my only match in the run-up to the World Cup. I felt good there. My level was high, the speed and rhythm were excellent. Many riders also suffer from pumped up arms in the first races. I'm not happy.”
5. Orlyonok is a spectacular course. Do you like driving there?
"Sure. I rode there in 2018 in the EMX250 and in 2019 in MX2. A hard and fast circuit. Really the type of trail I like. I'm sure I'll have fun in Orlyonok again. I am happy that the World Cup will start at this circuit.”
6. You have the same physical trainer as your teammate Thibault. Is it an advantage to train together?
“In recent years I usually trained on my own. That is sometimes boring and lonely. It's much more fun with Thibault and Kenny (Vandueren) by my side. I have also learned a lot from Kenny. Last year I was always pushing myself, even during training. I did too much. Now I realize that you have to alternate hard work with rest. It is important to give your body time to recover.”
#198 Thibault Benistant
1. Relieved that the World Cup can finally start after that long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic?
“Say that. We had to wait a long time, a very long time. The first months of the year were really difficult because we didn't know when and where the World Cup would start. Then try to draw up a good training schedule. When do you need to be top fit? When should you step up your game? Not simple, but of course everyone was in the same boat. But I am happy that the real work can finally begin.”
2. At the end of 2020 you already won a few Grand Prix MX2. What do you remember from those matches?
“That everyone is damn fast in MX2. My speed wasn't bad in the EMX250, but in the MX2 it was still a level higher. You absolutely have to get a good start if you want to play at the front. I rode three GPs and they went quite well with two podiums in the series. I'm looking forward to competing with those guys again.”
3. You are now on a factory team. A big difference from what you were used to until now?
“Yes, yes. First and foremost, many more people work in such a factory team. Everything is more professional, more precise too. I have to hand it to Yamaha: they have put together a nice program. One that started for me in the EMX125. Every step you take, from the EMX125 via EMX250 to MX2, you will be guided better and better. I was already in a very good team last season, but now another step forward has been taken. On every level. I just have to focus on one thing: driving.”
4. You broke your collarbone during training at the beginning of this year. Does that still bother you now?
"No not at all. It's like brand new. In fact, it's never a good time to get injured. But to be honest, this injury was not inconvenient, because I suddenly had time to rest my body. Not bad because the World Cup was postponed a few times due to Covid-19. Without that injury I might have kept pushing too hard. I am someone who likes to train hard. Sometimes too hard. This year I'm working with a new physical trainer, Kenny Vandueren. I've already learned a lot from him. At first I thought: the more I do, the better I become. Wrong. You also need to take time to recover. I now know that everyone has their limits.”
5. You have two preparation races in your legs: Crisolles and Ernée. Satisfied with the results, with the feeling on the bike?
“Yes, yes. The condition is very good. I am stronger than last season. I'm also very happy with the bike's set-up. I feel one with my Yamaha. In both Crisolles and Ernée I alternated one good start with a bad start. I still have to work on that. Because as I said before: a good start is a must if you want to be at the front.”
6. This is your first full year in MX2. What are your goals?
“First and foremost, I want to gain a lot of experience with a view to the coming years. It will be especially important to stay on the bike as much as possible, to remain injury-free, because we have a lot of races coming up in a short time. Of course I want to compete with the top players as much as possible. I hope to grab a series podium here and there, who knows how to win a series somewhere. A GP victory? That would be great of course. But I don't want to rush too far. Remember, I'm a rookie. I take it step by step.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photos: @shotbybavo/Yamaha
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