A Belgian and the World Vet MX Championship in Glen Helen
There are many imaginative circuits in the US and Glen Helen is certainly one of them. The self-declared World Vet MX race has been on the American calendar for 35 years and is always held at Glen Helen Raceway.
There was one Belgian behind the starting gate and that was Davy Vanderheyden. He has lived in the US since 2015 and organizes off-road holidays there through https://www.dirtdreams.net. If you, as a European, want to immerse yourself in the American motocross scene for a few days without any worries, Davy can help you with that. So he stood behind the starting gate in Glen Helen and below gives his account of a weekend of motocross for veterans from across the pond.
World Vet MX Championship 2021
Have you ever thought, who would be the best rider if you pit Kurt Nicoll against Jeff Matiasevich? That's what the Glen Helen world vets is in a nutshell. Ex pros at the start in a +30, +40 and +50 class, a nations for “veterans” with one rider in each age category, and then a series of side events for real amateurs (or vets in the US). Three days filled with riding on this beautiful circuit, nostalgia, and probably an (American) pint or two after the races.
I've lived in Salt Lake City since 2015, and have a few races a year at Glen Helen. In America we don't think about a five hour drive (in this case nine!) to go racing! My first “World Vets” was in the rained-out 2020 edition, but this competition has now been on the calendar for 35 years. Matiasevich was also present this year, as were Kurt Nicoll, Mike Alessi, Travis Preston, Doug Dubach, Kris Keefer and a number of other pilots with a past in Supercross or the US Nationals. Former MX3 GP winner Michael Staufer was also present for the occasion, Christoph Godrie was registered but could not be there. And in the +65 class (age, not engine capacity) even Chuck Sun was present!
As an amateur you choose a few of the side series to participate in, there is no class for pilots younger than 25. In addition, there is even a class for +80 year olds, riders 80 years and older who conquer the entire circuit! Each amateur class runs two series on Saturday and two on Sunday, the pro classes run one day each. Every year Glen Helen gets its major circuit remake for this competition, this year for the first time they brought the large canyon back into the route. The course is designed to be challenging and fun for every level, whether you are a beginner or an ex-pro. If you ever have the opportunity to participate in this competition, make sure you are there on Friday so that you are there for the open practices.
There are always a lot of extra well-known names present for the training day who do not necessarily participate in the competition. In 2020 I thought I was incredibly fast on Mount Saint Helen until I was overtaken by Ryan Villopoto and Mike Brown. In addition, it is a unique circuit and I always want to ride as many laps as I can! The feeling you get in turn two when you can turn inside, come out of the corner well and then drive up Mount Saint Helen and shift up a gear is phenomenal! If you miss, you shift halfway back to second gear and lose a few seconds.
I took part in the +35 and +40 class. The whole world is present, which creates a very nice atmosphere. Since I was the first heat of the day, I stood at the starting gate during the National Anthem, after which we revved the engines for the first start of the day… Goosebumps! On Saturday I finished 17th and 13th respectively after terrible starts, on my Husqvarna TE300i. Against a lot of 450 violence, it has to be right in that first straight line. But that start and that first turn are SO amazing!
Saturday is also the day for the first nations series, +40 pro class and the 125 pro class. The nations series was easily won by team Guam – an American territory – with pilots Kris Keefer (+40), Sean Lipanovich (+30) and Doug Dubach (+50). Kris Keefer, once a Supercross “privateer” but best known as a test rider, won the first series easily. Team Canada (Ryan Lockhart, Shane Cuthbertson, Derek Sorenson) was 2nd and USA 1 (Mark Brewer, Ty Davis, David Cincotta) was in third place. The great thing about the Nations Cup, everyone can participate. There are of course some big names in this class, but even an amateur like myself could participate if I could find two other Belgians! Later in the day, the +40 pro class was also won by Kris Keefer, after a fun duel with ex Supercross 125 champion Travis Preston. The 125 pro class on Saturday was probably the best match, with Mike Alessi winning after a 10 lap battle with Glen Helen locals Jason Potter and Sean Collier. Glen Helen locals is about the same as the Godrie brothers at the start in Genk, they can compete with the best.
On Sunday, team Guam continued their momentum. Sean Lipanovich was much too fast for the Canadian Ryan Lockhart (CA). In the +40 group, Kris Keefer was a class above Ty Davis (USA1) and Sean Cuthbertson (CA). And in the +50, no one can go around Glen Helen faster than Doug Dubach, not even Kurt Nicoll. I haven't been able to help myself since last weekend, but I think we can easily get a few good Belgians together to win a prize here. I have one in mind with the same surname as mine for the +50 class… and if there are other interested parties, they can always let us know. Coincidentally, this weekend I was also parked next to Michael Staufer, Austrian, and he already had the same idea and will be back next year with a few compatriots. In the +30 pro class on Sunday, Mike Alessi won both heats, but not without some drama after duels with Lipanovich, Collier and Potter. Mike is a fan of the prize pool, not a small one at this competition either – $11.000 will be distributed in the +30 pro class, 5.000 in the 125 class and so on.
Despite my mediocre results on Saturday, top 20 in both series was enough to participate in the A finals on Sunday. Starting on the outside this time and keeping it open a little longer, so I was more in front the first time we were allowed up the slope. In the +35 class it seemed like everyone in the middle of the pack had the same speed and I finished 14th. After a medal for my 2nd place in the mud of 2020, this time I return home without a prize and have 9 hours to think about it...
The World Vet weekend in Glen Helen is the perfect weekend for an enthusiast like myself. A beautiful circuit that, as a 12-year-old fan of the sport, I would never dare to think that I could ride here myself. Pilots of which I had posters hanging in my room who are just here for fun, and with whom you can easily have a chat. In addition, the entire park is decorated as if it were a National or GP, everything is there, professional photographers for everyone, American BBQ, local shops such as Pro Circuit, Scott, Eksbrand, Fasthouse and Troy Lee that exhibit and sell their latest products, and last but not least, the Californian sun! See you next year Glen Helen.
All results from Saturday can be found below this link.
All results from Sunday can be found below this link.
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