Wietse Brackman says goodbye to motocross!
Wietse Brackman, multiple champion in MCLB and also winner of the 12 hours of La Chinelle, would normally hang up the motocross boots after the MCLB competition in Pamel organized by Wietse' team M.C. The Willemsvrienden. Unfortunately, the weather played a spoilsport and “Wacko Bracko” had already ridden the last race of his career without knowing it in Lichtervelde, one week earlier. Where he won both series, that's called going out on a high!
We called the former motocross rider and talked about his entire career. One that has taken him everywhere and shown him everything in the motocross world. “The only thing I have never ridden is a Grand Prix round, and if I had the feeling that this would complete my career, I would have happily paid 1500 euros for a wild card. But what's that worth if you haven't enforced it with your performance. Then I look back with greater pride on my EMX250 wildcard in Ernee 2017 (20-17|5 points),” says Wietse Brackman.
Crossing the generations: Ferrandis, Seewer, Jonass and Tim Gajser
“Wacko Bracko” comes from a strong, not to say rock-solid generation. As a youth pilot, he was one of the first to compete with a Honda CRF150 sponsored by LS Honda. In the EMX85 competitions he was at the start in 2008 with names such as Jeffrey Herlings, Pauls Jonass, Dylan Ferrandis, Tim Gajser, Ivo Monticelli and others...
He continued to encounter many of these names in the years that followed. In 2010 Wietse scored 47 points in the EMX125 championship won by Jordi Tixier. The highlight of that season in the first series in Sweden where he finished sixth ahead of Dylan Ferrandis! Oh and Jeremy Seewer in thirteenth. Wietse himself says: “These are all beautiful memories, but at those moments I put too much pressure on myself. It had to happen in the EMX125 class, it had to happen in the EMX250 class. As a result, things sometimes went wrong, resulting in injuries. Once I made the click that I no longer had to pursue the dream for myself, I may have really found real pleasure again. After a few matches in the MCLB, I stayed there because you can also experience your sense of competition and fun there at the inters.”
In 2014, the then Suzuki pilot still combined the BMB BKs, in which he finished second, seven points behind Yentel Martens, with several MCLB competitions. Due to his link with Suzuki, he can test the new Suzuki RM-Z450 for us MxMag.be under the watchful eye of Ricky Carmichael, but also Stefan Everts, Jeff Emig, Jeff Stanton, Jamie Dobb and Brian Jorgensen. Something he remembers well: “Haha, yes, it was because of mxmag.be that this was possible and it is really cool to meet such champions. If they then say that your technique is good, then it is twice as nice.”
The switch to the MCLB
For 2015 he will transfer to Husqvarna, supplied by Leon Sagaert by Xavier Beel. The trio Wietse Brackman, Husqvarna and Xavier Beel will continue to work together until his last race.
In 2014, Brackman had already discovered that the typical MCLB courses are a real specialty, just like climbing and sprinting are in cycling. But as the champions present at the Suzuki test day acknowledged, his technique is good and he quickly learns the right tricks as he goes along. With his 250cc machine he competes against 450cc machines for overall podium places and ultimately series victories. It was therefore only logical that the Belgian Inters 250cc champion in the MCLB class in both 2015 and 2016 went by the name Wietse Brackman.
The switch to the 2017cc class is ready for 500. In his rookie season he collided with David Segers, who scored just two more points over an entire season. In 2018 we will return to such a scenario. The Leon Sagaert by Xavier Beel pilot, who is now also part of the M.C. team. has become part of the Willemsvrienden, must finish ahead of Kevin Fors in the last series of the championship...
“We had already had a fiercely fought match in the first series and in which I just lost to Fors by less than half a second. The second heat actually started perfectly, because I had the holeshot. But in the second corner I lay down and then a lot goes through your mind. I mainly thought what everyone else was thinking, it's over. That also created a liberated feeling because I was lost and could only drive as fast as I could and see where we would end up. I started doing my laps like a madman and before I knew it, I was already second after a few laps. Then Kevin Fors made a mistake and I got the lead. Fors and myself fought over the title there, and everyone who was there still talks about it and may still talk about it in twenty years. That title is also the highlight of my motocross career. I'm telling you, what happened there and all the twists and turns, people will be talking about that title for a long time," says Wietse Brackman.
After this first title in the Inters 500cc class in the MCLB federation, three more will follow from 2019-2021-2022. Together with 2018, there are four in a row because in 2020 there was no racing due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
What will Wietse do now?!
We still wonder what Wietse Brackman will do next. “After my last injury to my hand, I took up mountain biking to stay in shape. That gave me some pleasure and a marathon competition or competitions like that seem like something to me. I will also participate in the Belgian jet ski championship. I have been participating in those five competitions for several years now and that gives a lot of satisfaction and also the adrenaline.”
After the conversation with 'Wacko Bracko' we also want to show our respect. Go to work on Monday and Tuesday at five o'clock in the morning so that you can train conditionally in the afternoon. Don't go to work on Wednesday to train with the motorcycle on a hard track, often abroad. And then start working again from Thursday to Saturday from five o'clock. Because on Saturday he makes up for his Wednesday. And there is no time to relax on Saturday, because the mobile is waiting when we get homehome to drive to the course and perform at top level on Sunday.
The sacrifices that Wietse Brackman, but many Inters make to entertain us on Sunday and try to be at their best, is something to take a moment to think about. Fortunately, Wietse Brackman could count on the support of Leon Sagaert by Xavier Beel, Stefaan Minne from Husqvarna Motorcycles Belgium and Jürgen and all other comrades from M.C. The Willemsvrienden. In addition to these people who helped him enormously with materials, he could always rely on his parents Lieven Brackman and Diana Dourte privately from childhood. Once a big boy, his dear friend Jana Van Der Cruyssen has been added, with the bonus of Bert Canty & Annick Lefebre in that package.
Honors Wietse Brackman
2014: Vice Belgian Champion Inters 250cc (FMB-BMB)
2015: Belgian champion Inters 250cc (MCLB)
2015: Third in the 12 hours of La Chinelle with Husqvarna
2016: Belgian champion Inters 250cc (MCLB)
2016: Winner 12 hours of La Chinelle with Husqvarna
2017: Vice Belgian Champion Inters 500cc (MCLB)
2017: Winner 12 hours of La Chinelle with Husqvarna
2018: Belgian champion Inters 500cc (MCLB)
2018: Second in the 12 hours of La Chinelle with Husqvarna
2019: Belgian champion Inters 500cc (MCLB)
2019: Second in the 12 hours of La Chinelle with Husqvarna
2020: No championship because of Corona
2021: Belgian champion Inters 500cc (MCLB)
2022: Belgian champion Inters 500cc (MCLB)
Text: Matthias Van Eeckhoven – Photo gallery: Dieter Debaets –
Cover photo & license plate photo: Gino Maes
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