Danny De Baets about the De Baets Yamaha MXGP team and Benoit Paturel
Benoit Paturel has signed with a new MXGP World Championship team for the 2023 season – the De Baets Yamaha team. It is always good news for the sport when a new team enters the paddock, especially considering that a number of teams will leave the paddock in 2023.
Since moving to MXGP, Paturel has struggled with injuries, but hopefully he can remain injury free this year and finally show his true potential on a 450cc. He returns on a Yamaha, the brand with which he achieved his best results in the MX2 World Championship, so I hope things click in 2023 for the somewhat forgotten but talented French talent.
Gatedrop.com colleague Andy McKinstry spoke to the man behind the De Baets Yamaha team, Danny De Baets to ask how the team came together for the 2023 season and more.
Danny, it has been confirmed that you will be leading an MXGP team for the 2023 season – the De Baets Yamaha Racing team. Clearly a lot of planning went into this. What has it been like putting it all together and when did it start?
Danny De Baets: We had actually been thinking about building a team with Benoit Paturel for a while, but because we had to wait a little longer than expected with the opening of our new Yamaha motorcycle shop De Baets Motors & More in Hasselt, this has been put aside for the time being. pushed. The new motorcycle shop was finally able to open in April and because Benoit Paturel was without a team at that time, the plans were finalized in October and we decided to start a new adventure.
You signed Benoit Paturel for the 2023 season, how did the deal with him come about?
Danny De Baets: The contacts with Benoit have always remained after the Kemea story. After he had not found a team at the beginning of October, we put our heads together and started working out our plans for 2023. Hans Corvers and myself have always believed that Benoit can do better than what we have seen in recent years. We always kept in touch and Benoit contacted Hans for a Yamaha spot. Then Hans and Benoit came to me to see if we could do something together, Benoit contacted Yamaha and together with the support of Yamaha Motocross Europe, Yamaha Netherlands and our De Baets Motors & More we became an organization for a MXGP team just for him.
Benoit has a lot of talent, but since switching to MXGP he has suffered a lot from injuries and health problems. I think the goal for you is to get him fully healthy and last all season? With racing he will improve and hopefully get back to his best… What are your expectations for him in 2023?
Danny De Baets: We and Benoit know what has gone wrong in recent years. We want to get him back where he needs to be and hopefully the injuries don't happen. We all believe in Benoit and we know what he can do.
Can you tell me more about your background – how did you get into the sport, do you have experience in the MXGP paddock and tell us more about the De Baets company?
Danny De Baets: In the nineties I rode a 125cc for many years and at a relatively young age I took the step back to the amateur association, where I was able to build a great career and rode for the Kemea team for seven years. I have been involved with the Kemea team as a sponsor and friend for quite some time. Next year we will be an official car brand garage for Suzuki, SsangYong and MG and as a bodywork company for twenty years. Since April this year, an official Yamaha dealership has been added where we sell all Yamaha products from scooters, circuit motorcycles, quads, dirt bikes, clothing and soon electric bicycles. So we sell the entire Yamaha range.
Of course, it has never been cheap to put together a motocross team and after COVID-19 with the rising cost of living it is more difficult than ever. Was it financially challenging to make this deal?
Danny De Baets: It's never easy running a GP team. But that's exactly why we start with one rider and try to get the best out of it.
A number of MXGP teams are based in Lommel, where will you be based?
Danny De Baets: Our workshop is located in Hasselt at our new Yamaha shop and car garage.
Benoit Paturel has already been announced – for 2023, will he be the only rider? Are you open to more than one driver in the future?
Danny De Baets: Benoit Paturel will be the only rider on the team in 2023. After that we will see what the future brings.
How many MXGP rounds will Benoit ride? All rounds, or only all European rounds or only a selected number?
Danny De Baets: We start with the first two overseas and European GP. Then we will further evaluate for the rest of the season.
What are Paturel's plans for the pre-season – where will he spend most of his time and do you know which races he will be doing? Hawkstone, Lierop, the French Opening Championship, the International Italian Championship and even Spanish Championships are all options…
Danny De Baets: The plan is that we will run pre-season races, but everything depends on how far we are with the preparations and whether we have received the necessary engines.
In terms of equipment the team will be riding Yamaha machines, the new 2023 model I assume – will it be standard or will you get some support from Yamaha?
Danny De Baets: We will ride a Yamaha 450cc 2023 and with support from Yamaha.
Do you have long-term goals for the team? Is this a long term project to be present in the MXGP?
Danny De Baets: At the moment we have no plans for the future. Let's finish the 2023 season first and then we'll see what the future brings us.
Just about MXGP in general, after COVID-19 and the increased price of living, some teams will retire next year so your introduction is needed. What are your overall thoughts on MXGP at the moment?
Danny De Baets: MXGP is the highest level you can reach and what many dream of, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to have a budget as a private team in a world like today. With the large number of competitions and certainly the overseas travel, it is impossible for many teams to participate in the full championship. I want to thank everyone who supports us to make this possible and I want to do everything I can to get Benoit Paturel back to the level where he should be.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Photos: Archive and Mediacross
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