Joël Smets' call to all motocross riders
Following the licensing problems at our remaining circuits, five-time world champion Joël Smets wrote to clarify a few things for everyone involved in motocross and active athletes in particular.
Joel Smets: Motorsport Flanders, in collaboration with the circuits, consults on a regular basis with the various authorities (municipality, province, Flemish government) but soon also with the people who are 'slightly less inclined' to our sport to arrive at workable compromises for the various circuits .
You have enough power, right?
Since a week we have known with the decision regarding Olmen that these efforts are also yielding results. Partly thanks to you, our passionate supporters. By the way, in those future negotiations, the active athletes among you could even give us an extra push!
“How about that?” I hear you thinking…. Simple, make your engine a lot quieter! You have enough power, right?
I note that today's engines produce barely less noise than my engine from 20 years ago. Then we have to be honest with ourselves and admit that we could have done more with that along the way, right? You as end consumers are of course not to blame, but in my opinion the industry is seriously at fault.
A few years ago I was fed up with the lack of action on the sound front. I took the plunge and almost literally bumped into the shins of the manufacturers. It must be that my pedaling technique was on point because I was certainly heard.
From January 1, 1, the decibels will be drastically reduced at every circuit in Europe.
The manufacturers and the FIM set up a 'noise reduction' working group. So they realized their error of judgment (better late than never) and are currently working diligently on drastic noise reduction. It's a good thing because postponement is no longer an option. Namely, from January 1, 1, the decibels will be drastically reduced at every circuit in Europe.
Your dealer or exhaust manufacturer knows all about it! It will take some effort on all of us, but we can only reach compromises if concessions are made on both sides.
Jef, Marc, Jaak and Freddy
Typically Belgian, we are quite quick and like to be negative. This also applies, for example, to the tree planting campaign that our lamented champion Eric Geboers helped to set up at the time... Well, I can tell you, through that action we have clearly shown that we are not environmental barbarians and that we have respect for people and nature, which means that we can count on a lot of goodwill among a wide audience.
I even dare to say that when Minister Demir signed Olmen's permit yesterday, she was partly inspired by our tree planting campaign. So your voice/actions are indeed heard. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done for Jef in Lille, Marc in Olmen, Jaak in Lommel and Freddy in Genk and their respective employees. Therefore, support our sports/circuits even more and preferably en masse.
Let us do that, in addition to your actions on the ground, by exploding this post.
So like and share like your life depends on it!
YES WE CAN
Photos: Danny Hermans and archive
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