Report Back: WOMZA European
Tour 2014
Published with Permission.
Submitted by Mark Sangster.
For the third year in succession, WOMZA facilitated a tour
to Europe. This year, 6 riders participated in the hugely
popular Commercy MX Master Kids in France. Although the focus
is on the junior riders, there was always the opportunity
for our senior guys to race in their class. We chose 4 races
– 2 regional championship rounds in Holland and 2 PROMINENT
youth internationals (one in France and the other in Holland).
Oploo Pro X Championship - 28 June
This is the most picturesque of circuits which runs through
the forest glades, but affords spectators brilliant vantage
points. This is how the boys did:
Rider
|
Class
|
Qualification
|
Heat 1
|
Heat 2
|
Overall
|
Justin Sangster
|
85cc
|
6th
|
11th
|
16th
|
14th
|
Matt Van Galen
|
125 cc / MX 2b
|
8th
|
18th
|
17th
|
13th
|
Kevin Sangster
|
MX 2
|
18th
|
20th
|
19th
|
26th
|
We experienced a bit of bad luck with Justin breaking his
hand in heat 2 while trying to make a pass into 4th place.
Matt had some rear brake problems so could not really settle
down.
Justin broke his hand in heat 2 of the Oploo Pro X championship
Horst Pro X Championship – 5 July
Horst MX track is regarded as the deepest sand (Jeffrey Herlings
practices here ahead of the GP’s in Lommel) so we knew
we were in for some fun and games. Matt blew a piston in heat
1, Kevin’s bike overheated and Justin battled to hold
on with a “fragile and strapped left hand”. These
were the results for this round:
Rider
|
Class
|
Qualification
|
Heat 1
|
Heat 2
|
Overall
|
Justin Sangster
|
85cc
|
11th
|
13th
|
6th
|
8th
|
Matt Van Galen
|
125 cc / MX 2b
|
12th
|
23rd
|
dnf
|
n/a
|
Kevin Sangster
|
MX 2
|
20th
|
24th
|
dnf
|
n/a
|
Commercy MX Master Kids – Youth
International 11, 12, &13 July
This event is the largest MX gathering in France and attracted
over 700 riders from 24 countries. The USA had a strong team
and dominated quite a few of the classes. Jackson Gray, very
nearly won the 65cc and 85cc class. Joel Rizzi from the UK
managed to unseat him in one of the 65cc heats. The 65cc and
85cc classes are the largest with 120 in the 65cc class and
156 in the 85cc class. We were joined by James van Hinsbergen
and Ike and Puck Klaassen at this event. The first 36 riders
per class go into the Gold final and the rest into the silver
or bronze. This is how we fared:
Rider
|
Class
|
Pre Qualification
|
Overall Qualification Pos
|
Final
|
Position
|
Ike Klaassen
|
65cc
|
11th
|
7th
|
Gold
|
19th
|
Puck Klaassen
|
85cc
|
30th
|
24th
|
Silver
|
21st
|
Justin Sangster
|
85cc
|
5th
|
5th
|
Gold
|
5th
|
Matt Van Galen
|
125 cc / MX2-U17
|
9th
|
15th
|
Silver
|
6th
|
James Van Hinsbergen
|
MX2 (over 20)
|
25th
|
27th
|
Silver
|
12th
|
Kevin Sangster
|
MX 2 (U 20)
|
14th
|
13th
|
Gold
|
14th
|
The SA contingent in Commercy, France – having a blast
!!!
Venray - Dutch Hosted Pro X Youth International
19 & 20 July
This event attracted over 200 juniors from 11 European countries.
The UK had a strong presence and fared well in the 65cc class.
Ike Klaassen and Justin Sangster were so amped for this race
as they had come to terms with racing in virtually full gate
events and realised that it was “ALL IN THE START”.
This was a flat track with a few singles but many berms and
tight corners. I have never seen Ike and Justin race with
such aggression and they certainly did us proud. Justin achieved
his first ever podium at a Youth International. This is how
they fared:
Rider
|
Class
|
Qualification
|
Heat 1
|
Heat 2
|
Heat 3
|
Heat 4
|
Overall
|
Ike Klaassen
|
65cc
|
5th
|
5th
|
5th
|
6th
|
4th
|
5th
|
Justin Sangster
|
85cc
|
5th
|
3rd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
3rd
|
3rd
|
Justin shares the Podium with First place Mack Bowenste
and Boyd Van der Voorn at the Venray International
Justin rode into the hearts of the Dutch MX association –
they watched him closely at Oploo and Horst and when he got
onto the podium at the youth international they were more
excited than the child himself. Jeffrey Herlings handed the
3rd place trophy to Justin – This was the cherry on the
top!!!
Everts and Friends 21 July – GENK
Belgium
Only Ike Klaassen was able to enter this event and managed
to get a place in the Minis demo ride – 50cc and 65cc.
The boys were able to meet most of the GP riders and got to
chat to Ricky Carmichael, Jeffery Herlings, Jeff Emig and
many more. To ride an 85cc in Belgium you must be 12 years
old so Justin was unable to race, being too young.
Training and coaching
The boys enjoyed some training, coaching and riding at many
Dutch tracks including, Lommel, Landsaard, Valkenswaard and
Berghem. Rob van Uden, an Ex GP rider and the MX 1 Dutch 2006
National champion, put the boys through their paces
Matt Van Galen with GP rider Glen Coldenhoff at Berghem
What we learnt?
1. Very little emphasis on 50cc racing – they regard
this as a fun class
2. Racing on the 65cc small wheel is taken seriously
3. They advocate 65cc big wheel as a transition to the 85cc
class
4. Only 1 year is spent (in 90% of cases), on 85cc small wheels
– then they migrate to pro mini (At 13 most kids are
on pro-mini and at 14, racing 125 flat out).
5. Structured training approach is followed and not just riding
aimlessly at the track for hours.
6. Riding ruts and in deep sand is what they do best
7. The top riders choose to go to the roughest tracks and
almost never ride on the prepared tracks
8. Bike tuning and preparation is given top priority
Next year we plan to take 10 riders over to do the 2 internationals
as well as to the Everts and Friends in Belgium. We have already
lined up a support crew and have established great contacts
for accommodation, transport and logistics. I will send out
a draft program within the next 3 months or so.
Some magic moments !!
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