‘It’s like a dream come true’
‘It’s like a dream come true’. That was the first thing my son said when I told him the news. “With a real MX team to the French GP in Villars, how cool is that?” Thanks to Gertjan Vorstenbosch, we received an invitation from team manager Patrick Claessen to have a close look from the inside.
Little boy
The big 600 km slide away while we talk a lot about much more, with the same subject. Motocross. We are followed closely by Sergio Fernandez who drives the second van with his father. Nice people, but unfortunately I don’t understand a thing. In the six words they speak, I understand two, from where I can make something out of it. Between lines I make my own story. After we have made a sleep stop at a gas station, we set up for the last 200. What’s a few miles when you’re having fun. At 20 km. it starts to bubble in my stomach. Like always. I feel like a little boy who’s heading for his first holiday ever.
Labels and stickers
When arrive at the track it’s already very busy. Along the narrow road vans and mobilehomes are waiting for access. Without the right documents, of course, there’s no getting through. We are directed to a beautiful high spot and get our stuff installed. My son and I gladly assist the crew, while sliding through the mud. From Patrick Claessen we receive a Honda Carglass Team Coat. “Now you’re a real part of the team,” he laughs. He’s got his stuff together, because our sizes are included. We unload the ‘Red Ones’ and make them ready for inspection. The noise is always something, especially with the loud Honda’s. What the inspection is really worth, gets clear to me in the next few minutes. After the disapproval of one of the bikes, the mechanic puts the bike against the van. Without touching the red devil, Sergio retries after 30 minutes. With glance it gets through. It’s just where the wind comes from. In the end, “we” (yes, I can say that this weekend) collected the labels and stickers we need to take part of the race. Ander Valentin and Sergio Fernandez fathers fill-in as mechanics this weekend. Sergio’s father is always there, but Anders dad is a substitute for the weekend. A golden fill in, as I can see. Apart from all the hardware, the food is also perfectly made. No ‘over the top catering’, but delicious homemade Chinese is served. Salad and chicken to make it complete.
Team spirit
Suddenly, out of the dark, a drunk German appears. With his bare chest and a big can of his native beer, he stumbles through the ribbon. Whether we have tickets for sale. “I have money with me,” he mumbles, but gets removed subtle by team boss Patrick. Also here, security really is really indispensable. The world can be strange and cruel sometimes. This weekend, however, our world is beautiful. We’re enjoying ‘Bigtime’ In a haze of imagination we’re hanging around the bikes and riders. A world of dreams. Carglass rider Dylan Walsh takes a close look at his bike. He would like to help but needs to go to the hotel. A good night sleep is also part of the job. A nice guy who excuses himself five times. Almost takes a bow and leaves in the dark. Dylan’s bike must still be converted with suspension, exhaust system and wheels. The Fernandez family starts with the job and with some extra light from Sergio’s phone, the Honda gets rebuilt. Ready for battle. Respect for the team spirit of the nice people. When ‘sandman’ passes for the 4th time the job is done. The whole mobile bike shop gets cleaned up. Ready for the night. Laying in my camper bed, I realize me and my son are very lucky. I turn around and look at my wrist with Pitlane strap. Almost tomorrow.
Survival
The persistent rain doesn’t make it cozier. The job is heavy. Watching the slopes and heavily fucked up corners, I wonder if a race like this ever would be canceled. When should they and when is it too much? Obviously, it won’t, because the marshals just go to work. Not every rider uses the full training time, which I understand. My bike wouldn’t even leave the van in a place like this. That I know! The time practice of our boys isn’t working out the way they would, but there’s an excuse for that. It’s all a matter of gambling and good luck, as it turned out later. There is bad luck. Due to the excessive rainfall, one of the Honda’s stops. The rest of the training gets completed with the spare bike, but it seems more like a ‘survival of the fittest’ than a MXGP. The rain is on, and it’s getting worse. A shovel reaches for a half-yard mud from the starting area, but feels a lot like carrying water to the see.
The sucking substance makes riding almost impossible, but the riders show character. I kiss my pitlane strap and look up to the sky. Tomorrow it will be better. unfortunately I am not a weatherman. The next day rain keeps pouring, with short dry moments. It’s good to see that the mass of people who came up don’t care. Under sails and umbrellas they follow their favorites. Infection to the bone. Children with horns and bells. The extra boost they probably need to get op the muddy hills. Unfortunately, the shitty weather plays a big part this weekend. Results show. Dylan Walsh gets injured. After a first ride for almost 25 minutes, het stops in the pitlane with a foot fracture. Unfortunately he couldn’t close with a step on the box, but the speed was really there. With pain in his eyes he leaves the pits. Talent with a big future to come. That’s for sure. The glamor that glitters from the outside shows hard work within. Simply cleaning the mess is just a very small part. The bikes are torn apart and every detail gets checked. There is a healthy stress sensible in the team. While rubbing a real factory stickerset for the first time in my life, my son is sitting next to me with his Nikon. Staff photographer of the weekend. ‘Cool hey dad’. GertJan Vorstenbosch stands out as a best co-team leader, together with his caring, right-hand niece Romy. A team in a team. Unfortunately, Carglass rider Jed Beaton has been loaned to HRC for this weekend. A straight-up guy who also surprised me in Assen with his beautiful style and immortal perseverance. His specialty turns out to be floating above the French mud. With ridiculous constant lap times, he finishes on the box. A third place with a golden edge.
Self-made
The ‘Team’ sticker on the truck is more than justified. The definition of the word comes true this weekend. All ‘red jackets’ doing their thing without prior briefing. A group of musketeers with all the same purpose. While some of the riders take the rest they need, while Valentin walks around. A silent boy. No big mouth hot shot. Just Valentin. He’s from Spain, but his English is definitely not bad. It is a self-made boy who’s pushing to his dream. He definitely has the skills, including the famous Spanish ‘Prado ass’, but is looking out for the right chance. That road is not as easy as it often seems from the outside. It takes a lot of self-discipline. The talent with matching character is not even enough. A piece of luck is indispensable for these men. Due to one minor mistake, you can just lose a season, and 22 is actually too old to get a fair chance. Yet they won’t give up. His dad’s a police officer and supports him in everything as much as he can. He finances his startup every year, while the rest has to come out of the team and sub sponsoring. A scanty life, while giving everything you have in you. Day by day, year by year. He still will be finishing school as a sports instructor, aware that there’s a life after this. What the future will bring, no one knows, but that’ll keep the dream alive.
Give a lot and take a little
Looking at all this and what’s happening in a official MXGP team, I wonder if you can actually call it a sport. Your life is in MX, every day. Working out and riding. Week in week out until the weather does not allow it anymore. And then still. If you want to succeed, you’ll have to give everything you have and a little more. Give a lot and take a little. In a team or just with your buddies.
This team is close . Without fuss, building on. The result is the only thing that counts in the end. Progression. Honest people with honest expectations.
Who gives will get …
Picture credits to More Heijt – www.mhmxpics.com
