Belgian chargers – four years of waiting

Belgium’s first World Champion was Joel Robert when he won the FIM World 250cc Championship in 1964. The only years Belgium didn’t have a World MX Champion between 64 and that win by Ramon in 07 was in the years of 1974, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, and 1999.

Four years without an FIM World Motocross Championship is amazing when you consider in 40 years between 64 and 2004 they have had only seven seasons without a World Champion

Of course the eras of Robert, Gaston Rahier, Harry Everts and Roger De Coster in the 1970’s, followed by Georges Jobe, Andre Malherbe and Eric Geboers in the 1980’s and 90’s made sure plenty of FIM World Motocross Championships were put into the victory cupboard.

Add Stefan Everts and Joel Smets in the 1990’s and early period of the new millennium and you truly have three decades of Belgian dominance.

Since the retirement of Everts in 2006, the small country nestled between The Netherlands and France hasn’t had the same success as in that golden era.

At present, it’s only really MX1 contender Clement Desalle who looks like a major World Championship chance from Belgium. Sure names like Ken De Dycker, Kevin Strijbos, Joel Roelants and Jeremy Van Horebeek can win GP’s and finish with major points, but Championship serious contenders they are not, at this period of their careers.

At the 2011 MXoN in France Team Belgium had so many injured riders that team manager Joel Smets (left) had to change his selection several times. Marvin Vandaele (second from left) was the last inclusion, while Joel Roelants and Kevin Strijbos, who had good results in the last GP of the season, had already been selected.

What is important for the Belgian riders of this era is to forget about the past, and try and learn from the huge amount of Grand Prix riders who make Belgium their home in the racing season. With no real young sensation on the horizon, the whole of Belgium await for Desalle to make another challenge to the MX1 title of Antonio Cairoli. In 2011 Desalle looked stronger than the Italian early in the season, but then started making mistakes and eventually lost his grip on the red plate. Desalle is still young by MX1 rider’s standards, but he will need to improve his consistency to be able to beat Cairoli, who is the master of scoring points at important points of the season.

Sure Van Horebeek is riding for the tough Red Bull Teka KTM Factory team and must look a good bet to improve in 2012, as will Roelants who recently signed with the CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro-Circuit team. Both these young Belgians need to work hard and try and reach the same level of a Jeffrey Herlings or Tommy Searle, otherwise they will be hopelessly outclassed again in 2012.

In the MX1 class it’s really a major problem for Belgium, as De Dycker (pictured above) and Strijbos are in the twilight of their careers. Both have the technique, but until now they haven’t been able to reach the level to win Belgium another World Championship.