Joel Doeksen to bow out of Euro Motocross

Let's go back a few years.  You were born on the Caribbean Island of St Maarten (Dutch territory) and you and your family lived in New Zealand for over 10 years.  You have now been away for two and a half years. 

With my parents (Jan and Jolanda) we left New Zealand on 09 December 2010. My older brother Jan stayed in Auckland to attend Auckland University. We flew to England to pick-up our purpose built KRM, a Mercedes Benz motorhome with a full workshop in the back and room to stow up to three bikes - Josh Coppins was then sponsored by KRM.

We had intended to make our first drive to Austria for Christmas with Mum's family but delays at KRM and bad weather, saw us stop in Holland. We then headed South to the warm weather of Spain where I trained under former World Champ John van den Berk. This was all in preparation for me to compete in the MX3 Championship which started in Greece on 17 April. We had no illusions as to how tough it would be but were going for the experience.

Tell us about John Van Den Berk?

He was the 1987 F.I.M. World Champion in the 125cc class on a Yamaha. The following year 1988, he moved to the 250cc class where he again won the World Championship, also on a Yamaha. He was Dutch Champion, Supercross Champion and winner of the Motocross des Nations. Later that year Youthstream announced he was now Youthstream's talent scout.

Now about the MX3 experience?

We had sponsorship from Brouwer KTM in Holland and had two Cairoli spec'd SXF350s. Although the season came to a short end, the experience I gained in the seven GP’s was amazing. Riding on all the different and unique tracks with top riders in a World Championship atmosphere, trying to push your hardest through the 30 minute Motos. From all these experiences, be they good or bad, I learnt a lot about what it takes. Not only was it the experience I gained on the track but also the travelling and different cultures you come across, I think we travelled over 50,000 kilometers in a period of 5 months.

That MX3 World Championship was shortened from 13 rounds to 8, how did you finish up?

I competed in 7 of the 8 Rounds - we missed out Finland. I finished 22nd out of 81 riders.

You also rode for New Zealand at the MXoN at St Jean d'Angely in Southern France?

When MNZ decided on a development team there was three of us already racing in Europe.  I rode MX3, Kieran Scheele MX1 and John Phillips MX2.  I Qualified 26th however the team's cumulative score put us into the B Final.  We had a good chance to win it but second corner at the top of the hill, I took a big 'serve' from another rider and ended up over the catch fence - race over. NZ's was place 10th in that  B Final.

What about 2012?

My parents decided they were going to live near Fort Lauderdale in Florida, saying that there are some very good business opportunities there.  US$1million boats were going for $200,000. $300,000 apartments going for $20,000.  18.5 million people live in Florida and I would ride in East Coast State events.  Just getting to practice was a half-day trip in itself and I could not race as we did not have US Citizenship, so the insurance was $2600 per event.

Let's move onto 2013?

We are only allowed to stay 6 moths in the USA at a time so we came back to Holland.  I joined Maddii Racing which is based near Florence in Italy.  My team-mates are Marco Maddii and Mattia Buso, both whom Joel rode against in MX3 in 2011.

Marco is the son of Corrado Maddii.  In 1982 the World 125cc Championship was won by Eric Geboers, and Corrado was 2nd, 3rd was Michele Rinaldi.  Maddii was 2nd in 1984 and 3rd in 1985. The Italians still adore him.

What has been your best result?

End of April I was 2nd overall in the International Italian Beach Race behind my team-mate Marco. (pictured right)

I hear you have some news for us?

Yeah, made some tough and very emotional decisions this week. I have decided to stop trying to make a career out of motocross and just continue the sport as a hobby.  This will mean that I leave the Maddii Racing in Italy and follow my parents to Florida where I will do a Captain's course.

That is a big decision, what brought it about?

Many reasons but the main reason is that in Europe it's getting harder and harder to make a career out of Motocross. Gone are the days that you can make some good money out of the International Races and earn starting money in GP's. This means that my parents have to keep pouring money into the sport and that's something I don't want. If there was any chance of making some reasonable money I would continue because my riding is going very well. If you look, for example at a rider like Glenn Coldenhoff, who is at the moment is 3rd in the MX2 GP standings.  If he's not able to make some money, what's there to hope for? Taking a lot of risk, hard training and putting a lot of money in to the sport for Youthstream's sake?

Is the passion still there?

I love Motocross and will always ride but now to enjoy the sport on a different level and work on another career.

There is quite a few people who have supported you.

Yes, a special thanks to Gert Jan Brouwer, Eric Stuurman and Gert Brouwer from Brouwer Motors who supported me since I arrived in Europe. Their help was unbelievable!!  Thank you all very much.

Than I would like to thank Corrado, Anna and Marco Maddii who were supporting me in Italy. Especially Marco who organised everything and made it all possible. Also I would like to thank the Buso family for their support in Italy.

I would like to thank my sponsors Brouwer Motors, Maddii Racing, Gaerne Boots, Acerbis, Twin Air, WP Holland, Stuurman Sport, Valvoline.

Last but not least my parents for there sacrifices and support of trying to make my dream come true.