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:

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:

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:

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:

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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