SummaryRacePrepQualifyingRace1Race2NextRace - Pictures

RACE IN ZELHEM, 29-April 2012
Pictures: Click here for pictures
Video (general, see 2:34): Click here for YouTube video
Summary

7th out of 70 starters. Quali: 7th. ~1,000 spectators
An eventful race, especially in race 1. I did well in the first half of the race, knowing about my deficits not jumping the double. I was up in 4th position, but then it went south. I ended in 7th position, but was seriously angry on myself. Second race went better, a solid performance without big mistakes, finishing 6th overall. The offroad part was really badly designed and the fact that many riders got insured speaks for itself. In my opinion, this track was not an appropriate Supermoto track.
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Race Prep

There was little to do after Lelystad. Weather was bad in the Netherlands and I only managed to go riding once the Wednesday before the race. And then it was semi-wet. So I took the opportunity to ride my rain tires in and also check the bike setup. It wasn't perfct, but I managed to work it out and it was a good practice session.
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Qualifying

I wasn't really happy about the qualifying and the time gap to the front. The double jump section just separated the field too much. So, 6th in my group and one faster time in the other group, so 7th starting position. Benno in my group who posted a faster time unfortunately crashed badly on the double jump section and therefore was out for the race. This meant that the position directly in front of me was vacant later.
Quali result: 7th
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Race 1

First start went really well, I staid on the outside and got around the first corner well. On the following straight, I passed Kevin Schuurman, entering the offroad on 4th position. Then he passed me on the double jump section - yes, I repeat myself here, but that's how it went... - and settled in 5th position. In lap four, the leader struggled and went down, so I moved up to 4th position! From the back, Mark van Dellen gained positions and started to jump in the offroad as well, so gaining time there. Then in lap eight, he actually passed me and I went down to 5th position. In lap nine, I passed him again back, so I was in 4th position again. From then on, I started doing serious mistakes, missing corners, losing momentum in different sections of the track. In lap nine then, Jan Schrauwen went by me and I knew I could follow him, but then again, I continued doing mistakes. Arjan Schouten, who led the race in the beginning made up his time and passed me in lap ten. I tried to keep my act together, but then screwed the passing process on a lapper, going by, missing next corner, falling back again... then in the final offroad entrance, I braked by a lapper but missed the entrance and went on the side of the offroad. Consequence was that even Mark went by again in the last lap. I was really angry on myself getting so out of rhythm. Well, gotta forget about it and focus on race two.
Race 1 result: 7th
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Race 2

Second race was less eventful, but required full concentration. Again a great start, again going by Kevin in lap one and losing the position again in the offroad... Mark also had a great start and was right behind me after lap one and got by me in lap three. This time I really focused on my lines, not over-riding the bike and missing corners, so I controlled the gap to the riders behind me over the entire race distance. It was not too much time buffer, so one mistake and the race would have ended differently. Luckily, this time good performance over the entire race distance and nothing else happened anymore. Save to say this was not my fastest performance and not up to my potential. Good thing was that I really got a great workout and felt that I will be in good shape for the next race in Boekel.
Race 2 result: 6th
Overall: 7th
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Next race

Next race is in Boekel already next week, on 6 May. My best race last year, so let's see how things work out there; without any supercross section...
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Pictures
Pictures: Click here for pictures
Video (general, see 2:34): Click here for YouTube video