Belgian motocross might be on the eve of another motocross dynasty.
The small country has been punching above it’s weight for more than half a century producing elite riders from Robert, DeCoster, Geboers, Jobe, Everts, Smets, Bervoets, Strijbos, Ramon, and Desalle with GP wins, world titles and MXoN wins galore. They are the Brazil/Manchester United/Real Madrid of motocross. Iconic.
However, Belgian motocross took a bit of a drop when it comes to GP winners and title contenders after the last generation until the emergence of Jago Geerts in recent seasons who has been a mainstay when it comes to GP wins and title contention.
Unfortunately injury has again sidelined Geerts but at least it’s now not all on his shoulders to win GPs for his country. Indeed, as Stefan Everts pointed out, Belgian have won the last seven GPs in MX2 with Liam Everts and the increasingly rapid Sacha and Lucas Coenen. The cavalry is coming.
Everts told Andy McKinstry: “The last seven GP’s, the Belgian riders have won. With Sacha, we know he was super-fast in the past, but he could not keep it on two wheels. And now he’s been riding smarter and smarter, and it pays off. You can see the result. He won the last two GP’s now. He’s a very fast starter, and he can go really fast in the first laps. And again today, especially in the second moto, he straightaway pulled that gap and managed to take the win, really impressive. It must be amazing to be in the family there. Especially to see them both on the podium in Latvia was really nice.”
Four world class riders are now approaching their prime who could all not only win world or AMA titles but also come together for the MXoN and deliver the wins that the guys from the mid 90s secured against the might of team USA.
Recently, of course, it has been Holland and France taking it to the USA with Belgian on the periphery but still in that 3rd to 5th realm. That might be about to change with Geerts on the 450 full time and Everts already showing good things on a 350 and both Coenen’s showing their speed and intensity is a match for anyone.
This recent success is all the more remarkable given the struggle for tracks in Belgium in what once was a sport so popular Stefan Everts was winning sports person of the year!
Not long ago, people were wondering where the next Belgian stars were coming from and now there is four all capable of winning Grand Prix races. Let’s hope they aren’t the last wave of talent from a country steeped in motocross glory.
Motocross has put Belgium on the map around the world and even America, especially if the Coenen’s get success there in the next few years. Maybe the country should start valuing the talent they produce and the sport they excel in.
The glory days might be coming back, for a while at least…
