Hennekens on Maxime Grau: I think he’ll surprise even more people than Kay (de Wolf) did this year
The Nestaan Husqvarna MX2 team have identified young French talent, Maxime Grau as potentially being the next big thing and have signed him up for the 2021 season.
Last year Grau was racing an 85cc and finished fourth overall in the EMX85 championship going 5-5 in the moto’s at Loket.
For this season, Grau moved up to the EMX125 championship and really impressed at the opening round of the series at Matterley Basin. It could have been a 4-4 in the moto’s but eventually ended up 8-8 which was still a great result on his EMX125 debut.
The Nestaan Husqvarna MX2 team have decided to sign him up for the 2021 season as they see a lot of potential in the French talent.
Kay Hennekens, the Nestaan Husqvarna MX2 team owner has been impressed with the French youngster so far.
“We have a new kid (Maxime Grau) for the EMX250 series, he’s only 14 years old but this French kid we believe in as the next big thing. For now, we have to bring our own talents and prepare them for the World Championship. If that’s the way we have to do it we will try to succeed this way”, Hennekens told GateDrop.com.
Considering that Grau has only raced one round of the EMX125 series many would have thought another year on the 125cc would have been the best option for his career. However, Hennekens is sure the EMX250 class is the right decision and that he can surprise people in 2021.
“It’s the same discussion as we had with Kay last year. Many people told us that we weren’t smart to have Kay in EMX250 and if you look back now, what’s wrong with it? He was almost third, so I think he did a great job. With Maxime, he must learn how to ride the sand and that’s why he’s come to live in Lommel. We will spent hours in the sand, he is extremely motivated and an hard worker, very professional for his age. He is a very nice kid to work with and speed wise on hard pack he is on a very high level already”.
Grau putting in the laps on the Husqvarna 250cc. Pic: Niek Kamper
Moving to Belgium from his home country at 14 years old is a big sacrifice and something French riders haven’t done in the past but the new French generation seem to realise they need to be able to ride the sand which is good to see.
Grau is already putting plenty of laps in on the sand to improve and he is already looking impressive on the hard pack – tracks he was born in but considering he’s just 14 years old he looks to have a very bright future.
“On the hard pack he looks great, he is outstanding. On the sand tracks he is learning every day but that is okay, when you are 14 years old you have to learn and invest more time to learn riding in the sand. It will take time to be there but for sure if you are as talented as Maxime you will do well on the sand soon. Kay knows the sand and can perform on it, for Maxime it’s a big learning curve so we will see how we end up. I think Maxime will surprise even more people than Kay did this year”, concluded Hennekens.
If you missed our in-depth interview with Hennekens, you can read it here.
Article: Andy McKinstry
Pics: Niek Kamper
