Calvin Vlaanderen has been quietly impressive this year over the first two rounds of MXGP on the factory Ducati. Vlaanderen showed in Spain he can get the Ducati turning good lap times well inside the top ten in the sand even if the bike is still in the development stage at this level.
We caught up with the affable Vlaanderen to discuss his switch to such a glamorous and prestigious brand and how he has found adjusting to such a new machine while competing at the elite level.
Calvin said of the switch: “Engine-wise, it’s not similar, but you get used to how it feels and delivers power. We’ve definitely made progress with the engine over the last few weeks and months. But mostly it’s the chassis. When you switch to a different frame, it just takes time to get used to. Ducati is new to motocross, so they’re still learning as a brand in this discipline. They have a lot of experience in other motorsports, but motocross is different. The team is also new, so we’re all learning together—understanding the bike and improving it step by step.”
And like America, the team are waiting on parts being made since everything is still so new!
“Yeah, it’s similar. Like I said, it’s new, so the factory doesn’t have parts just sitting ready to go. They have to develop and produce them, which takes time. It’s not like you can request something and test it the next week. Some of the things we’ve asked for take a bit longer, but that’s part of the process. And of course, they won’t let us ride anything that isn’t fully tested and safe, so everything has to go through proper checks first.”
Unsurprisingly, testing is still a big part of his weekly routine right now, “That’s why my feedback and communication with the engineers has to be on point—it’s really important. But at the same time, I’m at a point where I don’t just want to develop; I want to perform and win GPs. It’s all part of the process, though. We have a good base now, but we’re still working on improvements. Hopefully, in a few weeks, we can reduce the amount of testing and just focus on racing and feeling comfortable.”
“During the week, I want to focus on my riding—my technique and training—but sometimes we have to test, which is important. Hopefully we can get most of that done soon and have a solid season.”
So, what’s it like riding for Ducati, such a prestigious brand in the motorcycle world? “Yeah, it’s so sick,” admitted Calvin. “Ducati is a top-level brand, and to represent them is something I’m proud of. It’s a great feeling.”
Get the full interview below:
