Press Release

Marnicq Bervoets previews Bellpuig







Lier
- After
Valkenswaard, Mantova and the soggy Agueda most GP riders are longing
for a different type of soil. Bellpuig is indeed
one of the hard pack classics on the World Championship calendar.
This is the tenth consecutive year -since the
track’s
major update in 2001- to host a combined class motocross GP. From
1994 to 2000 the Circuit
de Motocròs de Catalunya
previously
received the 125cc GP. Bellpuig is the fifth of the fifteen MX1 GP’s
and LS Motors-Honda’s stars Tanel Leok
and Davide Guarneri will be back on board their potent CRF450R’s
ready to battle the best motocross riders in theworld.




While Guarneri and Leok are not the type to draw conclusions from
past results, the Spanish track is a place where both
of them have achieved great results. Most notably was Guarneri’s
2008 MX2 GP win and the Estonian Express finished runner-up
to Stefan Everts in 2006. We caught up with LS Motors-Honda sports
manager Marnicq Bervoets for his view on the
Catalunyan Grand Prix.


What
do you think about the track in Bellpuig?




Marnicq
Bervoets:
“It’s
a nice, fast track however it’s not so difficult. So many riders
find a way to be fast there, but overtaking
can be a real pain. I also think the differences in time practice
will be very small. With the current temperatures it should
be pretty hard pack, although they are turning the soil so that makes
it a bit different.”



Track
preparation in the world championship has been growing by leaps and
bounds over the last years. Do you think
it’s a good thing to turn the soil?




Marnicq
Bervoets:
“(smiles)
I wish they did so when I was riding! It makes the racing a bit less
technical so in theory it helps to
create closer racing. And frankly it’s just something you have to
do now. Especially with four classes racing like we have this weekend,
it prevents the soil from drying out and avoids dust.”


Both
Leok and Guarneri should be doing well in Bellpuig, do you agree?




Marnicq
Bervoets:
“Absolutely,
I know that Davide (Guarneri) is particularly looking forward to the
Catalunyan Grand Prix.Physically
it’s not the most demanding race, Davide often starts well and when
he’s in the mix from the go he should be able to go
a long way. Maybe it’s too much for him already to be fighting at
the front in both motos, but I know he has the speed.”



Guarneri
is making a name for himself as an MX1 rider this season. You guys
have been working hard together over
the winter it must be personally rewarding to see he’s doing well
and that people value your efforts?




Marnicq
Bervoets:
“Of
course, that’s the cool thing about passing on your knowledge and
experience. However, you depend on
your riders to get the results. They have to be willing to work and
to listen. It’s motivating for everyone to see that you’re on the
right track. That’s where I get the most satisfaction from.”


How
much of difference does it make that you and the riders are not
communicating in their mother tongue?




Marnicq
Bervoets:
“It
does not really matter in the end. We all speak English and sometimes
when I’m trying to explain something
complicated I might be looking a little longer for the right words
that’s all. In fact the communication between us works
really well.”



There
is no doubt about the speed of Tanel Leok, but in contrast to his
pre-season race it seems he is struggling with
his starts?









Marnicq
Bervoets:
“You’re
right and it’s all between the ears! Starting is very much a mental
issue. I have talked about thiswith
Tanel and he knows it is an area where he struggles for the moment.
While there is absolutely no reason! Leok is far too modest
about his own abilities. When he’s on the gate next to Cairoli or
another top rider he is talking himself down. It is all
about
self-belief. We are 110% convinced that when Tanel gets a good start
he’s a regular podium contender, every single week.
We will do everything to help him untap his full potential. Can you
believe that in the second race in Portugal he was so close
to the front, even when he didn’t have a great start and stood dead
still after the whoops at one point! He lost precious
time
behind Philippaerts as well. Just because he has too much respect.
When you’re going faster than the guy in front of you there’s
no time to waste. Whether it’s someone you expected to be faster or
not does not matter.”






On behalf of LS Motors-Honda








0 comments

The Latest