After months of hard work, a lot of testing and three preseason races, it’s now time for the real thing: the world championship MX2. First stop for Kemea Yamaha this weekend: Neuquen in Argentina, a city in the north of the beautiful Patagonia, where the temperature is predicted to rise up to 28 degrees.
The last couple of years Kemea Yamaha has grown into one of the top teams in the MX2-class. With Benoit Paturel, the Belgian team finished third in the world championship in 2016 and last year the Frenchman gave Kemea a first GP victory. Great performances that taste like more.
But Paturel had to leave Kemea due to the age rule, which forced him to move up to the MXGP. Also, the agreements with Brent Van Doninck and Alvin Ostlund were not renewed at the end of 2017. Vsevolod Brylyakov (22), Ben Watson (20) and Jago Geerts (17) are the newcomers in the Kemea squad.
“You can therefore speak of a new start,” says team owner Hans Corvers, who remains equally ambitious. “Brylyakov is very fast and he works really hard. Our Russian recovered from a nasty shoulder injury. Hopefully he has the luck on his side this year. If so, he must be able to compete for the top three. Watson was a big talent in the youth series. But he was not yet able to show that talent in the ‘big boys class’. He has a lot of potential. It’s our job to force that break through. Ben should aim at the top 8.
Finally, Geerts is our man for the future. Jago is 17 years old and combines sports with studies. 2018 is a year of learning for him. Although I’m convinced that we will occasionally see our youngest rider finish in the top 10. ” In the preparation races, the results of the Kemea riders were solid, with a handful of top 10 places. “A positive observation: their results were improving each race”, says team manager Marnicq Bervoets. “Hopefully they can continue in doing that.”
# 18 Vsevolod Brylyakov
“I am particularly happy that I am a motocross rider again, It was a hell of a trip after the severe shoulder injury I sustained in April of last year in Valkenswaard. So I am Kemea Yamaha very grateful for this unique opportunity, I’m in a factory team for the first time, everything is perfectly organized and I hope that I can thank the whole team with great results. I realize that I have not yet reached my top level. I have to grow in the season. My ambition? I have suffered a lot with that shoulder, my rehabilitation was very long and hard. I have not made all those
efforts to be satisfied with a second or third place.”
# 193 Jago Geerts
“I am quite satisfied with my preparation, I have had a very good winter with lots of training and especially without injuries. The adjustment to my new team and new bike went perfect. The first race in Riola Sardo was a bit disappointing. But in Hawkstone Park and Lacapelle things went a bit better. I can not wait for the first Grand Prix in Argentina. It will be my first overseas GP, and also my first experience with jetlag. Although 2018 is a year of learning for me, I want to achieve some solid results as well. In the course of the season, I regularly want to finish inside the top 10. And in between, I also want to get my diploma of electricity-electronics.”
# 919 Ben Watson
“My results in the preseason races were solid, but not super. Nothing to worry about, because I mainly focused on riding the bike, less on the results. Physically, I have never been as strong as I am today and the feeling on my Yamaha is great. That gives me a lot of confidence. Of course, there is still work to be done. My start, for exemple, needs to be better. My goal is to be much more regular during the season. Last year I had too many ups and downs. Those downs must be kept to a minimum. If I can manage that, I must achieve at least the top 10. In addition, I’m also aiming at my first GP-podium this year.”
Team manager Marnicq Bervoets
“2018 is, with a completely new line-up, a new start for us. So I’m very curious about this world championship. The preparation went pretty well. The riders are very pleased with their bikes. The results were solid, not super. Our three boys made progress week after week. Especially the Super Final in Lacapelle Marival was very strong, which is promising. That result should give them extra confidence, because sometimes they doubt themselves too much. In Argentina, a very fast track, it is very important to be in the front right away, to immediately have that high pace.”
World championship 2018
04-03 Neuquen (Arg)
18-03 Valkenswaard (Nld)
25-03 Redsand (Spa)
08-04 Pietramurata (Ita)
15-04 Agueda (Por)
01-05 Orlyonok (Rus)
13-05 Kegums (Lat)
20-05 Teutschenthal (Ger)
03-06 Matterley Basin (Gbr)
10-06 St. Jean d’Angely (Fra)
17-06 Ottobiano (Ita)
01-07 Pangkal Pinang (Idn)
08-07 Semarang (Idn)
22-07 Loket (Cze)
05-08 Lommel (Bel)
19-08 Frauenfeld (Swi)
02-09 Afyonkarahisar (Tur)
16-09 Assen (Nld)
30-09 Imola (Ita)
07-10 Mx of Nations Red Bud (Usa)
Images Yamaha/Cabro