Not the big favorite Romano Hummel from Hoogkerk won the international specials during the Pentecost races in Stadskanaal on Monday. He was surprisingly trumped in the final by Dave Meijerink from Schuinesloot.
Meijerink was congratulated from all sides after his victory and slapped hard on the shoulders. Because everyone wholeheartedly wished it on the Overijssel pig farmer. Last year, the 23-year-old grass track racer had a bad season due to a concussion. Now he is much better in his own skin. This became apparent during the well-attended Pentecost races in Stadskanaal, where he fully deserved victory in the royal class, the international specials.
,,This is definitely a great victory”, said Meijerink after the ceremony, beaming from ear to ear on the highest podium. “Did I count on this? I never do that. Romano Hummel is a very strong driver, but I was the fastest in the final twice. That was just perfect. I could ride my own line and not in someone else’s radius. I also run further during the game. That was the nicest thing.”
Restart in final
It was not an easy final. After Meijerink immediately took the lead for Hummel immediately after the start, the race had to be stopped moments later. That happened after the Frenchman Thomas Valladon crashed hard with his bike without brakes for the second time this afternoon. Again he escaped without serious injuries, but with a sore arm. The 2500 spectators could breathe a sigh of relief and rewarded the unfortunate grass track racer with a warm round of applause.
Then followed the restart of the final without Valladon. Again Meijerink took the lead like a rocket with Hummel again in second place, while Jannick de Jong from Gorredijk was third. The drivers crossed the line in that order after four laps, making Meijerink stronger than both former world champions. ,,This victory gives me a good feeling and is also good for my self-confidence”, said the winner. ,,After always a second or third place, it is nice to be first. With Hummel in the track, this is my first big win. This gives me a lot of confidence for the upcoming matches. My machine ran great. It’s a mechanical sport. That should work too.”
‘Not 100 percent in control’
Romano Hummel, the man from Hoogkerk, is usually unbeatable at Dutch competitions. He wasn’t too concerned about his loss. His start has been a bit less sharp than usual for the Groninger lately. That has its causes. ,,I started less well than usual. I’m not 100 percent in control at the moment due to private matters. That takes some time. In addition, I have become a different person as a father of two small children, whom I have to feed. I’d rather go home with a second place here than fly over the head. I’m taking less risk now.”
Jannick de Jong could live with his third place. He took on too much hay some time ago, after his pregnant wife was plagued by nausea. The Frisian therefore had to take over the care of the family and could hardly train. But now things are fine again,” he said. The Dane Jakob Bukhave and William Kruit from Emmer-Compascuum finished fourth and fifth respectively.
‘Everything was right in the final’
The Whitsun races of the organizing Mac Stadskanaal at Sportpark Noord were held under much better weather conditions than last year when they were stopped prematurely by frequent rainfall. The sidecars in particular suffered a lot from the flooding at the time. Now they went around without a penny of pain. The sidecar final was dominated by the strong English duo of Josh Goodwin and Liam Brown. They referred the German/Dutch sidecar of Markus Brandhofer and Sandra Mollema to second place.
They were still quite happy with the silver, because they had largely experienced a disappointing afternoon before. For example, Brandhofer and Mollema were first plagued by mechanical breakdown, after which they were also disqualified in another race because they crossed the inside line. Via the B-final, the duo still made it to the A-final, in which it finished second. ,,In the final we had to do it and everything was right”, said the baker from Delfzijl. “We had a good start and the engine was running well. The track was great too. Then you can really get going. We didn’t start well, but then it still ends well. I am absolutely satisfied here. That’s what you do it for. I am very happy.”
Roy Pasveer from Steggerda was the strongest in the national specials, while the great youthful talent Jelmar Naessens from Tietjerk dominated the 250cc as a substitute.