As fearless as he once was, his passion is so inexhaustible today: former motocross racer Pierre Karsmakers from Waalre has cult status in his branch of sport. He was even inducted into the famous American Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Pierre’s story will soon be featured in a documentary series on Omroep Brabant.
‘The Flying Dutchman’, as Karsmakers was called, won prize after prize in Europe decades ago. In the 1970s he took the courageous step to go to America. And with success: partly thanks to Karsmakers, the sport became ‘bigger across the great ditch’.
When they asked him for the documentary, Karsmakers nevertheless scratched his head, he explains on Sunday in radio sports program De Zuidtribune “I’m such an old guy, it’s strange that he still has to get attention,” the legend laughs .
“I was surprised that she still knew me.”
“But it is an honor. I have long stopped intensive motocross and Dakar. I am now 76. I lead an easy life at the moment. I was surprised that she still knew me. It’s all been so long.”
Through his contribution and achievements in this American dream Karsmakers acquired cult status. It even earned him a place in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2014. Yet the story of this sportsman is also a story about the transience of success and the vulnerability of an icon.
However, the love for the sport never faded. In fact, at 76 years old, Karsmakers still can’t get enough of the dirt bike. He still occasionally drives around in the woods.
“Sitting on that motorcycle, that remains really nice.”
“Usually abroad, in areas where it is allowed. There is too much walking here. I do it one day every week. Yes, sitting on that motorcycle, that is still really nice.”
That unbridled passion is now getting a documentary. ‘Pierre Karsmakers Lifecycle’ can be seen from March 2023 as a 9-part TV series on Omroep Brabant’s TV channel.
He K here the trailer of the documentary.