Tonight the second edition of the E-MX of Champions took place at the circuit of Zolder in Belgium. Speed, action and fury without the noise, Standing Construct KTM’s MX2 star Valentin Guillod stole the show defeating a star studded line-up to be crowned the 2014 E-MX champion.
Mixing motocross, BMX and technology, the circuit of Zolder formed this event in effort to support Belgium’s ‘Clean Week’. The E-MX race saw the likes of the ten-time FIM Motocross World Champion Stefan Everts line up on KTM’s latest evolutionary project the Freeride E against the likes of MX2 young guns Valentin Guillod, Jordi Tixier and Damon Graulus. Belgium’s national heroes Yentl Martens, Marvin Vandaele, Greg Smets and David Cools also showed up, enthusiastic to give the new bikes a whirl.
After a series of qualifying heats which saw both Jordi Tixier and Valentin Guillod come away with heat wins, it was on to the final where in dead silence, the five-second board went up and the gates dropped with a thump. With a strange yet fascinating buzzing sound, Valentin Guillod took the holeshot with Jordi Tixier following in a close second. While the sound of knobbly tires skidding along the clay surface of Zolder sliced through the cool night air, the defending champ Stefan Everts, who had hit the deck and tangled with other riders a number of times, was forced to fight his way forward from last, which proved to be tough given the race was a very short and fast.
Meanwhile looking elegant and stylish up front, Guillod used his mega talent to take the ‘final’ win ahead of MX2 rival Jordi Tixier in second. Local speedster Daan Bruijsten rounded out the top three, with the event’s mystery rider ‘the stig’ coming home in fourth. Last years’ champion Stefan Everts was engaged in a constant war with the ground and other riders and only managed to get back to sixth behind freestyler Gilles Dejong.
As for the FMX4ever freestyle rider Gilles Dejong, he gave the event an extra buzz when he amazingly backflipped his KTM Freeride E.
With the setting of the sun, the public enjoyed a typical Belgian “friet” (French fries) and gathered around the podium in appreciation for the boys that showed up to contribute to clean week. All in all, the night was a special experience with potential to escalate in to something fun, fresh and cool in the future.
Thanks to the support of Circuit Zolder, KTM, FIM, and the BMB the event was another success and something to be looked forward to next year.