David Van Boven >> Master Races Texel
BCH Races Texel
After winter break, my race season started the 21st and 22nd of April in the Netherlands. Every year, the Buggy Club Holland organises an event on the island of Texel. The last 2 events of this seasons’ competition, there was no wind. So it couldn’t get worse.
Together with my team mate Robert Smits, we started the journey in Belgium around 18:15 on a Friday evening, just making it in time (1 minute before leaving) to the ferry at 20:30. The need for our yearly beer was huge! After strengthening the inner human, we were ready for a wicked weekend!
Saturday morning: After passing 50 million sheep on the island (Robert said it were goats with dreadlocks), we arrived at the parking. Rain, rain and to top it off, more rain. The briefing was postponed to 13h. Around 13h, suddenly the horn for the briefing sounded. The sky cleared up and the rain got his ass whoop’ed and made place for the sun and wind! Let’s do it!
First race went quite well, took the 10m² Ozone Yakuza GT and after checking my gear (very important), I was ready. My start was very good and was placed 2nd at the first marker. The course was very technical with half wind parts, upwind and downwind. Together with 2 other racers, we got a comfortable lead from the pack and could fight the battle between us 3. None of us made big mistakes, so we kept our places till the finish. Right, 2nd place!! Whoop Whoop!
Second race, well what happens when I start into the pack from the other direction as the lone rider. The first group did not give me right of way and after hitting some kites I had to turn around and start almost as last. Grrr, adrenaline was pumping through my vains because of this. I took another racing line to what most other riders did and this resulted in an 8th place at the next marker. Looking for harder surface did the trick! 2 rounds later I was back in 3rd position of the 18 riders. I managed to hold this place till the finish. The Ozone Yakuza GT 8.3m² was unbelievably fast!
Sunday: The weather was similar to Saturday but a bit more wind. Nice, I like these conditions! I started the first race with the Yakuza GT 6.8m² and it seemed to be the right choice, even when the wind picked up, this kite has the advantage of the little depower with the brake lines. This was a comfortable race with a 2ndplace at the finish. With some nice battles in the race, was what made it even more fun for me!
The second and last race for the Master class, the wind picked up a bit. Loosening the brake lines on the upwind track and pulling them on the downwind track, resulted in speeds over 70 km/h! Still with my Yakuza GT 6.8m², well powered. Mark was using his 8.3m² and I could not understand how he could do that! Finishing in a 3rd place, I was in the top 3 of each master race in this weekend!
Ending the weekend with a 3rd place overall was great! Rens Van Lier and Joost Nieskens took the first and second place. Mark Van den Berg ended 5th place after getting tangled up with some peeps. Robert Smits wasn’t given right of way in some races, which is why he dropped in the pack and finished on his racing-number (H-13).
Kevin Van Gorp, our rider for The Netherlands just finished outside top 15. His starts were good but due some mistakes on the course he got sweeped back in the pack. This is a good start for the first race-weekend. Let’s hope we can continue this winning streak!
Good Winds!
Thanks to Joshua Koppes and Julian Hagedoorn for the pics!
David Van Boven - B1083
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