[ad_1]
Revealed on 3 April 2023
Kevin Strijbos joined the Kawasaki Racing Crew MXGP fifteen months in the past to open a brand new chapter in his profession, passing on his expertise from 20 years racing the FIM Motocross World Championship to Romain Febvre.
After twenty years of success on the highest stage with quite a few GP victories, the Motocross of Nations title with Belgium and two silver medals within the MXGP World Championship a career-switch just isn’t at all times straightforward however for Kevin the subsequent step, to share his wealth of expertise with different riders, instantly offered itself.
“For me it was a straightforward transition; a couple of days earlier than I ended racing through the ultimate GP of 2021 at Mantova I had a gathering with Antti (KRT crew supervisor Antti Pyrhönen) and he made me a proposal to hitch KRT. Two days earlier than this assembly I used to be involved to cease racing as I had no actual plan, however abruptly I had suchg an incredible alternative! In truth all the things went so rapidly as we confronted a brief low season so I used to be instantly busy with no time to consider retiring and so forth. I even had the chance to nonetheless journey a motorbike often final 12 months so the transition was straightforward,” defined Kevin.
Racing for a number of producers and groups throughout his illustrious racing profession gave Kevin the chance to develop his insider data and enhance his coaching through the years. He knew precisely what he wanted to do to be a fierce competitor in his personal proper however sharing this expertise with others was a special proposition.
“For positive I now really feel extra comfy in my job because it’s my second season as coach, however all riders are totally different and that’s what I nonetheless must study a bit of. Generally I might do one thing a method, however Romain says ‘no, I wish to do it this manner’ so I’ve to consider it and perhaps discover a compromise or comply with his means. For me it’s not super-difficult; I wasn’t actually afraid of that as I’ve a lot expertise and did plenty of coaching for myself so it’s not fully new for me. I’m not the man who wants to vary his coaching and comply with what you possibly can see on the web or elsewhere, and I really feel that Romain is identical. We simply follow fundamentals,” defined Kevin, who’s now working completely with Romain. “Romain needed to have me with him full-time. That’s simpler for me too as I can focus solely on him; final 12 months I needed to comply with two guys and that was not at all times straightforward.”
Romain and Kevin instantly had an excellent feeling collectively final season.
“To be sincere I used to be initially a bit of apprehensive to work with Romain; I knew him as a rider however not as an individual. However as quickly as I had a gathering with him final 12 months I noticed that he was relaxed and approachable, and our working relationship instantly exceeded all expectations. The strongest level with Romain is that you simply don’t want to present him motivation; he’s such a tough employee and at all times needs to push and push. Generally my job is definitely to carry him again a bit of, to influence him that he must take his time slightly than to push him. It’s an essential 12 months for him; when he got here again final 12 months he confirmed what he’s able to and we have now had a very good winter. We did all of the coaching that was on our schedule, and he’s feeling match and prepared!” added Kevin, who’s now even busier than throughout his final seasons as a racer. “We spent one month on Sardinia, after which we travelled rather a lot as more often than not I’m with him. Generally I even really feel like I’m nonetheless a racer; I am going biking with Romain, go to the health club with him, the one distinction is that I don’t journey anymore. It’s a full-time job and I like it! After I stopped racing the plan was to spend extra time with my household, nevertheless it’s labored out a bit of totally different. After all the household helps me; we mentioned the long run even earlier than I ended racing they usually agree with all the things that has occurred. Now my son is racing himself and I attempt to spend a while with him too when he’s coaching and racing; my life nonetheless definitively revolves round motocross!”
Kevin has tailored properly to a brand new chapter in his profession and now feels fully au fait along with his new position; a improvement which will probably be useful to himself, his rider Romain Febvre and all the Kawasaki Racing Crew MXGP.
Phrases: Press Launch
Picture: KRT
[ad_2]