Photography By Jean Turner
During the winter, it’s pretty common for MXGP racers to head south for the winter to Spain for some off-season riding. But the training in Spain can get pretty plain… according to Rockstar Suzuki’s Kevin Strijbos. The seasoned MX1 racer, who came to the US for select Pro Motocross Nationals in 2013, was glad to find himself with the opportunity to ride and train in Southern California during the off-season. The Belgian happily journeyed to Temecula just after Christmas with his Rockstar Suzuki RM-Z450 to do some winter training in an all-new setting.
Only hours after his arrival in the States, Strijbos was ripping around Cahuilla Creek Motocross on his #22 Suzuki, leaving locals to wonder if Chad Reed had made the switch to yellow. We caught up with Strijbos between motos to hear a little about what he is going to be doing during his one-month stay, whether or not he is planning to race any Nationals in 2015 and what he thinks of Ryan Villopoto making his debut in the FIM Motocross World Championship this season.
How long will you be here riding and training?
We came here on (December) 27th and we leave the 22nd of January. It’s always better here than in Belgium because when we left it was like 10cm of snow. So yeah, it was good that we left. Normally we always go to Spain (for the winter), but we go there every year; it’s getting kind of boring. We got a good opportunity to go here so we took it. I’m happy to be here. Today is my first day on the bike again in four weeks so taking a little bit easy and will try to build it up for the four weeks that we’re here.
Did you get help from Suzuki and Rockstar to be here?
Yeah, they helped us. It’s really cool, you know, I was here 2013 to do some Nationals and I really enjoyed it so I definitely wanted to come back. So when the news came that there was something possible, I immediately said yes. It’s always something different.
When you take European guys to American guys, I think we still look up to them – that’s how I feel. So it’s always cool to come here. It’s something completely new so it’s good.
It seems like the line with Americans and Europeans is fairly even these days.
Yeah, sure, maybe with riding this, but with everything around here – tracks and the people… In Belgium we have only maybe three tracks and that’s it. There’s like 100 people on the track. It’s always kind of busy. It’s just better here than in Europe.
Where are you staying?
We’re staying with a Dutch guy. He bought a house in Temecula and that’s where we stay for the four weeks. It’s really good that we have the house there and we can prepare our own food – we don’ t have to go every time out for dinner. That’s really good.
You’re in KTM country.
[laughs] Yeah! I saw that. But it’s just good. I made some friends while I was here last year so I can go see them also during the evening.
Is this your first time at Cahuilla?
Yes, first time.
How do you like it?
It’s good. I like the jumps everything. The track is quite fast but it’s good. Last time we went only to Milestone, Glen Helen, and Pala. But it’s good. It’s nice to get some different tracks. This time we’re (also) going to go to Competitive Edge, Lake Elsinore, Pala maybe when it’s open, maybe Starwest.
How does the dirt here compare to the tracks in Belgium?
It’s quite hard for us. It’s not hard, but for sure it’s not sandy. We have Lomel and for sure it’s a lot more sand. But it’s good to have some tracks like this to get a little bit of grip. For us it’s pretty good.
Are you going to race some AMA Pro Motocross nationals in 2015?
When it’s possible I would like to. But we have a lot of overseas GPs also and not so much time. But if it fits I really want to do a few more.
This year with Ryan Villopoto going to Europe, there is likely to be a lot more American interest in the World Motocross Championship. How do you think he’ll do?
I think he’s going to do good. I think it’s really awesome that he is taking the chance to come ride with us; we always normally have to go (to the AMA Nationals) and nobody comes to us. So it’s really nice from him and sure he’s going to do good. He’s definitely going to have wins and podiums. He’s fast everywhere. So now it’s up to us to try hard and beat him.
