Belgium’s Jens Getteman has raced the German motocross nationals and the ADAC MX Masters in Germany since early childhood and has been a big name on that scene for at least the past two years.
He joined the Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil in 2017 and he is now set to race a Kawasaki KX450F in New Zealand.
The just-crowned German motocross champion will line up at the annual Honda-sponsored Whakatane Summercross on December 28-29, up against the likes of Mount Maunganui’s perennial favourite Cody Cooper (Honda CRF450), Hamilton’s Kayne Lamont (Yamaha YZ450F), Taupo’s Brad Groombridge (Suzuki RM-Z450), Tauranga’s Roydon White (Kawasaki KX450F) and Taupo’s Hadleigh Knight (Honda CRF450), to name a few.
In recent years, Getteman has won several titles in the German Motocross Championships.
He won the German open class title this year, but, so far, the higher-profiled ADAC Masters title has eluded him, even though he has twice finished the season on the championship podium.
His stand-out results in the ADAC Masters MX Champs this year included him winning the first of seven rounds in the series with a 1-8 score-card; finishing runner-up at round three with a 1-3 score-card and runner-up again at round four with a 2-2 score-card for the weekend.
At the age of 25, Getteman feels that he has established himself in the sport.
He finished third overall in the 2018 ADAC MX Masters, having been runner-up in 2017, so better things were always expected of him for 2019, but, in the end, he had to settle for fourth overall, behind German rider Dennis Ullrich (a multi-time Motocross of Nations team rider for Germany), Austria’s Pascal Rauchenecker and Estonian GP star Tanel Leok.
GP regulars Jeremy Seewer, Jeffery Herlings, Valentin Guillod, Pauls Jonass, Kevin Strijbos, Henry Jacobi and Calvin Vlaanderen also dipped in and out of the ADAC Masters MX Champs this year, making it one of the toughest domestic competitions in Europe
“So far, there have always been a few small hitches or injuries that have impeded my progress,” Getteman said.
“In my younger years, I raced against Max Anstie, Jeffrey Herlings and all the top guys. Up to that point, everything had gone really well, but then I went through a difficult patch with a lot of injuries. I tried hard, but not everyone can make it to the top in the World Championships.
“When I look at where I am today, I’m more than satisfied. I work hard and do everything I can to win races and championships. All the same, my life is now much more pleasant, because during my time in the World Championships, I felt I was under almost inhuman pressure.
“Now, I’m the one applying my own pressure, and I’m coping with it well. I feel really strong and competitive, and as far as I’m concerned, things can carry on like this for many more years to come. As long as my body allows, I’ll continue to enjoy my time racing in Germany and in the ADAC MX Masters.”
He comes to New Zealand during his European off-season, but should still be a force to be reckoned with at Summercross.
© Words by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
Photo courtesy Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here