Three weeks ago, Brian Bogers was ready to retire from racing Grand Prix motocross. Having originally organized a team for 2024 and then finding out the team was closing shop due to a major sponsor pulling out of the team, Bogers was left with no team for this year and desperate to find one.
Bogers started working for a friend’s building business and just as he had done in his racing career, the sand specialist was ready to work hard and get on with his life, rather than sulk over his terrible situation.
“A few weeks ago,” Bogers said. “I was working for a friend in construction. I didn’t have a lot of schooling, but I know how to work hard. It was a friend and he helped me, because I also needed to train, and he allowed that. I have never had trouble with hard work, so it wasn’t too bad. I always worked hard, my whole life. I also don’t care about working hard, physical training or working for a boss.”
The veteran Dutchman did find a local Dutch team to support him racing part time in the Netherlands, but poor results for that team cost Bogers a lot of stress and he thought seriously about retirement. A change of luck though as fellow Dutchman, Louis Vosters from the Fantic factory team went looking for a rider for this season, after having trouble with his original rider.
“I was riding for a Dutch team, and they helped me really good, but I had to do everything myself. I went training with my own van, cleaning the bike with my dad. It was a really tough time, and I was also working during the week, because I also have bills to pay. So, for sure, this wasn’t easy. At one moment, I did a race, and it went so bad, that I thought, it is maybe better to stop with it. I was actually at this point (about retiring) and then I got a call from Louis (Vosters). I am more motivated than ever and maybe the results won’t come in the first few races as I have to build my fitness. You will see how motivated I am after that, because I really want this to work well.”
In a huge surprise to Bogers, he lined up last weekend at the Grand Prix of Sardegna and with scores of 8-11 and ninth overall, the man from The Netherlands, made good of the confidence Vosters had in him, and while the Riola circuit was the perfect return for a sand specialist, it wasn’t that easy with the little preparation Bogers had for his first GP back in 2024.
“I am quite surprised with my performance. Yes, I am a sand rider, but you also need to be fit for these kind of tracks – and just coming in I am normally not fit enough. I was still in the top 10 in five out of six sessions, I also can’t complain about a top 10 overall in my first GP back. I am very lucky guy to get this opportunity and I am very happy with the performance I have shown already this weekend. The bike feels already amazing, that is a really big advantage. We can only go upwards from here and it will be interesting to see what we can do when I am 100% fit.”
Bogers will now head to Trentino, also in Italy, for a Grand Prix that should make his life a little easier. The hard pack and with a GP already under his belt, Bogers has a real shot at finishing top five, a result he has often been able to achieve in the past.
Photo Credit : Fantic
Author: Geoff Meyer
