Big Ken's come back!

After finishing last season on highest of highs, with his third overall in the FIM Motocross World Championship and winning the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations for his nation, Belgium, Ken De Dycker (known to his fans as Keno) knuckled down with 100% belief that if he worked hard in the winter, season 2014 could be his best yet.

While all was running smoothly, the big Belgian’s progress soon came to halt when a freak accident while training in Lommel sidelined him with a gnarly break in his wrist. After months of visits to doctors, surgeons, physiotherapists and more doctors he was finally given the OK to ride which was once again short lived when the pulleys on his elevator at home broke with him on top, crashing to the floor and breaking his foot.

Initially, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider was not signed in to ride here in Valkenswaard (The Netherlands) for round six of the FIM Motocross World Championship, and it was unknown until 06:30 this morning when his mechanic was seen pushing his bike through technical control. Upon hearing the news that the big number nine will be out on the track, we caught up with him to get the scoop on what has inspired him to line up sooner than expected.

Can you tell me about the accident that happened late last year?

Yeah, it was December 21 and there was one guy behind a jump and he was just getting on his bike. I came over the jump and landed luckily on his bike and not on him, so that is what happened which broke my wrist.

Was it one of those crashes when you knew right away something was broken?

Yeah I stood up and walked over to my bike, and then I had a bad taste in my mouth so I knew it wasn’t good.

Oh man, you must have been guttered...

Yeah sure I was guttered but more because I didn’t expect it to take so long, because normally if you have a normal broken wrist it’s like one month or something and then you can ride again, but now for me it’s like already four months or something so it took a lot longer than expected.

After MXoN last year you must have been pumped for season 2014 to get underway, what were you aiming for before this setback?

Yeah, top three was for sure the goal. Last year I finished third in the championship, so this year I wanted to be better and I knew that if I trained hard during the winter it would be possible.

I can’t believe you broke your foot in an elevator accident. How is that for bad luck!

Yeah that was really unlucky, but maybe it was actually for the better because the day before, I had just started riding and already after three or four laps I couldn’t hold on any more because of the pain in my wrist. So maybe it was good to have that extra time to allow my hand to heal a little more.

Rumor has it, you got geared up for our photoshoot (with MXGP.com) yesterday and said, “Oh I am in my gear, I am on my bike, I feel good, I want to ride”…

Yeah we had to do the photoshoot, so I was in my gear, with my boots on and everything, so I came back to the tent and jumped on my bike and I felt like I could bend my ankle and brake OK, so I felt like it was possible to ride. I asked my team and they said yes if you think you can ride, you can ride! So then I went somewhere to ride in the evening and I did a few laps. My ankle felt OK, but the power of my hand is still not 100% but I think the only way it can get stronger is just by riding.

Your fans are going to be so pumped you are lining up today! Do you feel somewhat ready?

No I don’t feel ready, like last Thursday I had an injection in my hand in a nerve so that is still healing, but I think that it is good enough to start. I haven’t done much training, especially with the bike, like since 21 December but I think it’s good to ride and I think my hand can only get better from riding.

What are your expectations?

I don't know, I just want to go riding and I think that’s the best for me, just to be here, for sure also for the team and the fans and the sponsors. I was already really bummed this week because last week the doctor said “yeah you can go riding” and then I saw him again and he said “no maybe you should wait” so now I feel a little bit nervous that I will damage it more, but I want to ride (smiles).

So now obviously you can’t get the result you wanted to have at the end of the season, so it’s back to the drawing board. What are your goals?

I think I have to see it ride by ride because like I said my hand is not 100% and neither is my fitness so now I just have to ride and then ride like two or three times during the week and see. In this sport you never know what can happen.

PHOTO CREDIT: KTM