Following a frustrating title defence year in 2024 which saw Marvin Vanluchene withdraw for health reasons, followed by a year out to recover, his equally frustrated passenger Nicolas Musset has announced his retirement from the sport for the foreseeable future. Citing family reasons, the popular Frenchman had a few outings with Thom van de Lagemaat and a one-off ride with Daniels Lielbardis to keep his hand in last season, but having already lifted the FIM Gold Medal on three occasions, feels he now needs to spend more time at home. This is to be understood and respected but left the returning Marvin Vanluchene with a problem.
That dilemma was short-lived however, with a replacement already announced in the shape of the enthusiastic young Belgian Robbe de Veene.
A regular in the paddock over recent seasons, Robbe teamed up with Davy Sanders for the Sidecarcross of Nations at the end of the 2025 season, having also ridden successfully with Thom van de Lagemaat and Gert van Werven to name just two other top runners.
The new challenge is almost certainly one he will be relishing as he lines up alongside the three times FIM Gold Medallist. All eyes will be on the new all-Belgian pairing to see how they fare together in what is effectively a come-back year for the former champion.
Testing is already underway, with new and old pairings breaking ground together, so the new season is rapidly approaching.
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From Barry Nutley
