We decided to catch up with Stefan and ask him about his current project, The Art Of Motocross. A magazine that has some amazing images and interviews. At first Geukens will produce 4 issues in 2012. Make sure to check it out.

MXLarge: Stefan, can you give the readers a little background on you as a media guy in the sport of Motocross?

Geukens: Photography, what started as a hobby in 1992 became in a short time my fulltime job and gave me the possibility to meet with the most famous MX and SX riders in the world.  I worked as a photographer and PR manager for more than 8 years for ten-times World Champion Stefan Everts and the tobacco giant Philip Morris.  My job was to give the brand L&M a maximum of visibility in the specialized, lifestyle and television media.  Our tactic to reach our goals end the nineties was to be different and it was a success in the media and the business world.

MXlarge: Working with Stefan Everts in the 1990’s you always got the do some fun stuff for his sponsors. What was your most fun photo shoot (Brazil maybe??)?

 Geukens: My best memory is the photo shoot I did with Everts, Smets and Bervoets in Lapland (Finland). It was freezing -38°C. The photo sessions we did in the red Namibian sand dunes and the bright white sand of Cape Town are also imprinted on my mind.

MXlarge: The sport of Motocross has never been as well as it is now. What with video, e-magazines and so many websites, but in general print magazines in Europe seem to have lost track in many ways. With only really a handful promoting the sport with the passion needed. What can you magazine bring to the sport?

Geukens: This very innovative magazine will bring the people closer to their idols. It will be an enrichment for the MX/SX world and will bring the most beautiful sport in the world in a different way, as a lifestyle. For me every sport and its perception is a lifestyle. Sportsmen, the entourage and fans plan their year in function of their favourite sport. There is so much to tell with a different approach, that has never been used or nobody even thought about before.

I know Townley and his family since many years but the photo shoot I had the opportunity to do for the magazine still opened my eyes.

We show the sport in various aspects that have never or almost never been showed before. Lifestyle, backstage stories, action, travel, adventure, music, fashion,... etc.

MXlarge: What is your goal with the magazine?

Geukens: I think it is necessary to bring something new, different. The magazine “The Art of Motocross” doesn’t want to be yet another magazine with quick content pages. I don’t want to bring action pictures like we have already seen a hundred times. I want to bring the athlete in a different way and not in his traditional environment with in-depth interviews so that even insiders will be surprised. The main story “the person behind the athlete” will return in each issue and will include 16 to 22 pages. When you can bring a story in text and images with so many pages, you can bring the “real” story and you get to know the person behind the athlete.

We want to show the American and European MX/SX world in a way like it has never been shown before.

We also choose not to include too many publicity pages in the magazine. Adverts are very important to survive but we don’t want our readers to have to search for articles and images in between the publicity. A market research showed that many readers are annoyed by the overflow of publicity in most of the magazines. We want to take this in account. It is better for the reader and for the advertiser as he gets more exclusivity.

MXlarge: What magazines gave you the inspired you to try your own magazine?

Geukens: I’ve had the idea to bring a magazine since 17 years when I first saw the American magazine Inside Motocross. The magazine was edited only one year but the way these people brought the sport always fascinated me. I always cherished the magazines and hoped that one day I would be able to realise my dream. Davey Coombs and Jack Burnicle were the great inspirers of this beautiful item and they were far ahead of their time. Of course my vision to "The Art of Motocross" is adapted to the time and the interviews are more extensive

MXlarge: How will the magazine be distributed?

Geukens: The magazine is available in English at MX1/MX2 events in Europe. Initially people outside Belgium and the Netherlands, can order via the website www.theartofmotocross.eu. In Belgium the magazine is available in nearly all the newspaper shops. Eventually we want to start a cooperation with importers in different countries. Importers who are interested can contact us via info@theartofmotocross.eu

MXlarge: How do you see the sport now, through the eyes of a veteran photographer?

Geukens: The sport has evolved a lot the last 10 years. For me MX and SX is one of the most beautiful sports to watch and I think it will stay like this the rest of my life. Nowadays everything is much more professional and there are more rules to comply. However if you understand and respect the unwritten code and scene you can experience a lot of beautiful moments as a sports photographer and/or journalist.

MXlarge: Any information on where readers can get hold of your magazines?

Geukens: I hope a lot of people will support my idea and they will buy en masse this new printed magazine. The idea was there, the elaboration is done, and the magazine is available so now is up to the fans. The subscribers can pay with Paypal, Visa, Mastercard.... etc . Check the website  www.theartofmotocross.eu where you can find information about the events where we will be present with a sales and promo team . Especially the subscriptions will be important to the success and the survival of "The Art of Motocross".