Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Mathis Valin took over the red plate of the series leader in the FIM European EMX250 Championship after completing his dominant weekend at St Jean d’Angely in his native France with a second moto win and his maiden overall victory in the class.
The French teenager, a class rookie this year after stepping up from the 125cc class, was in magnificent form all weekend, confirming his talent as he controlled both motos under fluctuating climatic conditions. Saturday’s first moto had run in sticky conditions as a rainstorm blew in from the Atlantic, while brilliant sunshine blessed the facility on Sunday morning for race two. The track, saturated by Saturday’s downpour, was still heavy and demanding but nothing could distract Valin from the task at hand. Second through turn one he dived past for the lead already on the second long downhill and, displaying immaculate bike-control and mature race-skills beyond his tender years aboard the incomparable KX250, he controlled the race from the front. Gradually easing clear of his closest chaser he built a five-second buffer within a few laps and, responding to the happenings in his wake, cleverly maintained that advantage to claim his first EMX250 career overall win in the class with a perfect weekend. He also claimed the the red plate of the championship leader and takes a twenty-three-point advantage over second to the next round. Kawasaki now also leads the FIM Manufacturers’ Championship.
Mathis Valin: “A perfect weekend here in France with two moto wins! It was amazing today, and I didn’t feel any pressure; it was just a GP like any other even if I felt the crowd behind me; there was more public than yesterday and it was cool to race with this support. I got a good start and could quickly pass for the lead and control the race from the front. I am so happy and enjoyed every minute. If someone had told me at the beginning of the season that I would hold the red plate this year I’m not sure I would have believed them as there are some strong guys with a lot of experience in this championship, but it’s cool to get the red plate and now I will try to keep it until the end of the season.”
A single error on the second lap proved costly for Bud teammate Benjamin Garib. The Chilean had gated thirteenth but, looking to advance quickly, slipped off on the greasy surface and remounted way back in thirtieth position. Posting similar lap times to the top-six he narrowly missed the points by one position and is now twenty-third in the series points-standings.
Bike It Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team’s Billy Askew confirmed that he is settling down admirably in his rookie season as he claimed eighth overall with another excellent performance. The English teenager moved forward tenaciously from an initial eleventh to take over eighth in the moto four laps from the end before slipping off in the last sector of the final lap to surrender two positions. He has now advanced to thirteenth in the series standings.
