Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Mathis Valin maintained his points lead in the FIM European EMX250 Championship with a fifth place despite a mid-race fall in the first moto of the German round at Teutschenthal.
The French teenager swept through turn one seventh but was quickly up to fourth at the completion of the first full lap as all of the series top-guns distanced the pack. A clever line-choice on lap four saw him sweep around his closest championship rival for third and he immediately sprinted clear with his sights set on second. A simple error accelerating out of a slippery turn cost him two positions on lap six and he was content to retain fifth to the chequered flag after a cloud-burst demanded caution. He continues to head the series points-standings by fifteen points.
Mathis Valin: “It was not an easy day, but overall not so bad! I showed good speed in the timed practice, but my start was not so good as I slid on the metal plate and had to pull in the clutch. I made some quick moves to be fourth after a few corners and then I passed Valk, who is one of the strongest guy in the class, for third so that was positive; but then I made a small mistake and crashed. I was fifth when I got up but the crash cost me my rhythm so I was content to keep this position until the end and save good points for the championship. »
Benjamin Garib joined his Bud teammate in the top-ten off the start to finish ninth, thus equalling his best result of the season to date.
Benjamin Garib: “My starts have been costing me this year so we’ve been working on that and I finally got a top-ten start again today. I rode a solid race – no crashes – and I maintained my pace to stay on two wheels when the rain came to finish ninth. Everything was positive, and I enjoyed it, so we can keep on building from here.”
Bike It Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team’s Billy Askew withdrew from the event after breaking a finger during free training.
