Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Pauls Jonass finished third in Qualifying for the second round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Cozar in central Spain as simple errors on an unforgiving track cost each of his teammates.
Qualification day remained dry at Cozar but incessant rain for several days previously rendered the track unpredictable despite outstanding work by the track crew. The Latvian quickly established himself in fourth place in the Qualifying race and advanced to third on lap two. He surrendered that position one lap later but his patience and precision paid dividends when he regained third a couple of laps later as his over-exhuberant rival crashed off the side of the track. Jonass’ calm approach saw him close dramatically on second in the closing stages and augurs well for tomorrow’s longer GP motos.
Pauls Jonass: “I was really happy with my race; I got a decent start, didn’t make any mistakes and had a good feeling. Midway through the race I started to feel a little tight but I made the best of it and as the race went on I found my flow again. The track was really technical after all of the rain and it changed a lot through the day. The track crew did a really good job; you couldn’t compare the track from the morning to the afternoon.”
KRT teammate Romain Febvre, third-fastest in practice, looked menacing in fifth through the opening turns but he tipped over on the opening lap as his front wheel bogged in a deep rut when he tried to switch lines and the incident dropped him to eleventh. With the tacky clay surface and unpredictable ruts demanding caution the Frenchman had to be content with only regaining two positions before the chequered flag to finish ninth.
Romain Febvre: “The track was really difficult for everybody but I’m really enjoying the track and I felt great in both practices. I had an ok start but it was difficult to turn at the first corner and I came out fifth. I tried too hard to pass Pauls on the first lap so I could chase the leaders; I tried to changed a line at the last moment and it cost me. It was my mistake.”
Mathis Valin was a frustrated fifteenth in Qualifying for the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship. The Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 teenager dominated both muddy practice sessions in the morning and grabbed a clear holeshot after surprisingly choosing an outside gate for the twenty-minute-plus-two-laps Qualifying race. He immediately pulled clear of the chasers but shortly before the end of the opening lap he pushed the front wheel too hard on a slippery patch. He continued to show good pace after remounting nineteenth but paid the penalty for further small mistakes as he sought to pull back into the top-ten on the unpredictable surface.
Mathis Valin: “Today there were good things but also bad things! This morning I felt comfortable on the track and was fastest in the Free Practice, and did it again later in the Timed Practice. I got the holeshot in the Qualifying race; we have worked a lot on the starts this week and it is paying off! My first lap was good and I started to make a little gap, but on a jump I landed a little bit on the left side and as they had removed the mud it was slippery so I lost the front wheel. It was a mistake; I was under the bike and lost a lot of time to restart.”
Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Jake Cannon raced to a resounding second place in the opening moto of the season on his debut in the European EMX250 Motocross Championship. The Australian teenager showed maturity and tenacity in exacting track conditions after days of heavy rainfall had turned the clay-based surface into thick clinging mud. He emerged seventh from the initial sort-out at turn one and stayed calm and collected; avoiding mistakes as others faltered he gradually advanced up the leaderboard. By lap six of eleven he had taken over third and gradually closed down the leaders; unpertubed by a tricky moment as he could not avoid running into the back of the rider in second halfway round the final lap he regrouped to surge past on the next uphill for a fully-deserved second place at the chequered flag. Teammate Francisco Garcia, second-fastest in Timed Training, had moved forward from a fourth-placed start to second before he was eliminated on lap five.
Jake Cannon: “I’m over the moon with that race; it was more than I expected for my first race in EMX, particularly after I saw the track when I arrived this morning. It was just crazy for practice and I only managed four laps; I wasn’t sure how the day was going to go but I executed a good start in the race and rode smart. The first part of the race was a bit iffy and everyone was struggling with line-choice but I rode smart and consistent and came good at the end. I saw fourth trying to put a charge on me but I found some good lines and all of a sudden I was behind second and could pass him on the last lap.”
