After a promising start to the MX2 World Championship, Van Venrooy travelled to Sardinia in high sprits for round four in very demanding conditions at the brutal Riola Sardo circuit. It was also the opening round of the WMX series which saw Lynn Valk kick her season off.
MX2:
Cas Valk has been a picture of consistency in the opening rounds of the MX2 World Championship, securing sixth overall at each of the first three GPs. Heading into the deep sand of Riola Sardo – a surface that typically suits his style – Valk was hoping to take another step forward. However, his weekend was complicated by an illness picked up before the event, making for a tough couple of motos.
In race one, Valk was dealt a poor start with only a few riders behind him, but he dug deep and worked his way through the pack. He eventually crossed the line in eighth, just behind fellow Dutchman Rick Elzinga, but despite applying pressure late on, he couldn’t quite make a move stick. Still, it was a solid effort under the circumstances.
The second moto got off to a much more promising start, as Valk rocketed out of the gate and ran third on the opening lap. Mixing it up at the front was a valuable experience and another step forward in his development, but as the race wore on, the effects of his illness likely took their toll. He faded back to 11th by the chequered flag, rounding out a gritty and determined performance in brutal conditions to take 9th overall.
Despite not getting the results he’d hoped for, Valk showed plenty of fight and determination in Riola – qualities that will serve him well as the season continues.
Cas Valk (9th overall): It was a tough weekend for me in Sardinia, getting sick just before the weekend and struggled with it the whole weekend. I showed some good things but unfortunately I had no energy left to finish strong, let’s recover now and see you in Arco!
WMX:
In the first moto, Valk didn’t get the best of starts, but she wasted no time slicing through the pack. She settled into fourth place early on and maintained a strong pace throughout the race. In the closing laps, Valk made a decisive move on Shana van der Vlist, and with Daniela Guillen crashing out of second, Valk capitalised to finish runner-up – a strong start to her campaign.
Race two saw Valk rocket out of the gate to grab the holeshot, looking smooth and confident as she opened up a gap at the front. Unfortunately, a costly mistake saw her lose ground, but she regrouped well and salvaged a third-place finish. That was enough to secure third overall on the day.
While Valk didn’t quite hit the top step of the podium, her pace was clear to see. With a solid foundation laid, she’ll be aiming to build momentum as the season progresses.
Lynn Valk (3rd overall): It was a solid weekend and good start of the season. I am very bummed about my mistake in the second moto but i fought hard to get back to 3rd for a podium overall. I’m happy about my riding and I know I can fight for the win so i am looking forward to the next round.
The team now head to Arco di Trento for round five of the MX2 World Championship this weekend.
Photocredits – Juan Pablo Acevedo
