Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Francisco Garcia stormed back from a poor start in the second moto to claim his sixth podium of the European EMX250 Motocross Championship campaign at Uddevalla in Sweden and consolidate third in the series standings.
The Spaniard, so dominant in the first moto on Saturday, got closed down on the approach to turn one at the start of Sunday’s second moto to find himself buried in seventeenth at the first timing split. He quickly moved into the top-ten halfway round the first full lap but the leaders had already escaped and his realistic aim was the overall podium. Within three laps this was accomplished as he moved past his teammate into sixth and another lap saw him advance to fourth before a small slip as the footrests dragged in a deep rut put him temporarily back to fifth. Rebounding in style and lapping faster than the leaders he pushed to the end, a decisive pass for third on the final lap securing second overall over the weekend with the same points-haul as the winner. With his main championship rivals also scoring heavily his hopes of advancing further up the standings are now fairly remote but, with just two rounds of the series remaining, he is now assured of at least the bronze medal as he is more than one hund.
Francisco Garcia: “My start was not so good but I rode a good race. Everyone says it is difficult to pass on this track but I proved that it is possible and passed a lot of guys to come back to third even after a little crash the first time I got to fourth. My speed was again good and I am strong in the sand so I am confident heading to Arnhem next weekend.”
Bud teammate Jake Cannon finally got the good start he needed as he powered out on turn one fifth but he surrendered three places halfway round the first lap as he was thrown off the side of the track after a big jump and needed time to settle back into his rhythm. Decisive moves during the second half of the race saw the Australian teenager regain fifth in moto on the final lap to also claim fifth overall on the weekend. He is now tied for eighth in the series standings.
Jake Cannon: “I’m frustrated with my first lap as I jumped off the side of the track after a good start. After ten minutes I started riding like myself again and came back to fifth for fifth overall; I just have to put it all together for a full moto.”
