Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Francisco Garcia rounded out the European EMX250 Motocross Championship season with his third overall victory of the campaign to confirm the series bronze medal.
Bubbling with confidence after his overwhelming victory in the first moto of the weekend at Afyonkarahisar in Turkey on Saturday the Spanish teenager again rode a tight line through turn one to emerge second and was content to shadow the leader for twenty minutes before sweeping past under the eyes of the Bud Racing pit crew on lap ten of fourteen. Sprinting clear with a series of fastest laps he completed his perfect weekend with a conclusive victory, his eighth moto success and third overall win of the season. His personal consistency and the reliable quality performance of the Bud Racing Kawasaki KX250 were underlined by the fact that he collected eight podiums – five in succession in the final five rounds – through the thirteen-round series. His efforts deservedly earnt the FIM series bronze medal, an astounding one-hundred-and-sixty-one points clear of fourth and just six points shy of silver.
Francisco Garcia: “Reisulis was pushing hard at the start of the race today and I didn’t want to eat his roost so I was content to sit back from his rear wheel and then come back to take the lead after twenty minutes. I feel on top of the world to finish my first complete EMX season with a 1-1. I have been really happy with my last few races and my family was here this weekend to celebrate with me. Now we fly back to France and I will ride a 450 in preparation for the Motocross of Nations. It was always my dream to ride for my country and I will work 200% for the next few weeks to be ready to give my absolute best !”
Bud teammate Jake Cannon also ended the season well with another strong ride through the pack to finish fourth in moto and over the weekend. The Australian teenager was pushed wide at turn one to emerge ninth but quickly gained two positions before getting stuck in a high-speed train for several laps as the leaders sprinted clear. He was finally able to make decisive passes to advance to fifth on lap eight and two laps later swept into fourth. Third was unfortunately too distant and, although he reduced the gap, he had to be satisfied with fourth at the chequered flag. His efforts confirmed eighth in his first FIM series in Europe.
Jake Cannon: “I was happy with my riding this weekend; just that incident yesterday spoilt my chances of the podium. I got stuck behind some other riders for too long during the first few laps today and that cost me the chance of top-three in the moto. Anyway, I learnt a lot from this season and I will come in stronger next season from the experience. I start supercross practice tomorrow and fly back home to Australia on October 1 for the supercross season.”
