Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre qualified third for the Swedish round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at Uddevalla.
The Frenchman showed superb reactions at the gate in the Qualifying race but found himself fourth through the first turn. He moved into third halfway round the opening lap and spent the rest of the race in a high-speed chase as the top-three in the world led the way. The trio inevitably had a similar pace and there was little opportunity to pass on the slick surface as the trio held station to the chequered flag. The eight championship points for third have further consolidated his second position in the series standings.
Romain Febvre: “I had a good jump out of the gate; I was not quite in front at the first turn but I turned tight and was third by the end of the first lap. We were close in the first three and all had a good pace. I was close to Gajser but the track was much harder than in previous years and really slippery so we were all making small mistakes. Hopefully I can start well tomorrow and we can find a way to pass.”
Having returned to racing the previous weekend with top-six results in a prestigious Belgian invitational event KRT teammate Pauls Jonass made a solid return to GP action. Sixth in Timed Practice, just a fraction behind Febvre, he shot through turn one fifth in Qualifying and held the position comfortably until a slip on lap six cost him one placing. He quickly regained his composure to retain sixth to the finish.
Pauls Jonass: “The track was really tricky in the morning after they ripped it so there was grip on top and slick underneath. We stayed with the scoop tyre for the start but it was tricky on some parts of the track and I lost the front wheel in a slick corner mid-race. That was a pity as I took a decent start and think fifth was possible if I hadn’t crashed. Anyway I scored some good points and am ready for more tomorrow.”
DRT Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers raced to a career-best sixth in Qualifying for the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship. The Dutch youngster didn’t get the best of starts but rode a superb tight line through turn one to emerge seventh and, ever growing in confidence, he surged into sixth on lap three and commanded that position to the finish with a series of solid laps.
Kay Karssemakers: “The track is pretty slippery in some places but I enjoyed it, felt good all day and was happy with my riding. The start was not so good but I made some really good passes in the first turn and on the first lap. P6 is my best result of the season so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
European EMX250 Motocross Championship series leader Francisco Garcia of Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki made an emphatic return to action, having missed the previous round as a precaution after suffering a leg injury during midweek training. Already in the morning he posted the fastest lap by one-and-a-half seconds in each practice session and used his pole position to good effect in the weekend’s first moto to holeshot and immediately establish a cushion of several seconds to the chasers. Despite one late error he took victory by three seconds for his fourteenth moto victory of the season from eighteen starts. He now heads the series by seventy-seven points with five motos remaining.
Francisco Garcia: “Fortunately the race was not too difficult. I was not yet really focused into race mood again after three weeks off the bike, but I fought hard and took another victory. A few days ago I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to race here, but after that win I’m sure I will feel more comfortable for race two tomorrow.”
Bud teammate Jake Cannon only missed fastest time by a tenth of a second in the other practice group but his race was soon wrecked after a decent start when he fell on the first lap and had to charge back through the pack. By lap five the Australian had advanced back to a points-scoring position and he eventually finished thirteenth to consolidate his third position in the series standings.
