Before heading overseas, the FIM Motocross World Championship stopped in Arnhem, the Netherlands, where the sandy Motorsportpark Gelderland Midden presented riders with some of the toughest conditions of the season. The deep and technical track was made even more challenging by several days of rain. The final European round of this year’s championship turned into an unfortunate weekend for Osička MX Team. Julius Mikula did not line up for Race 2 after a crash in Race 1, while Václav Janout contested the second EMX250 race despite a painful injury.
Mikula once again fought for the TOP 10, but a crash three laps from the finish changed everything
Julius Mikula entered Saturday’s qualifying race from 12th place in Time Practice, which was certainly not the result the Czech rider had been hoping for. After the start, he moved into tenth position in the first left-hand corner and remained there for most of the race. Around ten minutes before the finish, Mikula moved up to ninth ahead of home rider Kay Karssemakers. With a large gap to the rider ahead and a comfortable advantage over the riders behind, he had little opportunity to fight for any further positions. He eventually crossed the finish line ninth in the qualifying race.
In Sunday’s Race 1, however, Mikula made a significantly better start. After a great launch from the gate, he immediately battled for third place with Guillemen Farres in the opening lap. Farres eventually came out on top of the battle, with Mikula continuing in fourth. Just one second behind him were Valerio Lata and Janis Reisulis, while Simon Längenfelder, Liam Everts and Karlis Reisulis were also quickly closing in from behind.
Lata subsequently moved ahead of Mikula, but the Czech rider put up a great fight with Janis Reisulis and refused to give his rival a single metre. Eventually, Everts, Längenfelder and K. Reisulis also moved ahead of him. On lap six, Mikula was therefore running ninth, with an advantage of around 20 seconds over the rider in tenth.
In the extremely demanding conditions, Mikula was on course for a solid ninth-place finish. Three laps from the finish, however, he went off the track and crashed. Thanks to his large advantage, Mikula was able to rejoin the race, but he injured his hand in the crash. He eventually crossed the finish line in 12th place.
After the race, he headed to the Medical Centre, where he underwent an examination. Following consultation with the doctors, he decided not to line up for Race 2.
“It wasn’t the weekend I would have imagined. I had a big crash in Race 1, slightly injured my hand and was not cleared to race by the doctors at the Medical Centre. Now it’s time to recover. See you in Turkey!” Mikula said, reflecting on the Grand Prix in Arnhem.
In the championship standings, tenth-placed Julius Mikula currently has 352 points, exactly the same number as ninth-placed Mathis Valin.
Janout lined up for Race 2 despite painful injuries
A large field of riders once again competed in the EMX250 class in Arnhem, with Václav Janout of Osička MX Team among them. The South Bohemian rider has been gradually improving his pace in recent rounds, and he continued that progress in Arnhem. With the 13th-fastest time in his qualifying group, he comfortably secured his place in the races.
The first EMX250 race traditionally took place on Saturday afternoon. For Janout, however, it ended almost immediately after the start. Contact in the opening metres resulted in a crash, with another rider’s motorcycle landing on the Czech rider. Before he could free himself from underneath the bike, he suffered a severe exhaust burn on his back as well as a long and deep wound in the lower back area caused by a footpeg.
After receiving treatment at the Medical Centre, Janout nevertheless decided to line up for the second race on Sunday morning despite his painful injuries. He made a good start, but in the first corner he was squeezed by the other riders and dropped back towards the rear of the field. Despite the considerable pain, he fought his way through the field and managed to gain around ten positions. He eventually crossed the finish line in 27th place.
“A solid qualifying session and 13th place in my group. The first race ended for me immediately after the start when contact led to a crash, in which I burned my back and took a hard hit from a footpeg to my lower back. Despite the pain, I lined up for the second race. My start from the gate was good, but I got squeezed in the first corner and had to fight my way back from the rear. In the end, I finished 27th. Now it’s time to rest and recover,” Janout said, wrapping up his race weekend.
MXGP series continues outside Europe
Arnhem marked the end of the European part of this year’s championship. The riders now have a free weekend ahead of them, but an intense season finale will follow. After the break, the MXGP paddock will move to Turkey, followed a week later by China, before the entire championship heads directly to Australia.
Photocredt: Daniele Barreca
