DRT Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers, brimming with confidence after signing a new contract for 2027 during the week, bounced back from a frustrating Qualifying on Saturday to record a career-best fifth overall in the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship courtesy of 8-5 moto finishes at Afyonkarahisar in Turkey.
Railing the outside of turn one in the first moto he emerged eighth and made quick passes to move forward to fifth before a fall pushed him temporarily back to ninth. He responded by regaining eighth and was challenging for seventh but a loose, flapping side-plate from the earlier slip eventually forced him to accept eighth at the chequered flag. A resolute move, diving inside the pack at turn two, at the start of the second moto was the basis for the Dutch youngster’s best-ever GP performance as he emerged from the turn seventh and by the completion of the first lap he had advanced even further to sixth. In inspired form he made another pass on lap two for fifth and set his sights on one of the title-chasers in fourth, staying in the wheeltracks for half the race until he began to feel armpump in the stifling heat at altitude. Regrouping at the twenty-five minute stage he again dropped his lap times to secure a career-best GP moto result in fifth, which also brought the same scoreline overall. The twenty-nine championship points also secured eleventh in the series standings and he now needs just thirty-five points from the final two rounds to earn a top-ten series ranking at the end of the campaign.
Kay Karssemakers: “Finally two good motos on one day! It’s not easy to stay focused after a few setbacks but I’m not one to give up. I’m fit and I knew I can be up there if I get the starts. I have the speed and I got two pretty good starts today. In the first moto I had a little crash as I tried to pass Mikula which cost me a few places but I felt even better in race two and could push quickly from seventh to fifth; I got a little armpump in the middle of the moto but I picked it up again at the end. Two solid motos today, now I’m looking forward to China.”
Steve Dixon (DRT team manager): “We’ve been riding with a standard bike all year so it’s been tough against the factory competition. That was our budget this year and it’s pretty amazing what we have achieved on a standard bike; our aim was to be top-ten and then carry the roll on into 2027.”
The Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki duo of Francisco Garcia and Jake Cannon rounded out their successful European EMX250 Motocross Championship campaign with a perfect 1-2 in both motos as Kawasaki were confirmed as Manufacturers’ world champion with nine wins – seven for Garcia and two for Cannon – from twelve events. Garcia had already clinched the individual title at the penultimate round two weeks previously and Cannon confirmed the series bronze medal in the first moto on Saturday before clinching his fifth podium of the year.
The Spaniard, who will join the Kawasaki Racing Team in the World MX2 Championship next year, swept majestically to the front at turn two of this weekend’s second moto and the Australian moved into second through the following combination as the Bud duo opened up a five-second advantage over their chasers already by the end of the first lap. Each riding immaculately they maintained their dominant role to the chequered flag as Garcia swept to his seventeenth moto success from twenty-two starts to lift the trophy as overall winner for the seventh time with a 1-1 weekend from eleven events with Cannon second in the event, the Australian having already secured third in the series final standings the previous day.
Francisco Garcia: “For sure I was the best in the EMX class this year. I had already made sure of the title but I wanted to end the campaign like a true champion with another win this weekend. The season was not easy and now it’s over I can talk about my injury. One week before Lommel I broke a vertebrae in my neck; I went to Sweden a month later with no training and Arnhem was so difficult for me in the sand. It was tough but I like to fight. This weekend was so emotional to round out two amazing years with everyone at Bud Kawasaki – all of the team staff and also my teammate who is a really good guy. I have one more race with the team so I want to enjoy that too before I move to the next step of my career in the MX2 world championship with KRT.”
Jake Cannon: “This was my second year in the class and I can be happy with my progress. I was really strong during the first half of the season before my sand skills let me down a little but I came back strongly this weekend. My start wasn’t quite so good today but I rode some really good first few corners on the first lap. I would have liked to end the season with a moto win but it was so difficult to make the difference to get onto Francisco’s rear wheel. I’m happy with my efforts all year; I gave it my all and can now look forward to going for the title next year.”
