VHR VRT Yamaha Official EMX250 team’s Janis Reisulis has delivered a perfect 1-1 result at round two of the EMX250 Championship to move into second in the series standings. Rounding out an exceptional weekend for Yamaha, MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team’s Mano Faure claimed an emotional maiden victory on home soil by charging to a career-first race win in Race One, before placing fourth in Race Two.
One week on from winning the opening race of the EMX250 season in Spain, Reisulis certainly brought his race-winning speed to Saint Jean d’Angely in France for round two. As the fastest rider after the times of both qualifying groups were combined, Reisulis headed to the line for Race One full of confidence.
On a perfectly prepared hillside track, the Latvian gated well in fifth in Race One, and with his blistering speed, he took over at the front of the field as the race entered its second lap. From there, Reisulis charged to an unchallenged victory for his second race win of the season.
Track conditions were a little more challenging for Race Two, after rain fell overnight, with Reisulis nearly falling from his GYTR-kitted YZ250F in the first turn. Able to save it and hold a tight inside line, the 16-year-old entered turn two in third before taking the lead by turn three. Once out front, Reisulis controlled the race just as he had in Race One to secure a stunning double victory and in doing so, moved into second in the championship standings. The 2025 EMX250 title race continues to be led by former YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup winner Adrien Petit, who placed second overall in France.
For Reisulis’ teammate Ivano van Erp, a sixth-place finish in the opening race marked a strong start to the weekend, although he missed out on points in Race Two. Placing eighth overall, van Erp maintains eighth in the series standings.
One week on from a challenging EMX125 round one in Spain, Faure was back to his best at round two. Spurred on by his passionate home crowd throughout the weekend, the young Frenchman gave them all something to shout about in Race One as he led the way aboard his GYTR-kitted YZ125. A small crash on lap nine dropped Faure to third before he put on a late-race charge to return to the front and build a winning margin of six seconds.
Heavy rain overnight created a technical race track for Race Two with Faure starting just inside the top 10. By the end of lap one, he was into third then moved into second on lap three. On lap seven, an off-track excursion cost him considerable time and he slipped down the running order to seventh. By the end of the race he was able to work his way back up to fourth, which was enough to secure an incredible debut victory in EMX125. Faure now lies ninth in the championship standings.
Just like he was in Spain, Dani Heitink was incredibly consistent in France, even replicating his race results with his 7-5 finishes. Thanks to his cool, calm, and collected approach to the races so far this season, which have all taken place in treacherous conditions, the 15-year-old moves up to third in the series standings.
Last weekend’s EMX125 winner, Jarne Bervoets, couldn’t quite replicate his sensational Spanish performance, placing 13th overall in France and slipping to fifth in championship standings. Levi Townley also faced a little adversity at Saint Jean, ending the weekend 22nd and falling a few spots to 18th in the series after two rounds.
The VHR VRT Yamaha Official EMX250 team return to action for the third round of their series on April 13 alongside the MXGP of Trentino, while the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team head to Sardegna one week prior with a trip to the deep sand track of Riola Sardo.
Click here for the EMX250 and EMX125 results from the MXGP of Europe.
Photocredits Full Spectrum Media
