Kawasaki Racing Team MX2’s Mathis Valin charged to sixth in Qualifying for the fifth round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at Pietramurata in the north Italian region of Trentino.
Eighth in Timed Practice, just over a second from pole in a session where times were extremely close, the French teenager emerged ninth at the first timing split in the Qualifying race and made his first pass to eighth already on the opening lap in a fast-moving leaderboard train. A clever line-choice saw him take over seventh at the end of lap six and three laps later another smart move took him to his eventual sixth; at the finish he was just twelve seconds from second and has consolidated his seventh position in the series standings.
Mathis Valin: “I needed time to feel comfortable on the track this morning, but we worked hard and I could make several passes in the race. It’s not my favourite track; it’s slippery and dry but pretty flat with few ruts so at least we can cut the line to pass.”
DRT Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers was again the fastest non-factory rider to record his eighth top-ten finish of the season. The Dutch youngster made a couple of passes to ninth on the first lap and successfully defended that position, eventually out-distancing his chasers from half-distance. His two championship point haul confirms his tenth placing in the championship.
Kay Karssemakers: “I got points again with another top-ten so I’m happy with that, particularly on a track which is so different to Nederland. Everyone is so close on the times so I’m looking for two good starts tomorrow to run with the guys up front and stay there for two-times 30+5.”
It was a frustrating Qualifying for Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP in the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship as Romain Febvre was eliminated on the first lap and Pauls Jonass faced a long chase through the pack to twelfth. Both KRT riders had posted top-six lap times, on the same second as pole, during Timed practice but neither had a clear run through the hectic first turns. Febvre was quickly on the move from sixth at the first split to take over fourth on the opening lap before he was forced out of the race. Jonass started outside the top-twenty but was fifteenth after four laps and continued to push to take twelfth five laps from the close.
Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki continued their domination of the European EMX250 Motocross Championship as Francisco Garcia took his sixth victory in seven motos and Jake Cannon chased him home for the team’s third 1-2 moto of the season. Garcia now leads the series by fifty-seven points and Kawasaki heads the Manufacturers’ Championship by thirty-eight points.
The Spaniard had taken pole by nearly two seconds during the morning session and confirmed his supremacy in the first points moto of the weekend as he advanced from tenth leaving a chaotic first turn to take the lead already before the completion of the first lap. A lap later he was nearly four seconds clear and continued to stretch his lead to fifteen seconds at the finish.
Francisco Garcia: “The track was technical and difficult today but I had a good feeling on the bike and really enjoyed myself out there. I could take pole by nearly two seconds and I could soon pull a good lead in the race; I didn’t even need to give 100%. I have good memories of this track as I scored my first victory here last year and it’s nice to get back to winning ways again after my mistake last week. Now I am fully focused for tomorrow!”
Bud teammate Jake Cannon, fourth in his group of Timed Practice, was even further back leaving turn one but was equally impressive as he made a series of passes from an initial fourteenth to move into third on lap eight and, setting the fastest lap of the race, he sensationally snatched second with a dramatic outside pass in the run from the final corner to the chequered flag. The Australian remains third in the series standings but has reduced the deficit to second to a single point.
Jake Cannon: “That was a good race; one of my best races this year. I didn’t the best start but I fought hard, didn’t give up and made it happen in the last corner for second. My mechanic wrote “Send it” on my pit board on the last lap so I just gave it my all and left it all on the track. It came down to the last corner and I’m proud of my efforts. Now I’m looking for another podium tomorrow.”
