The Frenchman was just edged out of fastest time in Timed Practice but needed four laps to reach second in the Qualifying race. At the fifteen-minute stage he closed down the leader but could find no way past and had to settle for second at the chequered flag.
Romain Febvre: “I really enjoy the track and felt good all day. I slid out in the first turn of Qualifying; I found my way into second in the first few laps but I came up just short again for the win. I have a good speed and was catching Tom in some places but then I was trying too hard, would make a mistake and lose him again.”
Pauls Jonass was just behind his KRT teammate through the first few turns in fifth and followed him through to fourth already on the opening lap, holding that position for a couple of laps before being passed by the hard-charging new world champion. He then had a lonely ride to finish fifth.
Pauls Jonass: “I got a decent start and fifth is OK but I would have liked to have stayed closer to the front four. Now we need to sit down and make a plan to feel more comfortable for tomorrow so I can finish the season on a good note.”
DRT Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers clinched his best-ever Qualifying result when he raced to fifth in the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship. The Dutch youngster had already shown his liking for the Darwin track with a time closer to provisional pole than ever before as sixth in Timed Practice and he held the same position at the completion of the opening lap of Qualifying. A confident move saw him advance to fifth on the sixth of thirteen laps and he maintained that position to the finish, taking the chequered flag less than two seconds behind the champion elect.
Kay Karssemakers: “I really like the track here and I felt comfortable from the very first lap of practice; I was closer than I have ever been to P1 in Timed Practice. I made some good moves in the first laps of Qualifying and felt confident as I could stay on the wheel of Farres. I don’t feel the heat so I’m looking forward to another good race tomorrow.”
DRT Kawasaki’s Courtney Duncan raced to a third-placed finish in the first moto of the weekend in the FIM WMX Women’s World Championship finale. There was a fair amount of bar-banging out of the gate but the New Zealander rode a tight first turn to settle into fifth through the early laps. She advanced to fourth on lap four and joined a four-girl breakaway, with second in her sights, as only the series points-leader could escape in front. She put pressure on her rival for third in the series through the closing laps as they both pushed forward and, taking third on the final lap, she now heads into tomorrow morning’s final moto of the season eight points shy of the series bronze medal.
Courtney Duncan: “That was a solid P3 but I felt I could have had more. A better start would have help for sure, particularly as they had put a lot of water down; I pulled twenty-one tear-offs and was just eating roost all race. But I was happy with my riding; I just need a better start tomorrow and see how we go.”
