main content of page
Racing News |
Podium for Mathis Valin in Trentino
Mathis Valin and Kawasaki Racing Team MX2 took their first GP podium of the season in the Trentino round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at Pietramurata in Northern Italy.
A superb start from mid gate saw the French teenager narrowly edge out for the holeshot as a heavy rainstorm drifted over the track in the shadow of the Dolomites. The rain eased after a couple of laps but continued to make track conditions slippery, but he rode a mistake-free race to resist all challenges and control second place to the checkered flag. He couldn't quite get across the pack at Turn 1 in Race 2 and was then obstructed on the first uphill when another rider fell in his path. Pushing hard for the rest of the race from outside the Top 15 and looking left and right for passing moves, he forced his way into 10th after 15 minutes and maintained the charge to finish seventh, in the wheeltracks of sixth. He was rewarded for his efforts with his first overall podium of the season and has strengthened his position in the series standings; although still seventh, he has moved significantly closer to sixth.
"We have been getting closer step-by-step, and it was good to have my first podium of the season before the break. I found a good flow in the first moto to finish second, but [Liam] Everts crashed right in front of me on the first lap of the second race. I knew I had to push hard to get on the box after that, but I managed it."
- Mathis Valin
DRT Kawasaki's Kay Karssemakers raced to his fourth consecutive Top 10 finish as he
claimed eighth overall from 9-8 moto finishes. The Dutch youngster took a good start in the first moto and held on despite vision difficulties in the rain to finish ninth. Starting just inside the Top 10 in Race 2, he made a couple of quick passes through the early laps and, ever-growing in confidence, stayed in the leaderboard group to the checkered flag for eighth in the moto and overall. It was his 10th Top 10 finish of the season and has strengthened his position in the series standings.
"It started raining really hard just before our first moto and I had water between my tear-offs, so I didn't have good vision the first few laps. I didn't get such a good start in the second moto, but I could make a couple of good passes during the first two laps. I was eighth or ninth all race; my riding felt really good and I was closer to the leaders than I've ever been. We will work hard in the four weeks to build on that."
- Kay Karssemakers
Jake Cannon took his first overall victory in the European EMX250 Motocross Championship for Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki and was joined on the podium by teammate Francisco Garcia, who continues to lead the points standings while Kawasaki still heads the Manufacturers' Championship comfortably by 40 points.
The Australians' win was truly a hard-fought and fully deserved success. He was outside the first 10 off the start in the second moto of the weekend but made quick passes on the opening lap to eighth before putting in a series of further exhilarating passes during the second half of the race to secure the overall victory three laps from the finish as he swept into second in moto. Garcia had an equally tough ride after being left on the line, but the Spaniard showed character, strength, and resilience to sweep through from last to take 12th on the final lap, thus maintaining his 100% podium record with third overall; he still leads the series points standings by 41 points while Cannon is now just four points from second. The twin success was a particularly sweet celebration for the team, as today was the birthday of Bud Kawasaki Managing Director Lily Dassé.
"This one feels good. I'm lost for words to finally do it; awesome! And it's Lily's birthday today; that makes it even sweeter for the team. I left everything I had out there on the track and I'm so proud of my efforts. I didn't get the best start, but I always push to the end of every race and it paid off today; if I hadn't pushed to the very end, I wouldn't be here on the top step of the podium. It's not easy to come over here from the other side of the world to race, and I miss my family, but I'm adjusting to the environment; all the hard work is paying off. I have more confidence in myself and have made a big step this year. My mom had planned to be here this weekend, but she couldn't get over at the moment. That's a pity; she would have enjoyed this win."
- Jake Cannon
"It was a really crazy race after the engine stalled at the gate, but it was a good experience to see what I am capable of, making so many passes to come from last to take another podium. I was still fresh at the end and could have taken even more if the moto had been five minutes longer. I'm happy for my teammate; he deserved to win today."
- Francisco Garcia