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Francisco Garcia Heads Bud Kawasaki 1-2 in Spain
Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki's Francisco Garcia made the perfect start to the European EMX250 Motocross Championship by taking the red plate with a perfect 1-1 weekend at Almonte in Andalucia. Teammate Jake Cannon completed a 1-2 for Bud Kawasaki as Kawasaki built an immediate twelve-point cushion in the manufacturers' standings.
Garcia, clad in Spanish national colors, got a good jump from Gate 1 in Race 2 of the weekend, but found his line cut by riders from mid-gate as he braked for the tight first turn, to find himself tenth after the initial sort-out. Confident in his ability after his resounding victory in Saturday's Race 1, he remained calm and was already seventh at the completion of the opening lap. The stocky Spaniard's strength and fitness, added to the outstanding handling and traction of his KX250™, saw him pick off one rival after another as he built momentum out of the turns to carry the speed along the rugged straights. By halfway he was second, six seconds shy of the leader and at twenty minutes, maintaining his lap times as others faded. He began to eat up the gap ahead of him, sweeping majestically into the lead with three laps remaining to the almost deafening delight of his home country crowd. After sweeping home to a five-second victory he was greeted by the trackside fans who ecstatically celebrated their new national hero.
Bud teammate Jake Cannon, fresh off his second place to Garcia in Saturday's Race 1, was initially eighth but a mistake on Lap 4 pushed him back to thirteenth. The young Australian immediately put his head down to recover and, maintaining his lap times throughout the race, ran down one rival after another with a series of stunning passes. After twenty minutes he was seventh, already sufficient to ensure second overall, but kept charging to the checkered flag to earn fifth place two laps from the finish, and complete a 1-2 for Bud Kawasaki in this EMX250 series opener.
"Winning is always amazing, but to do it at home is even better with so many fans cheering me on. It's the first time I have experienced such emotion! The start was not the best, and I was sleeping a little at the beginning of the race, but my trainer always reminds me that it's a long race. When I found my rhythm, I had good speed to come through the pack. I had a little arm-pump mid-race, but that's normal at the first round, and I could ride through it to take the double-win and the red plate."
- Francisco Garcia
"What an awesome weekend, but that was a weird race in some ways. I had a good start, but I couldn't find the best lines in the early laps and ended up going down. I thought I'd throw it away, but I was strong enough to fight back for fifth in the race and second overall."
- Jake Cannon
