EMX250

For most young kids, riding started in the back yard with a little PW50 or something of that ilk. Scrap wood made for good jumps, while learning to rail ruts became far more important than growing vegetables, which is why gardens soon turned into figure eights.

Eventually Mum wanted her vegetable garden back and Dad was sick of his spades, shovels and rakes disappearing. They had planted a seed in their kid’s minds when they handed them those little dirt bikes and the only way for it to bloom was with water and sun, which for kids with dirt bikes was racing.

To read MXGP Mag's take on the Junior World Championship, click HERE!

EMX is one of the most enjoyable and exciting aspects of the MXGP weekend and in Lommel it was again the EMX races that stood out. As always large numbers and brilliant racing continues to see these classes build and help the depth of the sport develop.

Belgian rider Cyril Genot scored the EMX125 overall in a strong performance, going 3-1 for the victory.

“I am very happy. For me it’s easier in the sand, but still to win a race is so nice. Second moto I controlled the race and I am pretty happy about that. I don’t know much about Assen some say it will be sand some say hard, but I train as hard as I can and try and win again.”

In the EMX250 it was Dutchman Lars van Berkel who took the top prize after some strong performances, although it was hard work for the Kawasaki rider.

“It was awesome to get the win, because in the second moto I was like 17^th and I thought I am making it so tough for myself. I got to the lead and won the moto. My sister had a baby last week and I tried to do something special for her in Latvia but it didn’t work out, so this win is for her.”

In the EMX300 overall it was British rider Brad Anderson who got the overall victory with 1-1 results.

“I didn’t get too bad a start and came around to the finish line feeling confident, but he bike locked up and I gave it some revs and it cleared, and I did a slow lap and it cleared more, and then we realized there was water on the quick fill. To win the moto from that far back was pretty awesome. I saw them all at the start putting hot laps down and I figured they would burn out and then I put the hot laps down and I could see them fading and it worked out well. I would like to do the complete EMX300 series in 2016.”

Marco Maddi became EMX300 champion in Lommel, and the Italian was excited about his title.

“Last year I was second in the championship, and my goal was to win this year. We started in Valkenswaard and that was tough, but in the hard pack I felt good, winning moto’s and I loved winning in Italy at home. I am so happy, I want to go home and enjoy this championship with family and friends. I felt the pressure, but in Lommel if you make mistakes it happens fast. Every bump and jump was difficult.  I really struggled to finish the races in Lommel. My father was so happy, we worked every day and we stay together and it’s great for us both.”

The real youngster of the group was Jack Bintcliffe, who got the EMX150 overall, also going 1-1 for Great Britain.

“I am over the moon. I love sand and that helps, and I hope Assen is also sand. It felt amazing I have only been riding for three years and to see British riders doing good is great for the country.”

LOMMEL (Belgium), 02 August 2015 - When the going gets tough, the tough gets going! And that was the theme of the weekend for the European Championships EMX250, EMX125 and EMX300.

Proving to be the strongest sand rider in the EMX250 class this year HF Kawasaki’s Lars Van Berkel went 2 - 1 to stand top of the box here at the eighth round of the championship. Meanwhile Cyril Genot took claim of the seventh EMX125 round while GL12 Yamaha Racing’s Brad Anderson took his fourth consecutive race win and the overall once again in the EMX300.

Conditions for race one were already fierce and challenging which ended up working in favor of Bodo Schmidt Motorsport’s Thomas Kjer Olsen in the opening moto as he blitzed past the early season red plate holder Wilvo Forkrent KTM’s Adam Sterry and sand specialist HF Racing’s Lars Van Berkel for his first race win of the season.

Meanwhile Van Berkel was right in his element today and managed to finish a comfortable second ahead of the holeshot claimer Sterry. Mafi Yamaha MX Team’s Alvin Ostlund put in a smooth and solid performance for fourth while the red plate didn’t quite deliver the performance we expected of him but managed to come home in fifth.

After being hammered by the opening MXGP and MX2 races, the track for the second moto was super rough, which made for all sorts of chaos.  Luck is not something Adam Sterry has a lot of, and once again he didn’t line up with any, which was evident when he got tangled with another rider and threw away his chance of a podium. The next in line was the red plate challenger Kemea Yamaha Yamalube’s Damon Graulus, who was cutting a good pace before he cartwheeled spectacularly through the waves, which was followed by a mistake by Bud Racing Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Maxime Desprey on the same lap.

The head turner in the final race was Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Bas Vaessen who stormed past a bunch of riders to take over the lead but with three laps to go threw it all away on the sweeper before pitlane with a huge crash.

Race one runner-up Lars Van Berkel capitalized on the error of his fellow countryman, Vaessen, and took over the lead, which wasn’t kept easily as Ostlund made him fight all the way to the finish. Van Berkel took the checkers by less than 1 second over Ostlund while the race one winner Thomas Kjer Olsen rode smooth for third. Desprey managed to recover for fourth, which was an outstanding performance from the hard pack specialist, while another Dutch rider in the form of Freddy van der Vlist rounded out the top five.

After a tough day in the office, Lars van Berkel hit a couple of milestones with his first race win and his first ever EMX250 round victory while Denkmark’s Thomas Kjer Olsen went one better than his best for second overall. Alvin Ostlund rounded out the top three.

EMX250 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 29:48.767; 2. Lars van Berkel (NED, Kawasaki), +0:03.682; 3. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +0:12.503; 4. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +0:16.077; 5. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Honda), +0:45.669; 6. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki), +0:46.788; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +0:49.617; 8. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), +0:59.604; 9. Ander Valentin (ESP, Yamaha), +1:03.129; 10. Michael Hool (NED, KTM), +1:16.021

EMX250 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Lars van Berkel (NED, Kawasaki), 30:57.797; 2. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +0:00.079; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), +0:07.357; 4. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:07.876; 5. Frederik van der Vlist (NED, Kawasaki), +0:22.399; 6. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), +0:33.633; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +0:38.572; 8. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Honda), +0:43.104; 9. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki), +0:45.840; 10. Nicholas Adams (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:46.219;

EMX250 Overall Top Ten: 1. Lars van Berkel (NED, KAW), 47 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 29 p.; 5. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 28 p.; 8. Frederik van der Vlist (NED, KAW), 26 p.; 9. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 21 p.; 10. Nicholas Adams (RSA, KAW), 19 p.

EMX250 Championship Top Ten: 1. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 284 points; 2. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 251 p.; 3. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 243 p.; 4. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 235 p.; 5. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 190 p.; 6. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 186 p.; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 177 p.; 8. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 166 p.; 9. Steven Clarke (GBR, HUS), 118 p.; 10. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 114 p.;

EMX250 Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki, 337 points; 2. KTM, 327 p.; 3. Yamaha, 321 p.; 4. Honda, 285 p.; 5. Suzuki, 207 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 182 p.

Lommel gets so rough, the holes are bigger than most of the kids that race in the European EMX125 Championship. Nevertheless, these kids are awesome and the racing they provided the fans today was epic.

After dominating race one yesterday, KTM Factory Junior’s Jorge Prado was put to the test in race two when he collided with KTM Kosak Racing’s Glen Meier and had to start from dead last. Despite the difficulty with the track being as brutal as it was and the heat, the young Spaniard put in a remarkable ride to finish sixth, which was enough to stand on the third step of the podium.

While Prado’s efforts were incredible, the stars of Lommel were Belgium’s own Cyril Genot and Jago Geerts. Both kids are no strangers to the bottomless sand and it was more than obvious today as they both had the ‘hang off the back’ style down pat on their way to first and second place. Sahkar KTM Racing’s Geerts was the early leader but by time the checkers were waving it was Genot, a kid famous for his tapped out GoPro lap around another boundless sand track, Lierop, who took the win and the overall. Geerts came home in an unchallenged second while KTM Factory Junior’s Josiah Natzke used his freshly honed sand skills to finish third.

A further twenty seconds back, the Junior 125cc vice world champion Conrad Mewse took his KTM Factory Junior’s bike to fourth as Diga Racing’s Miro Sihvonen rounded out the top five.

At the end of the weekend Cyril Genot wrapped up his first ever EMX125 race win and overall victory here in front of his home crowd while Jago Geerts made for two Belgian’s on the podium with second. Jorge Prado ended up doing enough for third and has taken the championship lead by one point over KTM Factory Junior’s teammate Josiah Natzke.

EMX125 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 29:29.057; 2. Nathan Renkens (BEL, KTM), +0:22.991; 3. Cyril Genot (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:34.316; 4. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), +0:39.284; 5. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:54.063; 6. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), +0:55.479; 7. Glen Meier (DEN, KTM), +1:05.972; 8. Noud van Kraaij (NED, KTM), +1:16.859; 9. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +1:17.023; 10. Marcel Conijn (NED, KTM), +1:24.473.

EMX125 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Cyril Genot (BEL, Husqvarna), 30:59.766; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), +0:06.626; 3. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), +0:14.986; 4. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:35.154; 5. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +0:50.051; 6. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), +0:53.813; 7. Ruben Fernandez Garcia (ESP, KTM), +1:14.285; 8. Nathan Renkens (BEL, KTM), +1:18.012; 9. Hardi Roosiorg (EST, KTM), +1:24.314; 10. Glen Meier (DEN, KTM), +1:32.027.

EMX125 Overall Top Ten: 1. Cyril Genot (BEL, HUS), 45 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), 35 p.; 5. Nathan Renkens (BEL, KTM), 35 p.; 6. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 34 p.; 7. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Glen Meier (DEN, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Hardi Roosiorg (EST, KTM), 19 p.; 10. Sander Agard-Michelsen (NOR, TM), 16 p.

EMX125 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 271 points; 2. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), 270 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 245 p.; 4. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 178 p.; 5. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 172 p.; 6. Stephen Rubini (FRA, KTM), 147 p.; 7. Davide Cislaghi (ITA, TM), 144 p.; 8. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, YAM), 139 p.; 9. Glen Meier (DEN, KTM), 134 p.; 10. Nathan Renkens (BEL, KTM), 128 p.

EMX125 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 341 points; 2. Yamaha, 263 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 184 p.; 4. TM, 182 p.

With the last round of the EMX300 being on a circuit that was rock hard and hilly and this weekend being at the opposite end of the spectrum, hill-less and sandy, GL12 Yamaha Racing’s Brad Anderson’s domination is about the only thing the two things have in common. In both races the wild card rider came from miles behind to take the lead on the last laps to win both races convincingly.

Meanwhile, former MX2 rider from The Netherlands Mike Kras was the early leader in both races and led the majority of the laps here in Lommel for a pair of seconds and second overall. Meanwhile local lad from just up the road, Andy Truyts went 3 – 4 for third overall. Proving that the Dutch know a thing or two about riding sand, Davy Janssens put in a mega ride for fourth overall while fellow countryman Tom Meier rounded out the top five.

This weekend was the sixth and final round of the European Championship EMX300 series which was wrapped up by last years runner-up Marco Maddi yesterday. Great Britain’s Matt Moffat had a great season and took the silver medal while Belgium’s own Dietger Damiens rounded out this year as the bronze medalist.  

EMX300 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, Yamaha), 29:08.373; 2. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), +0:10.739; 3. Davey Janssen (NED, Husqvarna), +0:13.466; 4. Andy Truyts (BEL, KTM), +0:14.136; 5. Matthew Moffat (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:27.959; 6. Tom Meijer (NED, Yamaha), +0:42.616; 7. Mikael Kaipanen (FIN, KTM), +0:50.733; 8. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), +1:01.062; 9. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), +1:08.467; 10. Kai Haase (GER, Suzuki), +1:08.491

EMX300 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, Yamaha), 30:35.340; 2. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), +0:20.716; 3. Andy Truyts (BEL, KTM), +0:27.764; 4. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), +0:37.940; 5. Tom Meijer (NED, Yamaha), +0:53.279; 6. Davey Janssen (NED, Husqvarna), +0:59.347; 7. Mikael Kaipanen (FIN, KTM), +1:04.140; 8. Patrick Vos (NED, KTM), +1:20.170; 9. Kai Haase (GER, Suzuki), +1:27.777; 10. Damon Strydom (GBR, KTM), +1:41.807

EMX300 Overall Top Ten: 1. Brad Anderson (GBR, YAM), 50 points; 2. Mike Kras (NED, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Andy Truyts (BEL, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Davey Janssen (NED, HUS), 35 p.; 5. Tom Meijer (NED, YAM), 31 p.; 6. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Mikael Kaipanen (FIN, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Kai Haase (GER, SUZ), 23 p.; 9. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Patrick Vos (NED, KTM), 18 p.

EMX300 Championship Top Ten: 1. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), 223 points; 2. Matthew Moffat (GBR, HUS), 178 p.; 3. Dietger Damiaens (BEL, KTM), 178 p.; 4. Yentel Martens (BEL, HUS), 164 p.; 5. Damon Strydom (GBR, KTM), 162 p.; 6. Mikael Kaipanen (FIN, KTM), 104 p.; 7. Brad Anderson (GBR, YAM), 100 p.; 8. Joey Smet (BEL, KTM), 98 p.; 9. Patrick Vos (NED, KTM), 94 p.; 10. Nicolas Bender (SUI, YAM), 93 p.

EMX300 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 258 points; 2. Husqvarna, 257 p.; 3. Yamaha, 257 p.; 4. TM, 56 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 37 p.; 6. Honda, 37 p.; 7. Suzuki, 35 p.; 8. Aprilia, 24 p.; 9. Beta, 18 p.

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Belgium will be available HERE

MXGP BELGIUM - QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1675 m

Type of ground: Sand

Temperature: 28°C

Weather conditions: sunny

Crowd Attendance: 24,200

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KEGUMS (Latvia), 12 July 2015 - HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Raivo Dankers and Dutch rider Scott Smulders proved to be the most versatile young riders in Europe as they registered solid results in both dry and wet conditions to claim the 2015 European Championship EMX85 & EMX65 titles. Meanwhile Kemea Yamaha Yamalube’s Damon Graulus put his sand skills to good use for the EMX250 round seven overall, and his first round win of the season.

In contrast to the dry and fluffy sand the riders faced in race one yesterday, conditions were considerably tougher today for race two thanks to the weather gods letting loose on the picturesque circuit of Kegums.

Yesterday’s race one winner Kemea Yamaha Yamalube’s Damon Graulus took the holeshot but hit a boggy spot straight out of turn one and was passed by Lars Van Berkel. There was no rider on the gate more pumped to be back in the sand than Van Berkel, a point he established with his impressive performance which saw him lead almost every lap of the race.

For the most part, Van Berkel led with Graulus hanging back in second while Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s duo of Brian Hsu and Bas Vaessen battled for third. Vaessen, who is known to prefer the sand as well, dumped it in a corner while looking for a creative way around Hsu. Vaessen was quick to jump back on his trusted steed and threw himself straight back in the mix.

Coming into the closing stages of the race, the top five were all within striking distance of each other. In the bar to bar battle any mistake was costly and Graulus was the first to learn, as Hsu capitalized on his mistake to take second before passing Van Berkel for the lead with ease less than a lap later. Graulus ended up dropping back to fifth after Vaessen and Bodo Schmidt Motorsport’s Thomas Kjer Olsen went through, but ended up inheriting fourth when Vaessen crashed out of the race in spectacular style.

At the checkers the young German Brian Hsu took his first ever EMX250 race win ahead of Van Berkel, Kjer Olsen and Graulus while the red plate holder J-Tech Honda’s Nick Kouwenberg charge from way back to finish fifth.

Wrapping up the weekend Kemea Yamaha Yamalube’s Damon Graulus stood on the top step of the podium for the first time in his career while Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Brian Hsu and Bodo Schmidt Motorsport’s Thomas Kjer Olsen rounded out the top three. 

EMX250 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Damon Graulus (BEL, Yamaha), 29:59.163; 2. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +0:11.241; 3. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Honda), +0:17.463; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), +0:21.718; 5. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki), +0:31.223; 6. Nicholas Adams (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:32.608; 7. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), +0:35.719; 8. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki), +0:56.633; 9. Lars van Berkel (NED, Kawasaki), +1:04.990; 10. Pontus Jönsson (SWE, Husqvarna), +1:14.235

EMX250 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki), 29:42.771; 2. Lars van Berkel (NED, Kawasaki), +0:03.979; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), +0:06.519; 4. Damon Graulus (BEL, Yamaha), +0:08.348; 5. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Honda), +0:18.600; 6. Pontus Jönsson (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:35.496; 7. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +0:39.763; 8. Priit Ratsep (EST, Honda), +0:44.574; 9. Luca Nijenhuis (NED, Kawasaki), +0:59.241; 10. Indrek Mägi (EST, Kawasaki), +1:06.460

EMX250 Overall Top Ten: 1. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 43 points; 2. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 38 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 36 p.; 5. Lars van Berkel (NED, KAW), 34 p.; 6. Pontus Jönsson (SWE, HUS), 26 p.; 7. Bas Vaessen (NED, SUZ), 22 p.; 8. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 22 p.; 9. Luca Nijenhuis (NED, KAW), 20 p.; 10. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 18 p.

EMX250 Championship Top Ten: 1. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 255 points; 2. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 240 p.; 3. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 222 p.; 4. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 217 p.; 5. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 169 p.; 6. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 154 p.; 7. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 146 p.; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 132 p.; 9. Steven Clarke (GBR, HUS), 118 p.; 10. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 112 p.

EMX250 Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki, 290 points; 2. KTM, 282 p.; 3. Yamaha, 281 p.; 4. Honda, 255 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 181 p.; 6. Suzuki, 180 p

They say riding mud is similar to riding sand with the surface being shifty and unpredictable. Everyone knows the Dutch are typically strong sand riders therefore yet another muddy European Championship played perfectly into the hands of HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Raivo Dankers.

Dankers, who was crowned EMX65 champion back in 2013 in the mud of Matterley proved that that race was no fluke as he utilized those same mud skills to take the win in race two today for his second European Championship title, but this time in the EMX85. “This is a great feeling, I took a good start and just rode my laps and I won” Dankers smiled.

Two riders who faced their fair share of hardship yesterday were able to turn things around today in the mud of Kegums with their impressive performances for second and third. Frenchman Moreau Strubhart got a good start and rode solid for second while Danish rider Mikkel Haarup, who was blistering fast all day yesterday but binned it a few times and ended up retiring from the race bounced back from his disappointing day for third place today.

Meanwhile Bastian Boegh Dam used his smooth and consistent approach to wrap up another fourth, after finishing fourth yesterday, which landed him on the second step of the podium in the overall results. Brian Van Klij rounded out the top five.

Mixing the results from both races, Raivo Dankers proved to be the most versatile rider this weekend and was deservedly crowned EMX85 champion. Denmarks Bastian Boegh Dam stood on the second step of the podium with Brian Van Klij rounding out the top three.

EMX85 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 26:00.509; 2. Ravio Dankers (NED, KTM), +0:11.210; 3. Anton Nagy (SWE, KTM), +0:48.996; 4. Bastian Boegh Damm (DEN, Kawasaki), +0:51.869; 5. Brian van der Klij (NED, Honda), +0:53.478; 6. Arvid Luning (SWE, KTM), +1:03.428; 7. Emil Jönrup (SWE, KTM), +1:04.587; 8. Christopher Mills (GBR, KTM), +1:08.455; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Husqvarna), +1:26.036; 10. Marcel Stauffer (AUT, KTM), +1:28.112

EMX85 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Ravio Dankers (NED, KTM), 26:55.680; 2. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:05.116; 3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), +0:16.349; 4. Bastian Boegh Damm (DEN, Kawasaki), +0:53.779; 5. Brian van der Klij (NED, Kawasaki), +1:10.440; 6. Petr Polak (CZE, KTM), +1:18.228; 7. Raf Meuwissen (NED, Honda), +1:30.391; 8. Emil Weckman (FIN, Honda), +1:32.211; 9. Arvid Luning (SWE, KTM), +1:46.269; 10. Timur Petrashin (RUS, KTM), +1:53.573

EMX85 Overall Top Ten: 1. Ravio Dankers (NED, KTM), 47 points; 2. Bastian Boegh Damm (DEN, KAW), 36 p.; 3. Brian van der Klij (NED, KAW), 32 p.; 4. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, KAW), 27 p.; 5. Arvid Luning (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 6. Petr Polak (CZE, KTM), 25 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 8. Raf Meuwissen (NED, HON), 23 p.; 9. Marcel Stauffer (AUT, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), 20 p.

EMX85 Championship Top Ten: 1. Ravio Dankers (NED, KTM), 47 points; 2. Bastian Boegh Damm (DEN, KAW), 36 p.; 3. Brian van der Klij (NED, KAW), 32 p.; 4. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, KAW), 27 p.; 5. Arvid Luning (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 6. Petr Polak (CZE, KTM), 25 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 8. Raf Meuwissen (NED, HON), 23 p.; 9. Marcel Stauffer (AUT, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), 20 p.

EMX85 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 50 points; 2. Kawasaki, 40 p.; 3. Honda, 23 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 15 p.

The skies had opened making the second race for the EMX65 championship a battle of survival. Race one winner Kay Karssemakers got off to a great start but hit a massive bog hole a couple of turns in and crashed. Czech Republic’s Martin Venhoda then inherited the lead and slogged it through the slosh of Kegums to win the second race ahead of fellow Czech rider Radek Vetrovski who also managed to keep it on two wheels. Meanwhile Russia’s Matvey Vopilov scrambled from way back in the pack to finish third while Holland’s Scott Smulders and Teddy Jondell rounded out the top five.

At the end of the weekend it was Holland’s Scott Smulders who topped the box and was crowned the EMX65 champion thanks to his super consistent results while race one winner Kay Karssemakers was knocked back to second after his fall in race two. Race two winner Martin Venhoda rounded out the top three.

EMX65 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), 18:42.387; 2. Scott Smulders (NED, KTM), +0:09.955; 3. Dave Kooiker (NED, KTM), +0:39.888; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:40.623; 5. Matvey Vopilov (RUS, KTM), +0:43.220; 6. Florian Miot (FRA, KTM), +0:44.683; 7. Daniel Valovich (BLR, KTM), +0:45.709; 8. Martin Venhoda (CZE, KTM), +0:53.523; 9. Kimi Koskinen (FIN, KTM), +0:54.942; 10. Teddy Jondell (SWE, KTM), +0:59.483

EMX65 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Martin Venhoda (CZE, KTM), 20:29.318; 2. Radek Vetrovski (CZE, KTM), +0:05.245; 3. Matvey Vopilov (RUS, KTM), +0:19.868; 4. Scott Smulders (NED, KTM), +0:32.118; 5. Teddy Jondell (SWE, KTM), +1:52.558; 6. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), +2:01.481; 7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +2:02.056; 8. Romeo Karu (EST, KTM), +2:05.157; 9. Kirill Vorobyov (RUS, KTM), +2:12.464; 10. Cato Nickel (GER, KTM), +2:40.549

EMX65 Overall Top Ten: 1. Scott Smulders (NED, KTM), 40 points; 2. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Martin Venhoda (CZE, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Matvey Vopilov (RUS, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Radek Vetrovski (CZE, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Teddy Jondell (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Daniel Valovich (BLR, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Dave Kooiker (NED, KTM), 20 p.; 10. Florian Miot (FRA, KTM), 15 p.

EMX65 Championship Top Ten: 1. Scott Smulders (NED, KTM), 40 points; 2. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Martin Venhoda (CZE, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Matvey Vopilov (RUS, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Radek Vetrovski (CZE, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Teddy Jondell (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Daniel Valovich (BLR, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Dave Kooiker (NED, KTM), 20 p.; 10. Florian Miot (FRA, KTM), 15 p

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Latvia will be available here

MXGP LATVIA  – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1540 m

Type of ground: Hard Sand

Temperature: 17°C

Weather conditions: cloudy with showers

Crowd Attendance: 23,000

MXGP is available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM Europe

MXGP of Latvia

KEGUMS (Latvia), 11 July 2015 - Drizzle has been a constant over the past few days and hasn’t shown a lot of signs of clearing up either. Luckily the amazing circuit of Kegums is sand, one of the only terrains in motocross that is rideable regardless of what the weather is doing. Making a solid start to the twelfth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship were two of the most predictable pole position candidates, Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin and Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie.

The Final of the European Championships EMX85 and EMX65 also kicked off with Rick Elzinga and Kay Karrsemakers dominating the first races of the weekend in their respective classes.

Also taking place today was the seventh round of the European Championship EMX250, which saw Kemea Yamaha Yamalube’s Damon Graulus take his fourth race win of the season.

It was an impressive start to the Qualifying race for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s team of wounded riders Tommy Searle and Antonio Cairoli. Searle held a tight line around the inside to take the holeshot while Cairoli only had twenty-second pick at the gate but railed the outside line and emerged in third behind Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Todd Waters.

Cairoli, who is still struggling with a fractured elbow, went right to work on Waters for second. The duo rubbed plastics a couple of times which resulted in Cairoli nudging Waters out of the main line while going wide open through a fast section of the track. As they headed into the following turn, TC222 went in too hot, buried the front end and was thrown off of his bike. After another crash later in the race, eighteenth was the best he could salvage.

Soon after Cairoli’s mishap, Waters hit a kicker on the tabletop heading into the waves and went down like a ton of bricks, which allowed Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin, who was being hounded by Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Romain Febvre and his teammate Evgeny Bobryshev, to inherit second place.

After leading the early stages of the race, Searle started to fade ever so slightly which gave Paulin the opportunity to pounce with a textbook move up the inside as they entered a 180 degree turn. Febvre capitalized on Paulin forcing Searle off line and went by too.

Paulin and Febvre then went neck and neck all the way to the finish with less than a second separating them at the checkers. GP21 took his second qualifying heat victory of the season, while Febvre had to settle for a close second but can sleep easy tonight knowing he made a solid statement as the fastest rider in the race in terms of lap times.

Bobryshev eventually got around Searle, who had a few hairy moments, for third while Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s rookie Glenn Coldenhoff put in a solid ride to round out the top five.

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), 24:54.038; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:00.359; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:26.663; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:27.892; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +0:28.298; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:30.087; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:31.388; 8. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:38.978; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:40.011; 10. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, Honda), +0:46.458

With the gates slamming to the ground for the MX2 Qualifying Heat it was Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie who put the sand skills he boasts to good use. The last time Anstie won a qualifying race in the FIM Motocross World Championship was at the MXGP of Belgium last year, which he ended up winning out right for his first ever MX2 grand prix overall.

Chasing Anstie all the way to the finish was Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser who is yet to prove himself in sand this year after having a shocker at the MXGP of Europe in Valkenswaard back in April. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass also got off to a killer start and rode a lonely third all the way home.

Meanwhile back in fourth, Dutchman, HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Brian Bogers put in a solid performance as he tried his best to hold off two of Switzerland’s finest Standing Construct Yamaha Yamalube’s Valentin Guillod and Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Jeremy Seewer.

Guillod used his super smooth style and scrubbed around the outside of Bogers for fourth, while Seewer left it until the final hour but finally managed to make a pass stick with less than a quarter of a lap to go to round out the top five.

MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 25:08.559; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:07.435; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:18.068; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +0:21.383; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:30.081; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:31.857; 7. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:49.053; 8. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +0:51.361; 9. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:54.881; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), +0:56.436

Click here to obtain the complete results.

All the photos of the MXGP of Latvia will be available here

MXGP LATVIA  – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1540 m

Type of ground: Hard Sand

Temperature: 17°C

Weather conditions: cloudy with showers

TIMETABLE

Sunday: EMX65 Warm-up 08:50; EMX85 Warm-up 09:05; EMX250 Warm-up 09:20; EMX65 Race 2 09:50; EMX85 Race 2 10:30; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 11:30; EMX250 Race 2 12:00; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.

LINKS

Youthstream

FIM

MXGP of Latvia