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Molson - Podiums for Paulin and Sword at Bellpuig

Molson Kawasaki celebrate in Spain as Stephen Sword takes third overall in MX2 while Gautier Paulin takes his maiden moto podium finish and Tom Church scores a scorching seventh in MX1.

Round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship held at Bellpuig in Spain turned into a real battle of attrition as persistent rain dampened the Catalunyan circuit into a muddy mess littered with impassable ruts, hills and puddles.

Starting in prime condition for Saturday’s qualifying sessions the circuit deteriorated so badly that the second MX1 moto was cancelled just moments prior to its start after the riders’ and organisers mutually decided that it would be just too dangerous to race.

Standing water on the start straight was a problem as early as MX2 moto one as both Stephen Sword and Gautier Paulin found out on their factory KX250F-SRs. “I got a good jump off the line in moto one but coming into turn one I got hit by the big tidal wave and I couldn’t see anything – just black,” explained Stephen. “I ran out wide and ended up out in the slop and I was somewhere in the top 15. I just chipped away all race long and made sure I didn’t crash, I made a couple of small mistakes but nothing like some people were making. I got myself up to fourth at the finish and I was happy with that.”

Paulin wouldn’t make it to the finish after tangling at the start with another rider and crashing in a deep puddle. “I crashed at the start of the first race and my bike took in some water because I went down in a deep puddle and I had to stop,” said Gautier. Luckily things would get better for the Frenchman in moto two.

“In the second race I started quite well and I was riding well also,” claimed Gautier. “When the rain stopped the track became stickier and it made riding it very difficult – especially on the uphill steps where a lot of riders were getting stuck and blocking the track.
“I knew that if I could finish this race I would do well and my mechanic was letting me know my position was improving all the time – I was fifth, then fourth and then when the red flag came out I was leading but they took the result from one lap before when I was third. I’m happy for sure but I’m also happy for my mechanic, the team and all of my sponsors.”

Sword meanwhile started well but found the going a little bit tougher. “In the second race I got a mega start and took the holeshot – well actually I think Tommy Searle took the holeshot but he crashed. Guarneri came past but I passed him back and took the lead but I made a mistake on the hill with the step-up on it and Guarneri, Rattray and Aubin all came past so I was back to fourth.

“I took the lead back again at the three uphill steps but went down straight away because I lost some momentum. I spent ages restarting the bike because the kickstart was all slippery and I think I lost a lap there. I got going again and un-lapped myself and just kept at it. I saw P10 on my pitboard, then P8 and I was thinking ‘this is going good’ and then I got stuck in the green netting.

“Everything was all covered in mud and I ended up taking my gloves off and my hands were rolling around on the grips as I rode. I got stuck again right at the end but nobody came by because I think they were all stuck on that hill.

“When I look back at the race I think if I hadn’t made all the mistakes I could have won the moto and then I’d have won the GP too but I’m definitely happy with third overall – it’s great to be on a Grand Prix podium again.”

Molson Kawasaki’s satellite MX1 rider Tom Church also did the team proud by riding a strong consistent moto on his KX450F to finish seventh up amongst the full factory riders. “I made a decision before the race to hold back at the start because there was no way I was going to get the holeshot from where I was near the outside of the gate and I knew there’d be some crashes in the first corner. My plan worked and I was as high as 10th on the first lap.

“From there I just plugged away. A few guys pulled in for fresh goggles, which I maybe should have done too as my eyes were hurting and my vision was getting blurry as they filled with mud but I just concentrated hard and stuck with it. I managed to keep it on two wheels and I think only Ramon and myself managed that.

“My bike ran great all race long, a lot of bikes broke down or sucked water and ran rough but mine was sweet, I rode smart and conserved my energy. Although I was up to fifth at one point I’m still pleased to finish seventh – it’s been a good day for me.”

Kawasaki Racing - Leok a fighting fifth in saturated Spain

Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tanel Leok and Manuel Priem battle it out in the worst conditions imaginable at round two of the MX1 World Championship at Bellpuig in Spain.

In dangerously deep conditions Tanel Leok and Manuel Priem powered their factory Kawasaki KX450F-SRs to points paying positions during round two of the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championships at Bellpuig in Spain. With conditions being so bad due to the amount of standing water on the track, racing ends early as the MX1 riders collectively decide it’s just too dangerous to contemplate racing a second moto in the mud and ruts.

After qualifying fifth just over one second slower than pole sitter Sebastien Pourcel in very different dry conditions on Saturday afternoon Tanel Leok’s hopes were high of a good result even after the rains fell. Gating inside the top five, Leok made a mistake, which meant the Estonian Express had to battle hard to carve back through the pack.

“The start was okay but in the second corner I hit a hay bale and got stuck a little bit,” explained Tanel. “I ended the first lap in seventh and moved up to fourth on the second lap but I made a mistake on the uphill and I crashed and then got up and crashed again and hurt my bad shoulder a little bit. The conditions were a little bit dangerous because you could not see what was underneath the water. I finally finished fifth so I’m happy with that and I feel like I was riding quite well.”

Priem also didn’t get the best of starts and had to fight through the pack on his way to precious World Championship points. “On the start straight conditions were so bad I only got halfway before I could see nothing,” claimed Manuel. “I think I started more or less last and at the end of the first lap I was already 15th because so many guys crashed. I took one uphill on the second lap and Aigar Leok was stuck on the inside and Sebastien Pourcel had crashed on the outside so I took the middle and I got stuck in the ruts. From there I just rode at my own pace and I finished 15th.

“Racing today was a little bit like Poker, you either pick a good card or you pick a bad card – it was all about luck. My mechanic Rene said my lap times were good so I’m happy with that and now I must look toward Portugal where I had my best results last season.”

Today’s results mean both KRT riders now sit in the top-10 of the World Championship series standings with Priem eighth and Leok 10th. The next round of the MX1 World Championship will take place at Agueda in Portugal on April 27.

With the development of the KX450F-SR being number one priority for Kawasaki’s factory MX1 motocross teams – Kawasaki Racing Team and Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing – will begin to work closely together to ensure the maximum amount of technical information and feedback can be shared back and forth between the two teams. Belgian GPKR rider Kevin Strijbos will be the first beneficiary of this combined team effort.

“After Valkenswaard we wanted to see improvements in our MX1 results,” said Steve Guttridge, Kawasaki’s European Race Planning Manager. “Both factory MX1 teams – GPKR and KRT – will work together to give our riders the best package possible to improve their overall confidence. I’m sure better results will follow.”

GPKR - Kevin Strijbos survives Spanish mud

After two weeks of intensive training and testing the Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing team confirmed that they’re heading in the right direction with a strong showing at the Grand Prix of Spain in Bellpuig

The track of Bellpuig – home of the Spanish Grand Prix for more than 10 years now – was in perfect condition on Saturday for the qualification sessions. Fastest during the free practice sessions on a dry and fast circuit, Sébastien Pourcel posted the fastest lap during the timed practice period too while his teammate Kevin Strijbos had more troubles. Kevin damaged his left thumb during the second free practice session and with a painful hand could only finish 21st in qualifying.

The rain came early on Sunday morning and never stopped. The track got worse all day long and with so much water in many places it was totally impossible for the riders to know exactly where to put their wheels. Both GPKR riders missed a good start in the opening race as they had wheelspin on the grid and then lost time in the first corner due to a pile-up. Kevin recovered to come back to sixth after a consistent race while Sébastien crashed three times and finally retired with a damaged bike.

The second MX1 race was canceled as the track was totally ruined by the rain and previous races - even the second MX2 heat was stopped by a red flag after 30 minutes of racing.

In the veteran’s class GPKR’s Thierry Godfroid climbed on the podium with a sixth and a fourth position for third overall

Kevin Strijbos: “After Valkenswaard we had two busy weeks, with several meetings and testing sessions to improve our performances. I was pleased with the bike here but unfortunately I hurt my thumb during the free practice session and it was painful for the timed session - especially on the jumps. I took painkillers and we put tape on my thumb for the race and I had less pain on this muddy track. I had a good jump off the gate but I had wheelspin so lost time and had to brake before the first corner to avoid the crash. Then I did my own race and came back sixth - that’s better than Valkenswaard and I’m pretty happy with my weekend. On Monday I will visit my doctor to check my thumb and see if any ligaments or bones are damaged.”

Sébastien Pourcel: “Yesterday I proved that I had the speed to be in front – I was faster in all the sessions and that was good. It was worse today for the races, I had wheel spin on the grid and then it was too late to have a good start as I was last in the first corner. Then I crashed three times during the race - it was not my day. After the first lap I stopped in the pits to take new goggles and gloves, I wanted to score points and I knew that it would be a difficult race. But I made too many mistakes today and in my last crash I damaged the bike. I will stay in Spain with the other French riders to prepare for the next round in Portugal, the weekend was not good for results but I’m optimistic for the following rounds as I know my real level.”

Alexandre Rouis: “It was better here than in Valkenswaard, for sure to be first reserve rider is not what I expect as the goal is to qualify for the GP. It would have been possible to do the second heat but we didn’t race so I will have to wait a few more days...”

Patrick Geladé: “First of all we got a podium with Thierry Godfroid in the veteran’s class riding a KX250F against many 450s and we are pleased for him. Today the track was dangerous and it was like a lottery as even the best riders can crash because of a lapper who is on the best line. Kevin had a bad day yesterday but rode well today, he was strong despite his injury and he is now seventh in the standings. For sure we are disappointed with the results of Sébastien today – he is fast and ready but unlucky. He lost time in the first corner and then crashed three times, I’m sure that it would have been totally different with another start and he will soon prove what he can achieved.”

Roger Pourcel: “Saturday was great for us, the track was perfect and Sébastien was faster than his rivals. Today was very different, the track was tough with so much rain since last night. Sébastien didn’t score any points with several crashes, that’s racing of course but it’s not what we expect. Alexandre didn’t qualify but he was closer than in the Netherlands – he needs now to work harder since to be in the top 30.”