First to race on the Redsand circuit this weekend was the 2 EMX classes of EMX250 and EMX300 Presented by FMF Racing. Perfect conditions with blue skies and sunshine set the scene for great European Championship racing. Bud Racing Monster Energy’s Pierre Goupillon and GL12 Racing’s Mike Kras took both not only the overall wins in their respective classes but also the championship leader’s red plate.
Photos ©Youthstream
EMX250
In the opening European 250 four-stroke race of the year ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha’s Nicholas Lapucci lead Anthony Bourdon on the first lap. Bourdon found his way into the lead 2 laps before Team DIGA Racing Procross’ Dylan Walsh took it away. The lead didn’t last for Walsh with as REVO Husqvarna UK’s Mel Pocock passed him on lap 7. Tom Vialle from France then got around Walsh on lap 9 of 14.
Follow the moves of Vialle by passing Walsh was another Frenchman, BUD Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Pierre Goupillon along with Carglass Honda Racing’s Steven Clarke. The competitive 3 way battle for the lead was only separated by 3 seconds at the finish where Pocock took the race win ahead of Vialle and Goupillon.
Race 2’s start was a much needed improvement for Goupillon after coming through the pack from 16th to finish 3rd in race 1. Goupillon led 11 laps from the start of the race, first ahead of Nichlas Bjerregaard and later REVO Husqvarna UK’s Martin Barr.
KTM Silver Action’s Gianluca Facchetti was 3rd for 5 laps before crashing out of the race and having a scoreless weekend. Giuseppe Tropepe had an impressive ride coming for 8th to finish 3rd.
With three laps to go Martin Barr took the lead from Poupillon and won by 3.8 seconds making it two race wins of 2 for the REVO Husqvarna UK Team. In the overall standings Pierre Poupillon took the win with 42 points ahead of Tom Vialle’s 40 points and Mel Pocock with 37.
EMX300
In the first race of the second round of EMX300 presented by FMF Racing it was GL12 Racing’s Mike Kras who shined on the Redsand track. Anderson took the race 1 win after an early battle with Verde Substance KTM’s Brad Anderson.
Anderson led the first laps but Kras was on a charge passing both Anderson and iFly JK Racing’s Manuel Iacopi by lap 3. Anderson made a mistake dropping him to fifth behind A1M Husqvarna’s Andre Lusbo. Spain’s Alonso Sanchez Osuna was third the majority of the race but was passed by Lusbo just after the halfway mark.
Last week’s winner Greg Smets came from 10th on lap one up through the field to take fifth away from Anderson. At the finish it was Kras, Iacopi, Lusbo, Sanchez Osuna, and Smets.
Race 2 saw an improved start from Kras and Smets, Kras led from lap 1 with Smets on his rear wheel. Sanchez Osuna started the race 4th but overtook both Anderson and Smets briefly. Smets returned the favor two laps later while Anderson took seven to reclaim 3rd.
At the finish Kras led the way every lap of the 14 to claim the overall and red plate with double race wins. Meanwhile Smets took 2nd and Anderson 3rd. The overall standings were Kras then Smets and Sanchez Osuna who tied for third in points with both Lusbo and Iacopi but took the podium spot based off the better race 2 result.
Full results on FIM Europe website: http://www.fim-europe.eu/events/490
