On this wonderful multifunctional Arena with Motocross, Hill Climbing, Fun Cars (“soapboxes”) and Ski and Snowboard in winter we saw again Motocross from its best in front of 10000 spectators. The Saturday qualifying practice saw 25 quads fighting for the best positions behind the starting grid. Best time did Edgars Mengelis, Lavia, with 1:53,144 min. Second best was Mike van Grinsven, Netherlands, 1:54,025 and third got Olli Koskela, Finland, 1:54,140. The top 15 were close together, all under 2 min. lap time.
In heat 1 holeshot went to Nr. 421, Sten Jupaschevski, local Estonish rider and he was in the lead for more than half distance, than he crashed on a jump near the tent! From the Top favorites no one was in the top 4 in the first lap but they were coming up! After lap 2 van Grinsven was already 4th, Mengelis 5th and Koskela 6th. In lap 5 Mengelis overtook van Grinsven and was already 3rd. After the crash of the leaders, 2nd was up to then Priit Järvloo, Latvian rider Mengelis won the pole position in front of Netherlands van Grinsven and Finnish Koskela. And this order was no more changed until finish. In 4th and 5th position the two Estonian riders Henri Mündi and Kaspar Kangur came in. We saw 21 riders from 25 starters crossing the finish line in a very fast race. Edgars Mengelis had a total average speed of 55,979 km/h and did his fastest lap in 1:54,079 min at best speed of 57,434 km/h.
In heat 2 holeshot went to Nr. 95, Edgars Mengelis, Latvia. The heat had to be stopped after problems with the starting grid: One element came up again and blocked the second row rider behind. After approx 30 minutes the 2nd start was perfect, holeshot went again to Mengelis.Mengelis was in the lead for approx 4 laps, then all of a sudden he stopped with dead engine short before finish line. Leader was now van Grinsven, NED, in front of Koskela, FIN, and the 2 best Estonish riders Henri Mündi and Kaspar Kangur and the second Finnish rider Jani Tanhuanpää. And from here on the positions were more or less set until finish. Van Grinsven won, 2nd Koskela, 3rd Mündi, 4th Kangur, 5th Tanhuanpää, 6th Flatov. That was One from Netherland, two Finnsh and three from Estonia in the top six!
The Overall winner of the day was: Mike van Grinsven, 2nd Olli Koskela and 3rd Henri Mündi. Next Event is Kegums, Latvia, next weekend!.
Download here FIM Europe Press Release 125/2014
