The famous Bulgarian motocross track of Sevlievo was the host of the first round of the European Motocross Championship for classes EMX250 and EMX300 in 2014 season and the second round for class EMX125. As usual in Bulgaria the track was greatly prepared and all the riders were eager to race, only that the weather had something different in mind: Friday and early Saturday the rain came down on the track making it challenging. Nevertheless, riders gathered from all-over Europe put the hammer down and completed practices and qualifying despite the weather.
First race of EMX125 saw Tomass Sileika (KTM) managing to get in front of Germen Brian Hsu (Suzuki) and of Dutch Davy Pootjes (KTM) trying to open up a gap. Unfortunately for him in lap 5 he lost the lead of the race to Brian Hsu (Suzuki) only to pass him back right in the next lap. Still, he did not remain in the lead as Pootjes took profit of the opportunity and passed both Hsu and Sileika to get the first place. Riders mentained their positions until the end, Davy Pootjes (KTM) finishing first, Tomass Sileika (KTM) finishing second and Brian Hsu (KTM) third. Fourth was local hero Michael Ivanov (KTM) of Bulgaria who was cheered by waves of euforia from the many spectators present. Local hero Bulgarian Michael Ivanon (KTM) managed to get the first place out of the start, leading the race until lap 5 when he was passed by French David Herbreteau (Yamaha) who went on and won the race. Ivanov managed to finish second, while podium from first race followed: Davy Pootjes (KTM) won third, Thomas Sileika (KTM) finished fourth, as Brian Hsu (Suzuki) was fifth. Overall podium saw Dutch Davy Pootjes on the first place, Bulgarian Michael Ivanov on the second place while Latvian Tomass Sileika occupied third step.
In EMX250 class first race was won by British Ben Watson (KTM) who opened up a gap of more than 10 seconds to the second place finisher Dutch Brian Bogers (KTM). Coming from the 11th position after the first lap, Danish Thomas Kjer Olsen managed to get in third place by the end of the race after a great charge. Second race of EMX250 had completely different actors in front, as Watson, Olsen and Bogers all failing to obtain a Top 5 spot. Italian Michele Cervellin (Honda) won this race after coming from behind and overtaking Spanish Jorge Zaragoza (Kawasaki), who finished second, and Latvian Pauls Jonass (KTM). Overall podium after 2 races was won by Spanish Jorge Zaragoza (Kawasaki), followed by British riders Ben Watson (KTM) and Steven Clarke (KTM). All three riders were divided by only one point (37-37-36).
EMX300 was totally dominated by Samuele Bernardini (TM) of Italy who won both races and the overall. Fight for second and third positions on the podium was between three riders: Latvian Toms Macuks (KTM), Italian Marco Maddii (KTM) and Hungarian Bence Szvoboda (KTM), Macuks taking second place in Race 1. Third place was ocuppied by Maddii, while Szvoboda had to settle for fourth. In the second race of EMX300 Marco Maddii (KTM) was second through-out the race, finishing just in front of Bence Szvoboda and taking second place overall. Hungarian Bence Szvoboda (KTM) was third in the second race but this was not enough to get in front of Latvian Toms Macuks (KTM) who finished third overall.
Next and second round of the EMX250 and EMX300 European Motocross Championship will take place in Talavera de la Reina – 10-11 May, while next and third round of the EMX125 European Motocross Championship will take place in Valkenswaard (NED) – 3-4 May.
Download here FIM Europe Press Release 031/2014
