From the left, Eddie Herd, Chairman of Motocross Commission, Dr Wolfgang Srb, FIM Europe President, the new European Champions of EMX85 and 65 cc and David Luongo, Youthstream Director
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.
EMX250
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.
EMX85
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.
EMX65
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.
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.
Full results on FIM Europe website: http://www.fim-europe.eu/events/90 for EMX65 and 85
http://www.fim-europe.eu/events/91 for EMX250.
