After the 4 regional qualification rounds, the final of the EMX65 and EMX85 Motocross European Championship was held in the Finnish circuit in Hyvinkää, which embodies one of the most mentally and physically demanding terrains in our sport, sand.
Young Russian Nikita Kucherov was crowned as the new European Champion in the EMX65. Watching those little 12” wheels tearing through the sand on a full blown MXGP circuit was astonishing, as was the speed and poise of the eventual EMX65 champion Nikita Kucherov from Russia who rode impressive in both races to be crowned champion with a second place in race one and a win in race two this morning. Landing on the second step of the podium, young Swede Noel Nilsson was clearly the fastest kid on the track. He isn’t afraid to ride on the edge which worked both for and against him this weekend when he cartwheeled it on the first lap of both motos yet managed to get away unscathed and impressively battled his way back for two thirds and second overall. Race one winner Maksim Kraev, also from Russia, looked a little less comfortable on the rougher circuit today, yet still put in a stellar performance for sixth despite being wiped out through the waves by young Dutchman Kay Karssemakers. With the overall classifications tying him on forty points with Noel Nilsson, Kraev was forced to settle for third overall as second place went to the rider who had the best race finish in the final moto, which was Nilsson.
New European Champion of the EMX85 class was Belgian star on the rise Jago Geerts. It’s unbelievable to see the talent in the EMX85 class and how far that depth spreads across Europe with all five of the top five hailing from different nations. A pair of very average starts allowed Belgian Jago Geerts to prove he is undeniably the best 85cc rider in Europe at the moment as he held that Sahkar Racing KTM 85SX pinned around a very choppy Hyvinkää, putting on a full display of his talent and skill as he threw sweet scrubs and wheelies to win both races and be crowned the 2014 European Championship EMX85 Champion. Meanwhile Hollander Roan Van De Moosdijk, who races the newly crowned champion Geerts at the local Dutch Championship on a regular basis, put in two smooth and consistent rides for a pair of seconds and second overall, while local hero Kim Savaste threw away two possible race wins after crashing in both races. Nevertheless the Fin managed to remount for a couple of thirds and third overall.
Download here FIM Europe Press Release 114/2014
