The final rounds of the European EMX125 and EMX250 championships took place today at the demanding circuit of Lierop, The Netherlands. Despite the treacherous conditions due to a substantial amount of overnight and early morning rain, the races were very spectacular.
EMX125 class was left wide open this weekend when the 2013 champion Wilvo Nestaan JM Racing KTM’s Pauls Jonass opted to make his debut in the EMX250 instead. It’s no secret the Dutch riders love the sand and it was even more evident when both Dutch riders Red Bull KTM Racing’s Davy Pootjes and Kemea Reytec V/d Laar Racing Team’s Frederik Van der Vlist led the way around turn one. As the battle between Pootjes and Van der Vlist began to heat up, Van der Vlist took the lead but crashed half a lap later allowing Pootjes to ride away with a fifteen second advantage. After a quick remount Van Der Vlist was back on the gas, quickly finding his rhythm and cutting down the lead of countryman Davy Pootjes. With only a few laps to go Van Der Vlist had moved into first and went on to win with a ten second gap. Red Bull KTM Racing’s Davy Pootjes finished forty-five seconds ahead of Kemea Reytec V/d Laar Racing Team rider Cyril Genot. Wilvo Nestaan JM Racing KTM’s Pauls Jonass was crowned EMX 125 Champion at the last round in the United Kingdom. Today during the round of Benelux, Team MJC’s Nicolas Dercourt (the only rider to steal a victory from Jonass) was dubbed vice champion with KTM Bodo Schmidt Motorsports Calvin Vlaanderen taking third.
When the gates dropped for the EMX250, it was again the Dutch stars leading the way; HSF Logistics JTX KTM’s Brian Bogers took the holeshot followed by another local known for his sand skills, Beursfoon MX Team’s Mike Kras. On his debut, the recently crowned European EMX125 Champion Wilvo Nestaan JM Racing KTM’s Pauls Jonass surprisingly started the race in third just ahead of the EMX250 red plate holder Guillod Motorsports Valentin Guillod.With the conditions deteriorating lap by lap the EMX250 riders had their work cut out for them. Guillod Motorsports Valentin Guillod put in one of his best performances of the year, given the conditions were so difficult. The Swiss rider Guillod worked his way from outside the top five to pass some of the most recognized sand riders in the European championship to take the final round overall as well as the European EMX250 Championship title. Meanwhile after a hard charge with two laps to go, Beursfoon MX Team’s Mike Kras was forced to settle for second after making a mistake on the last lap while challenging for the lead. After dominating five of the seven rounds Guillod Motorsports Valentin Guillod was crowned EMX250 Champion. Runner up was Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Jeremy Seewer with third going to Standing Construct KTM’s Damon Graulus.
