SM Junior European Championship:
Andrea Benvenuti wins in Belgium
The penultimate round of the SM Junior European Championship was raced at the city circuit of Mettet, Belgium, an historic location scene of the most beautiful European by-invitation-races. A circuit that ensured a thrilling show. Andrea Benvenuti (KTM) comes back home after achieving the victory in Mettet and prevailing over his main rival Matej Kokes (Husqvarna). With one more race to go, both riders have the same number of points but the Italian rider has the red plate of Championship leader thanks to better results.
Race 1
As the red lights blinked off Nathan Terraneo could not pull away so Andrea Benvenuti and Matej Kokes got the green light. The Italian rider took the lead of the race but could keep it for just a few corners as he was overtaken by Kokes at the start of the off-road. Matej tried to run away but Benvenuti did not let him go and chased the Czech rider till the final lap when he attacked him and eventually won the race. The third spot went to Nathan Terraneo.
After this first race Matej Kokes is still holding the red plate of championship leader but his advantage shrank to two points only that divide him from Benvenuti.
SM Junior Race 1 Top Ten:
BENVENUTI Andrea (ITA, KTM) 8 laps in 14:49.239; 2. KOKES Matej (CZE, Husqvarna) +00.696; 3. TERRANEO Nathan (SUI, KTM) +01.200; 4. ANDREOTTI Riccardo (ITA, KTM) +14.634; 5. BERECZKI David Zsolt (HUN, Husqvarna) +19.694; 6. EBELMANN Rasmus (EST, Husqvarna) +23.097; 7. LAPADULA Leonardo (ITA, TM) +26.020; 8. MATAS Leckas (LTU, TM) +55.754; 9. FATNA Micah (FRA, KTM) +1:39.214; 10. BANG Lorenz (GER, KTM) +1:39.627;
Race 2
Nathan Terraneo (KTM) did not fail the start of Race 2 and after the first corner was leading the pack followed by Andrea Benvenuti (KTM), who overtook his main rival Matej Kokes (Husqvarna) at the first corner. Terraneo immediately set a solid race pace in the first laps and could open a small gap over Benvenuti, who tried to keep the rhythm of the Swiss rider but when understood that Kokes was far he managed the race properly. Nathan Terraneo rode eight solo laps undisturbed.
Courtesy of the two results achieved Andrea Benvenuti won the Mettet race and got back the red plate of Championship leader. Terraneo was second and Kokes rounded off the podium with the third place.
Race 2 Top Ten:
TERRANEO Nathan (SUI, KTM) 8 laps in 14:39.286; 2. BENVENUTI Andrea (ITA, KTM) +03.059; 3. KOKES Matej (CZE, Husqvarna) +09.925; 4. ANDREOTTI Riccardo (ITA, KTM) +17.505; 5. BERECZKI David Zsolt (HUN, Husqvarna) +25.175; 6. EBELMANN Rasmus (EST, Husqvarna) +27.343; 7. LAPADULA Leonardo (ITA, TM) +27.558; 8. BANG Lorenz (GER, KTM) +1:23.245; 9. FATNA Micah (FRA, KTM) +2:39.493; 10. MATAS Leckas (LTU, TM) 0 laps in 00.000;
Benvenuti now has the same number of points as Matej Kokes and will battle it out for the Championship victory in the final race scheduled in one week in Castelletto di Branduzzo, Italy, where the SM Junior will join the prestigious Trophy of Nations.
