Kevin Horgmo sixth in the Dutch GP

F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo claimed sixth in tough conditions at the Dutch round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at Arnhem.

He posted top-three starts in both GP motos to establish a solid base to work on against the local sand experts. Rugged track and climatic conditions made it essential for riders to pace themselves throughout the thirty-minute-plus-two-laps race distance of each moto and the Norwegian acquitted himself well to claim fifth and fourth positions in the two energy-sapping motos. Fourth through the opening turns of race one he had to surrender one position on lap three but maintained a consistent rhythm to stay fifth for ten laps and was rewarded for his patient approach as he regained the position three laps from the finish as many riders paid the penalty for their over-exhuberance in claustrophobic conditions. Another lightening getaway in race two saw him run third throughout the first half of the moto and he even advanced to second at one stage before eventually coming home fourth. His thirty-four point haul was just four shy of the podium and eight less than the winner after two dramatic races. He remains ninth in the series standings but is only two points away from seventh and, with three GPs remaining, he even has a realistic chance of sixth.

Kevin Horgmo: “It was a heavy race but I got two good starts, rode my own race and tried not to make mistakes. In the first moto I found my rhythm mid-moto and I was feeling good in fifth until a lapper crashed in front of me and Jago could pass but I got the place back when another rider crashed near the end. I couldn’t really do anything about Lucas – he was so fast today – in race two but I could stay with Everts and was looking at second until I lost my momentum towards the end of the race when I was too careful in the lappers and Jago got me again.”

It was a frustrating day for David Braceras; the Spaniard deserved more reward after showing good pace in both motos. He was stuck in traffic on the edge of the top-ten throughout the first moto to finish twelfth but was able to find a good rhythm in race two after a top-three start to run a solid seventh until the bike lost power five laps from the end. He is now seventeenth in the series standings.

David Braceras: “I felt good in Warm-up this morning but I didn’t start too well in the first moto and it took me a long time to find my rhythm. I started third in the second race, could stay fourth for a time and top-seven for most of the race but something happened and the bike lost power; it’s a shame but it’s part of the game. Anyway I was pleased with my speed; I have made good progress this year in the sand and I think we can work to improve yet more. But now we come back to hard-pack for the last three GPs.”

DAVID BRACERAS SEVENTH IN SWEDEN

F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Spanish GP rookie David Braceras raced to a career-best seventh in the Swedish round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at Uddevalla.

The youngster had an awkward run through turn one in the first moto to emerge an initial twelfth but was soon on the move to advance to eighth within two laps before the pattern of the race settled and he had to be content with taking that placing to the finish. He held a comfortable fourth through the early stages of race two and he was still looking good after dropping to fifth on lap four; a couple of nervous laps as the rain returned at the twenty-minute stage cost two positions before he regrouped strongly in the final three laps to finish sixth, in the wheeltracks of fifth, for seventh overall.

David Braceras: “It was a really solid weekend; I was good in every session and I was really motivated for today after a good Qualifying yesterday. I almost crashed at the first corner in the first moto but I came back strongly to eighth; I rode a little tight in the first few laps but then I found a really good flow. I was riding top-five for a long time in race two but I made a couple of mistakes and two riders passed me on the same lap. I tried to pass back before the end but it was difficult. Still I am happy with the progress we are making together every weekend and today I took the best overall finish of my GP career.”

Qualifying winner Kevin Horgmo’s KX250 hooked up well out of the gate in race one and he was looking good for another holeshot until the rider next to him failed to hold line halfway to turn one; the two riders touched and the Norwegian found himself sixth after the sort-out through the first few turns. He made a quick pass for fifth, but it was lap eleven before he could find a way through to fourth, a position he then held to the end of the race. A third holeshot of the season and an enthralling surge around the outside of turn two secured the early lead in race two and, to the delight of the numerous fans on the hillside terraces, he led comfortably for five laps until overshooting two turns to slip back to third. The overall podium was still secure until, with just three laps remaining, his bike suffered a loss of power in the inclement weather and ground to a halt.

Kevin Horgmo: “I had three solid motos over the weekend; two holeshots out of three and the riding was good. I was surprised how well the track stood up today with all the rain overnight but it made it more difficult to pass. The lines started to clean up towards the end of the first moto and I had good speed so I was confident for race two. I put myself in the best possible position with the holeshot and felt good in front until I made one small mistake; Adamo came past pretty wild and Längenfelder took advantage to pass me before I could settle again but the podium was still in reach and I had it under control until the bike unfortunately stopped. But we showed I can race for the podium.”

Kevin Horgmo fifth in the Grand Prix of Finland

F&H Kawasaki Racing Team’s Kevin Horgmo raced to fifth overall in the Finnish round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship at the Vantaa facility adjacent to Helsinki International Airport.

Bright skies greeted the teams and fans on race-day and the Norwegian made the most of two top-six starts on the extremely-fast “hard sand” track where the charge to turn one was of great significance. He was fourth from start-to-finish in the first moto, missing the moto-podium by just two seconds. Sixth after the first few turns of race two he surrendered one position at half-distance and spent the remainder of the race frustratingly endavouring to move around the rider he had chased all moto. Fifth overall on the day Horgmo remains ninth in the series standings.

Kevin Horgmo: “I started good in the first moto and rode solid all moto. I was alone most of the race; I couldn’t quite close to Everts but I had a big gap to the rest. I had a good feeling again in race two and was sixth for a long time. I was close to Sacha all moto but just didn’t have the extra speed to make any moves. Of course I want more, but everyone found it difficult to pass here this weekend.”

F&H teammate David Braceras posted a stunning eighth in moto one. The rookie rode a tremendous opening four laps to push forward from ninth to sixth around the sandy track so different to those he was brought up on in his native Spain. He was eventually pushed back to eighth in the closing laps as he was passed by a couple of Belgians so used to this type of track but remained calm to claim a top-ten moto finish for the second time in eight days. An incident on the opening lap of race two left him tailed off at the back of the field but he persevered throughout the thirty-five-minute race to claim fifteenth at the chequered flag, missing the top-ten overall by just a single point. He is eighteenth in the championship standings.

David Braceras: “I was really pleased with my first moto. I started quite good from the outside and moved forward to sixth for fifteen minutes before two sand guys came past near the end. My riding was OK and I was motivated for race two but I crashed quite hard at the second corner; I was under my bike and another rider hit me but I kept pushing all moto for fifteenth. I have pain in all my body so I will rest a little this week before we get ready for Sweden.” I crashed quite hard at the second corner; I was under my bike and another rider hit me but I kept pushing all moto for fifteenth. I have pain in all my body so I will rest a little this week before we get ready for Sweden.”