Evgeny Bobryshev Honda CRF450R - Photo by Ray Archer - Photo courtesy Honda Pro Racing
Race Report - MX1 World Championship, Round 9 Kegums Latvia
Honda riders feel the heat - Bobryshev narrowly misses out on podium in Latvia
Evgeny Bobryshev cemented the pace he showed during practice and in yesterday’s Qualifying Race in Kegums, Latvia with a strong 2nd place finish in the first moto. The likeable Russian (in his debut year in the MX1 World Championship) got the start he was looking for and rounded the first corner in 4th. By the end of the first lap he was leading and was already gapping Suzuki’s Steve Ramon.
Honda Racing MX Martin rider Jimmy Albertson had also got away clean and was running a podium position for much of the early stages. LS Motors Honda riders Tanel Leok and Davide Guarneri had both become bogged down in the mid-field but soon began making in-roads on the top 10.
The pace was frantic and in the hot Latvian sun Bobryshev started to fade as the 10sec gap he had amounted was slowly being eaten into by Suzuki’s Clement Desalle, who was charging hard! With only minutes to go before the two lap board and with Bobryshev seemingly running out of juice after setting off with such pace, the Belgian (Desalle) made a pass on the CAS Honda rider for the lead and race victory.
Elsewhere Albertson had begun to fade – still struggling with a lack of training due to injury – and was shuffled back down the field behind the two LS Motors Honda riders Guarneri and Leok, who were involved in an in-team tussle of their own, eventually finishing 8th and 9th with Albertson in 12th.
In the second moto, Bobryshev once again got away well, although not quite the lightning start of the first moto. Albertson also repeated his impressive start from race 1 as the two Honda riders ran 5th and 7th respectively. CAS Honda rider, Bobryshev was pushing in the early stages as he reeled in KTM’s Max Nagl in 4th, but seemed mindful of pacing himself for the whole race.
The Honda contingent of Leok, Guarneri, Swanepoel and Albertson surrounded the top ten running 8th-12th as the race unfolded ,while Bobryshev had made the pass for 4th stick and set about chasing down the two Suzuki’s of Desalle and Ramon.
Unfortunately it wasn’t to be as once again the heat of Kegums put pay to his challenge. A finish of 4th in the second moto meant a finish of 4th overall, tied on the same points as Ramon but with the Belgian’s two podiums taking precedence.
Leok and Guarneri finished 8th and 9th overall respectively, while problem for both Albertson and Swanepoel in the later stages of the second moto saw them slip out of the top 10 overall classification.
Next is Sweden and Bobryshev will be eyeing up that podium once more but all 5 MX1 Honda riders will have the same idea and there are only 3 steps.
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 Evgeny Bobryshev, CAS Honda:
“The track was hard bumpy and sharp and sometimes there were some sketchy moments that sapped the energy but it was fun. I am happy with the result but I am little disappointed on missing the podium but I am still looking forward and think that podiums are still to come.”
Gareth Swanepoel, CAS Honda:
“I am happy with the way things went but not happy with the result. My start in the first moto compromised me. It was a weekend of frustration as in the second moto I stalled the bike but I feel as though I am taking steps forward and am looking forward to Sweden.”
Jimmy Albertson,
Honda Racing MX Martin:
“I had a problem in the second moto, it was a cam problem that began when I was in the gate and finally it let go. The bike was running well all weekend and then just a small problem caught us out. My pace was good in practice, qualifying and in the first moto but I think I set off too quick and kinda forgot to breath. My physical condition is coming back but I am going to step up the training in the coming weeks.”
Davide Guarneri, LS Motors Honda:
“It was a hard race for me, the track was really rough and I struggled a bit with the sand. Top 10 is good though, even though it could be better. I am happy with my consistent top 10 finishes in recent Grand Prix. But want to start turning them into top 5s. I am always looking for improvement.”
Tanel Leok, LS Motors Honda:
“I felt happy with my physical condition and my pace throughout the race but I keep having trouble with my starts. I seem to keep getting unlucky with little things. If I can get the start then I know I have the pace to run at the front.”
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For all media enquiries, please contact
Tom Hobbs in the Honda Motor Europe Press Office www.hondaproracing.com |
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