Mathis Valin retained the red plate of the series points-leader and extended his lead in the FIM European EMX250 Championship with his second consecutive series victory at Teutschenthal in Germany. He will have again the red plate on his Bud Racing Kawasaki next weekend in Latvia.
In the first race Mathis swept through turn one seventh but was quickly up to fourth and a clever line-choice on lap four saw him sweep around his closest championship rival for third. A simple error accelerating out of a slippery turn cost him two positions on lap six and he was content to retain fifth to the chequered flag. On Sunday he made a neat inside pass for the lead on lap two after rounding turn one third and remained unruffled when challenged for the lead in the sticky conditions to take the chequered flag second. Within minutes of the finish he was awarded the win as a result of a penalty for a rule-infringement by his rival. The moto victory, together with fifth in Saturday afternoon’s first moto, also ensured overall victory – his second consecutive win in the series – and he has extended his lead in the championship to twenty-six points heading to Latvia next weekend.
On Saturday Benjamin Garib joined his teammate in the top-ten off the start to finish ninth, and he persevered in the demanding conditions of race two, avoiding mistakes to push forward from an initial thirteenth to his second ninth-placed finish of the weekend to secure his best result of the season in EMX250 with eighth overall.
Mathis Valin: « On Sunday morning my goal was to have a podium result, but in the end, as Lata got a penalty, I won the GP. For sure I don’t like to win that way, but it’s good for the championship! I showed my speed again this weekend and I did my best as always; the track was rough but I got a better start on Sunday and that was necessary in these conditions. I took the lead, but when Lata passed me I made a couple of mistakes and had to ride more calmly to finish second. Next up is Latvia; I won there last year in the 125s and I like this track so let’s go!”
Benjamin Garib: “I can take a lot of positives from this weekend. My starts have been costing me this year so we’ve been working on that and I finally got top-ten start again this weekend. On Saturday I rode a solid race – no crashes – and I maintained my pace to stay on two wheels when the rain came to finish ninth. The second moto was muddy, and that is not what I am best at, but I made it happen; I was happy with my riding and stayed on two wheels. Latvia is a new track for me but I’m excited after two solid motos this weekend.”
