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.”
