The dust has settled in Saint Jean d’Angely after a packed weekend of racing that not only saw MXGP and MX2 riders hit the track but also the best of FIM Europe’s EMX250 and EMX125 presented by FMF Racing championships.
Like adding fuel to a fire, the French riders of Stephen Rubini and Tom Guyon from Honda Red Moto Assomotor and Team VRT, ignited the French crowd as they took the respective overall wins in EMX250 and EMX125 presented by FMF Racing.
As the third round in the 2019 EMX250 Championship, the round of France followed a month and half hiatus since the last stop at Trentino. Coming into this weekend all eyes were on Maddii Racing Husqvarna’s Alberto Forato as led the championship following his perfect races in both the UK and Italy.
The first race of the two took place yesterday after morning qualifying provided an entry list of the top 40 riders. As the gates dropped in race 1 it was Yann Crnjanski taking the holeshot ahead of Honda Redmoto Assomotor’s Stephen Rubini and Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Jimmy Clochet as Forato was buried in the pack.
Before the first lap was finished both Rubini and Clochet had made it past their fellow Frenchman Crnjanski in 1st and 2nd. Behind the leaders F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Roan Van de Moosdijk and SDMCORSE-Yamaha EMX250’s Ruben Fernandez collided sending both to the dirt.
Taking advantage of the pair’s crash was Forato who took over 5th behind Buildbase Honda Racing’s Josh Gilbert. Crnjanski lost third to Gilbert the same lap both then both fell and gave way to Forato who had lost his seat 2 laps prior.
The lack of a seat made the challenging conditions and tough competition even more difficult and after 2 laps of pressure from Yamaha Europe’s Thibault Benistant he lost the spot. At the finish it was a win for Rubini ahead of Clochet and Benistant for an all French top three.
Race 2 this afternoon was led by SteelsDrJack’s Nicholas Lapucci with the Van de Moosdijk and Benistant in 2nd and 3rd. Both Forato and Rubini had poor starts but the both worked forward throughout the race.
Lap after lap Van de Moosdijk pressured Lapucci for the lead but it wasn’t until the 14th of 15 laps that the Dutchman made it past. At the finish it was a well-deserved race win for Van de Moosdijk with Lapucci 2nd while Forato took third from Benistant on the last lap.
The overall however went to Rubini for the first time in his career with his 1-6 scores. The top podium was completed by Forato and Benistant while Clochet and Van de Moosdijk rounded out the top 5.
Saint Jean d’Angely served as the 4th round of EMX125 presented by FMF Racing, just two weeks after the last round took to the drastically different conditions of Mantova. Just like in EMX250 all eyes were on the series points leader Mattia Guadagnini from Maddii Racing Husqvarna.
Of the 68 riders who started the weekend 40 qualified for Saturday’s race 1. The 2-strokes were led by F4E Racing KTM’s Eddie Jay Wade on the opening laps but with the French crowd behind him Team VRT’s Tom Guyon took the lead 3 laps in Saturday and never looked back.
Guadagnini wasn’t off to the best of starts and had to work past a couple of riders such as RFME MX Junior Team’s David Braceras Martinez and KINI KTM Junior Pro Team’s Mike Gwerder to get into 4th.
After chasing down F4E Racing KTM’s Guillem Farres Plaza for 4 laps Guadagnini made a pass for third which is where he would finish behind Wade and the race winner Guyon.
Today’s race 2 started even better for Guyon who led every lap in front of the even bigger Sunday home crowd. Second from start to finish and unable to make a pass for the lead was Guadagnini while Yamaha Europe EMX125’s Florian Miot fell out of 3rd and the race.
Taking over the vacant spot was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay De Wolf but it was Gwerder making the biggest moves forward in the race. Starting around 10th Gwerder made it up to 4th by the finish while Guyon took the race win.
The overall clearly went to Guyon with his 1-1 results with Guadagnini 2nd, Gwerder 3rd, Wade 4th, and Braceras Martinez taking the final spot in the top 5. Guyon’s home win gains him 8 points on Guadagnini in the championship which will return in just over a month at Teutschenthal for the round of Germany.
