Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Mathis Valin narrowly missed the podium in round two of the EMX250 Championship at Pietramurata in the Trentino region of northern Italy but the French teenager retained a secure second place in the series standings.

A single slip in each race cost the youngster a second consecutive podium in his rookie season in the class, but he displayed character and determination to regain his composure and charge back up the leaderboard to finish fourth in each moto. He spun out in a loose-surfaced turn on the third lap of Saturday afternoon’s first moto after quickly advancing to fourth; the incident cost him three positions but he responded well to recover fourth place five laps from the close despite discomfort in his leg from the crash. In race two on Sunday morning he found himself squeezed towards the trackside banking heading into the first turn but was again quickly on the move to seventh before tipping over in a tight turn at the start of lap four to surrender two positions. Undaunted by the slip he persevered with decisive passes on consecutive laps mid-moto to make fourth his own four laps from the end. He now trails the championship leader by sixteen points but is seventeen clear of third in the standings.

Bud teammate Benjamin Garib had no joy in Saturday’s first moto as he was involved in a mass collision on the exit from turn one but the Chilean showed his speed and determination in race two as he advanced consequently from a fifteenth-placed start to seventh – with his sights set on fifth – two laps from the finish before a fall pushed him back to eighth at the chequered flag.

Mathis Valin: “ After my crash yesterday I had so much pain in my leg that I could hardly walk when I came back to the team truck and I didn’t sleep so well last night. But today I did my best to get some important points with another fourth-placed finish; in the first part of the race I still had some pain, especially when I was sitting down, but it became less painful mid-moto and I could make some passes. I didn’t really enjoy this track so much but the results show that all the work we did this winter is paying off and overall I’m happy as I’m still second in the standings.”

Benjamin Garib: ” Saturday was not a good way to start the weekend with a crunch at the first corner but my start was better today and I was right on the pack. I could make some good passes but I had a small crash near the end which cost me a couple of places. I enjoyed the track, but it was a new experience and very tricky with the grip; you had to be very careful with line-choice. I’m happy with my riding; I just need to figure out my starts.”

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Mathis Valin was impressive in his first ever 250 European race, as he sensationally raced to a moto victory and second overall on his debut in the European EMX250 Championship in the suburb of Madrid.

On Saturday afternoon Mathis had already shown his potential in the first moto as he charged from sixth on the opening lap to finish third, less than four seconds behind the winner and he was truly in his element in race two on Sunday morning. Gating second he moved confidently into the lead already on the opening lap and controlled the race to the finish in heavy track conditions with deep sticky ruts after extensive overnight track-watering. Quickly breaking away from the chasing pack he showed great maturity to extend his lead to seven seconds by half-distance, coolly maintaining his advantage to the chequered flag. The moto win appeared to the key to overall victory too as he entered the final lap but there was heartbreak as his rival for the top step of the weekend podium was gifted a position three corners from the finish to reverse the overall standings. But, with second overall and a moto win Kawasaki’s class newcomer can look forward with confidence to the next races.

Mathis Valin: “Incredible! Already yesterday I had a good feeling; the track changed a lot throughout the day but that was not a problem as I feel very comfortable on the bike. Then today I had another good start; I took the lead when van Erp crashed and I could made a gap to control the race. I have always enjoyed racing in muddy conditions but to win a moto in my second race on the 250 is incredible! I stayed calm until the chequered flag; I just lost the red plate as Lata gained one position on the last lap but anyway it’s great to be on the podium. We had a good winter with the team and the hard work is paying off, it’s great to offer them this podium and I’m proud of this first moto win.”

Benjamin Garib on the second Bud Racing Kawasaki had to dig deep from midfield starts in both motos from the middle of the gate after a disappointing Timed Practice had left him with sixteenth pick. The Chilean’s frustration was intensified in the first moto as he was dragged down in a multiple-rider pile-up on the opening lap and narrowly missed the points in twenty-second after a tough recovery from the back of the forty-rider pack. Sixteenth in the early stages of race two he advanced to fourteenth by mid-moto and, maintaining his lap times to the finish, grabbed two places on the final lap to finish twelfth.

Benjamin Garib: “I didn’t get the results I wanted this weekend but I will learn from my mistakes; I don’t feel so comfortable in muddy conditions but at least I stayed on two wheels today. My thanks to the team and my mechanics; we will keep pushing and training and look for a return to best form in the French championship race next weekend.”

With three riders, the French team will compete in four different championships in 2024: the French Supercross and Motocross championships, the EMX250 European Motocross Championship, and the WSX World Supercross Championship.

As usual, Team Bud Racing has again this year taken under its wing a young French talent, Mathis Valin (17 yo), who already has a fine list of achievements to his credit, including Junior World Champion, EMX125 European vice-champion and 2023 French Junior Champion.

At the age of 17, Mathis will join the big boys and take part in the French Elite MX2 championship as well as the European EMX250 championship, just like his team-mate, the young Chilean Benjamin Garib, who is back for a second year on his Kawasaki 250. Both will be trained by former Supermotard world champion Thierry Van Den Bosch, the Team’s riding trainer and sports coach for over 5 years.

Currently 7th in the prestigious American Supercross Championship on the West Coast, Anthony Bourdon will be well-prepared to start the French Supercross Championship in the premier class in June. Runner-up in last year’s French SX 450 championship with Bud Racing, he is aiming for the title in 2024. He will also be representing the team and its sponsors at various international events throughout the year.

As for the World Supercross Championship, where the Bud Racing Kawasaki Team is one of ten teams selected by the promoter, the team line-up and calendar will be made official in a few weeks’ time.

Team Bud Racing Kawasaki will kick off the season this weekend with the opening round of the French Motocross Championship at Lacapelle Marival.

Stéphane Dassé: “We can’t wait to start the season. The riders had a great winter, starting earlier than the other years, so that they could be at 100% right from the start of the season. Thierry and I are delighted with their commitment and their state of mind. Mathis has integrated well into the team and the whole team is working in the same direction. As for Benjamin, he’s really keen to show that he can ride in front in Europe in his second year away from his homeland. It’s going to be a long season for our two youngsters, with over 20 races between the French and European championships, starting this weekend with the opening of the French Elite Championship. As for Anthony, he’s having a superb Supercross season in the USA, and will continue to learn there before returning to France for the SX season.”