Back in the European 250 Championship, the Bud Racing Monster Energy riders had a tough weekend in Latvia as neither Brian Moreau not Pierre Goupillon felt comfortable on the rough track of Kegums. Brian scored points in both races with top twelve results, but Pierre didn’t get any point.

One week ago on similar conditions (sandy track and hot temperatures) Brian got his first pole position and the podium honours in the French Elite series, but this weekend was a different story. Fifteenth in a fast qualifying session as the first fifteen riders were all tight within 1.5 seconds, Brian got a good start in the first race but struggled to find his rhythm and could only save a thirteenth position. His second race will be similar with a twelfth position; twelfth of the GP, he is currently sixth in the series.

The weekend was even worse for Pierre, who was back racing after a short break to preserve his knee after his crash in Russia. Very far in the timed practice session Pierre was in the top twenty after the start of the first race, but after several mistakes he couldn’t score any points. His second race was similar, even if the result was a little bit better with a twenty-one position. He is now twelfth of the series.
The team will have a short break next weekend, and then will have five consecutive races with two French Elite and three European GP rounds.

Stéphane Dassé: “Our riders are still missing consistency; Brian was really good one week ago in Bitche, which was also a sandy and hot race, but here in Latvia he was never where he should be. In the practice sessions he made a couple of mistakes and lost his confidence with the track for the entire weekend; he is now sixth in the standings, but the gap with the top guys is now bigger and it will be difficult to reach the podium. Concerning Pierre he hurt his knee in Russia, he made a couple of mistakes there early in each race when he was in the top five and this weekend he was not really there. Everyone will have a short break next weekend, then we’ll go for the French series in Pernes before the next rounds of the EMX250; the British and French GP rounds will be a good opportunity for our riders to do well, and we expect to see them racing for podiums.”

Mixed feeling for the team Bud Racing Monster Kawasaki after this long trip in Russia, as they bring back home a good result for the youngest member of the team Brian Moreau while Pierre Goupillon was forced to retire in both races. The team is now moving to Bitche for the French Elite series, and will continue his trip with the upcoming GP’s of Latvia and Germany.

Built close to the Black Sea 200 kilometres from Sochi the track of Orlyonok is one of the fastest one of the season, and with high temperatures during the weekend the layout was slippery due to the watering between the races. The track was nearly perfect for the practice session on Saturday morning, and Pierre and Brian qualified in seventh and eighth position; everyone was going fast, with the top fifteen riders tight within two seconds. The track was different in the evening for the first race, and for Pierre it was a very short one as he collided with Mel Pocock during the opening lap; just after the crash Pierre was raising his bike when his rival pushed him and his Kawasaki down! Even if Pocock was disqualified after the race, Pierre also lost many points as he couldn’t re start… Eleventh at the beginning of the race Brian did a good race, making no mistakes to finish sixth. On Sunday morning the track was muddy for the second race, and once more Pierre was unlucky as he was involved in a collective crash during the first lap, forced to retire after a few laps with a broken foot peg; not feeling as comfortable in this race Brian scored an eighth position, to secure a seventh overall and his best result so far in the series. At 16 years old and being the youngest rider of the class for his first season in 250cc class, He’s now eighth in the standings, one position ahead of Pierre, and only 24 points from the leader with eight more races at the calendar.

Brian Moreau: “This track was very fast, this is not really my favourite but it was the same for everyone. There’s positive and negative points from this GP, I will say that the positive is the fact that I scored two top eight results and the negative is that I was not feeling comfortable in the second race with the mud and the hot temperature. The first race was good even if I lose one position during the last laps, the second one was disappointing as I was expecting a podium result and finished eight. But I never score so many points this season in one GP, so we’ll continue to work hard before the next one in Latvia.”

Pierre Goupillon: “A weekend to forget, as I could only do a few laps in each race. After our crash with Pocock I couldn’t imagine that he would throw my bike outside of the track, it was impossible to re start from there. Then in the second race my foot peg was broken in the crash, I try to ride like that but it was dangerous. I’m focus on the next rounds, we know that the championship is long and everything is possible.”

The 250 European Championship kick off this weekend on the Spanish track of Red Sand, and thanks to Pierre Goupillon the first red plate of the season is for our team Monster Energy Bud Racing Kawasaki!

Nearly 80 riders were in Spain to qualify for this opening round, and our two riders did easily the job with a third position for Brian Moreau and a fifth place for Pierre Goupillon. None of them really performed at the start of the first race on Saturday, but both had good lines during the first laps and came back in the top ten until Brian crashed while he was 6th after 3 laps. Everyone was then focus on Pierre who came back quickly from sixteenth to tenth, and then never stopped pushing to finally cross the finish line in third position. The second heat on Sunday morning was even better for Pierre who got the holeshot, lead the race during eleven laps and then secured the overall win with a second position. In the top ten after the opening lap Brian did also a strong race to finish fifth only five seconds from the podium for his first international race aboard a 250cc; he is currently tenth in the championship before the next round in three weeks time in Portugal.

Pierre Goupillon: “Yesterday in the first race I missed a good start but I found some good lines and managed to come back to third. Today was different; I got the holeshot and could lead most of the race. In the last part of the race I didn’t wanted to take any risks when Barr pushed me as I knew that even with a second position I won the overall. It’s great to see that the hard work all winter long with the team and Yves is now paying off!”

Brian Moreau: “I’m happy with the second heat, I had a good start and didn’t do too many mistakes even of the track was rough with many bumps. It was a better day than Saturday, as I wasn’t too lucky for the first race; my start was not that great but within two laps I passed many riders. Then when I landed from a big jump I had no rear brake, probably damaged earlier when I was passing other guys. I crashed, was last when I stopped to repair in the pits and then ride, just to get some more experience.”