Opening round of the French Elite Championship, race podium for Quentin and a Top 6 for Benjamin

Team Bud Racing Kawasaki officially launched its 2023 season this weekend, with the first round of the French Elite Championship which kicks off at Lacapelle Marival on a renovated track.

On Sunday morning the practice sessions were a great opportunity for the riders to discover the new layout; Quentin Prugnières and Benjamin Garib scored a fifth and a sixth position in their qualifying group, while Anthony Bourdon ends the single MX1 session in ninth. In the first MX2 race Quentin had a decent start, while Benjamin had to recover from a seventeenth position after one lap; he came back ninth, while Quentin was forced to retire when he was fifth with five laps to go. The second heat was much better for both riders as Quentin scores a third position and Benjamin a sixth which put him sixth in the standings, three positions ahead of Quentin before the next round in two weeks’ time at Castelnau de Levis.

For his first race of the season on the 450 Kawasaki, Anthony Bourdon delivers two consistent motos; twice eighth, he is currently ninth in the standings.

Quentin Prugnières: “My first start was average, then I lost time to pass one rider and just after I did it I was forced to retire. My second start was better as I was fourth, it took me a few laps to take a good rhythm and move in third position. I couldn’t j-keep the same rhythm in the last laps, my speed is good but I know that there’s still some work to do before the first round of the European championship in three week’s time in Sardinia.”

Benjamin Garib: “It was exciting to do my first French race, I didn’t get a really good first moto as I crashed but the second one was much better with a good start and a sixth place. I felt more comfortable, the track was super rough but I like it and had fun. I will have a lot of new tracks to discover but I love that, and I will do my best. »

Anthony Bourdon: “First race this season for me and it was a good one, I still need to work on some points but there’s a lot of positive with good starts and two top ten in the races. We have a long season in front of us, and I will do my best to be even better in the next races and come closer to the front positions.”

THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR BUD RACING KAWASAKI IN 2023

Created in 2007, Team Bud Racing Kawasaki has always been invested successfully in several championships every year. With the support of its partners, no less than three championships are on our 2023 program, which will be officially launched on March 5th with the opening round of the French Elite championship.

After winning its twentieth title last year, Team Bud Racing Kawasaki is back racing with riders involved in no less than three championships: the French Elite, the 250 European Motocross and the World Supercross without forgetting some prestigious events such as the Paris Supercross or beach races. A strong program for the team supported since its beginning by Kawasaki, and which revealed in the past young talents such as Marvin Musquin, Dylan Ferrandis or Brian Moreau to name a few. Three riders will defend our colors in the French championship: Quentin Prugnières (17 years old) who is doing his fifth season with us and Benjamin Garib (18 years old) will line up in the MX2 class while Anthony Bourdon (24 years old) will compete in MX1. In the European 250 Championship we will line up Quentin and Benjamin, a young Chilean rider who start racing in the United States where he was spotted by Stéphane Dassé. All three riders have joined Thierry Van Den Bosch, our coach since several years, to go back training and working their fitness since last month.

Stéphane Dassé: “Competition has always been in our heart, and even if times are a bit tough we are still motivated to compete in all these championships. We will race the European 250 again this year, although the increase number of races and travel complicates the deal, now we’ve eleven rounds in the EMX and it’s getting complicated for the teams to combine with national championships ! Quentin is contesting his last season in this championship and after some good performances last year he is expected to fight for victory. He must do one more step to win, be a little faster in qualifying to have good positions behind the grid and make good starts. This championship is always very strong, I know that physically he is ready, it’s up to him to play! As for Benjamin, he will discover a new world, new tracks, he has good potential and we hope to see him closer to the top 5 through the season. Regarding the World Supercross, it’s a very big potential and interesting championship, we already signed Cédric Soubeyras who is the best in Europe actually and we are finalizing our contacts with his three teammates, which will be revealed soon.”

Perfect score for Amandine Verstappen in France European Top 10 for Eddie Wade and Quentin Prugnières

While Amandine Verstappen break records in France where she remains unbeatable, Quentin Prugnières, Eddie Wade and team 9MM Energy Drink BUD Racing Kawasaki move to Belgium for the seventh round of the European Championship.

Before moving to Lommel and its deep sand, where the EMX250 was back to action after a six weeks break, both Quentin and Eddie trained hard on the sandy track at the Bud Racing Training Camp. In the timed practice session, they show that this preparation was good as Quentin posted the fourth fastest lap time and Eddie the seventh best time of their group. On Saturday the track was still ‘decent’ for the first heat, and Quentin fight for the podium all race long; ninth after the opening lap he cross the finish line in fourth, just two seconds behind the leader of the series. Eddie had a tougher race, but he confirmed his improvements in the sand as he came back from twenty fifth to eleventh.

Sunday the track was rougher after so many training sessions and races, and both Quentin and Eddie got a good start as they were fifth and eighth after one lap. It doesn’t take a while for Quentin to come fourth, while Eddie crashed and regressed in nineteenth position. But he will be the best Bud representative in this race as he finishes eleventh despite another crash, while Quentin was forced to retire with a technical issue.

Coming as a neighbour to support her team mates, Amandine Verstappen didn’t miss this opportunity to watch the races. One week earlier she was racing the fourth round of the French Women series at Ouville in Normandy, and once more she won both races. It was her 37th and 38th consecutive moto win in the championship, a record that nobody will never beat for sure! The series will continue on September 18th, but before she will race the final round of the World Championship in Turkey on September 3rd and 4th.

Quentin and Eddie have a break next weekend, before moving to Sweden, Finland and France (Saint Jean d’Angely on August 20-21) for the final rounds of the EMX250.

Final round of the French Elite at Basly: A podium for Quentin and a top 5 for Eddie

Team 9MM Energy Drink BUD Racing Kawasaki was in Normandy this weekend, for the final round of the French Elite Championship. No goals in this championship this season for the team as four rounds were organised the same day as a European Championship, but another good opportunity for our riders to perform, with a second position for Quentin and a fifth for Eddie.

After some showers in the morning the track at Basly was in perfect conditions for the races, and many spectators came to watch this final round. Fastest rider in the timed practice period Quentin Prugnières was twice in contention for the win, as he got two good starts and battle with GP riders to score in both races a second position. Third of the event, he confirms his progress since a few races and so did also Eddie Wade. Fourth of this qualifying group, Eddie did both motos in the top five, just losing time in the first race with a crash; fifth in both motos and fifth overall, he will now make a little break as the next European round is scheduled on July 23-24 at Lommel.

Quentin Marc Prugnières: “Another positive weekend, and it was a good training for the European championship as in both races there was a good pace with the other riders fighting for the podium. I had a good start in the second moto, it was a good day and now I’m focus on the sand to prepare the next round of the European championship in Lommel.”

Eddie Jay Wade: “It took me some time to get going in qualifying and then some traffic at the end of the session but I was happy to finish fourth. First moto I came third very quick after an average start, then had a small crash but took some time to get going and then came back to fifth very happy with my riding. Second moto a very good start in second but at the start of the race I was tense and some guys passed me but then at the end I was back in fifth. Now I need to get the first part of the moto together and then the podium is there.”

Double win for Amandine in France, Top eight for Eddie in Italy

Reigning French Champion, Amandine Verstappen didn’t miss another opportunity to put again her 9MM Energy Drink Bud Racing Kawasaki on the top of the box in the opening round of the 2022 French Championship at St Eloi. In Italy for the European Championship, Eddie Wade and Quentin Prugnières have not really been rewarded for their efforts, even if Eddie signs an encouraging top eight.

Amandine had always enjoyed the track at St Eloi, and once more there was no rival to stop her. She had a perfect day with the pole position, two holeshots and two heat wins, and things couldn’t be better before the next round of the World Championship next weekend at Riola Sardo.

There in Sardinia she will share the Bud awning with Eddie Wade and Quentin Prugnières, who were in Italy for the EMX250.

Saturday the track was dry for the first moto, but both struggle at the start as Eddie staled his engine while Quentin was involved in a huge pile up in the first corner. Back from thirtieth to twelfth, Quentin did a strong comeback while Eddie finish thirteenth. Sunday the track was muddy after heavy rain in the night, and the track was challenging; Eddie got a great start and did a strong race to finish sixth, while Quentin had again to come back from behind as another rider hit him at the start. He was back in tenth position when he received a stone in an eye, and lost some positions. Both have the speed for podium results, they just need some luck in the first meters of the races!

Amandine: “Lately I’ve been training mainly in the sand to prepare for the World Championship in Sardinia, so I didn’t had a good feeling during the practice sessions but I posted the best time. I grabbed both holeshots and won the two motos, I had fun on the bike, so it’s good for my mental and it’s been a good training session before being back to the GP’s next weekend.”

Quentin: “In the first heat there was a big crash at the start, I left far behind and I’m quite happy with the ride. I did well at the start of the second moto, but I got hit at the first corner. I rode well until I had to take off the mud-stained goggles, I couldn’t breathe properly with the weight of the mud on the helmet. I went up ten and was attacking the ninth when I took a pebble in the eye which forced me to stop for a moment. It’s frustrating to work so hard and not be rewarded, but there is still a lot of racing and we are not giving up, especially since the lap times were very good.”

Eddie: “Overall it was a pretty good weekend, going in the right direction and I was very happy with the qualifying session. First race I made a stupid mistake in the first corner, I staled the bike, not really happy about it. Then I came back in the top ten but after a small crash I lost a few positions to finish thirteenth. Second moto I had a very good start, we work on this but during the first lap I was very slow, I don’t really know why and we have to work on it. I had a good rhythm but did little mistakes and a few guys passed me, then I had to take my goggles off, and again I ride well until the end but it was too late.”