During his first season in the 125 class Quentin Prugnières confirmed his potential, as he claimed the 125 French title at only 15 years old and confirmed the expectations of Stephane Dassé and the Bud Racing Kawasaki team.

Not so many riders claimed the 85 title and just one year later the 125 one, but this weekend Quentin entered in the history of French motocross! Leading the series coming to Rauville la Place, Quentin did a strong opening race as he increases his leadership with a second position ahead of his last rival for the title. His second moto was even better, as despite a bad start he won the race to clinch the title with panache.

The final round of the French MX2 was also at the program; posting the fastest lap time and taking the Holeshot, Pierre Goupillon was the boss in the first race during most of the period, but a crash with two laps to go relegates him in fourth place. More focus in the second race he missed a good start but came back second to secure the fourth position of the day and, more important, the third position in the championship despite missing round #2 due to injury. It was a tougher day for Lorenzo Locurcio, who was hit by other riders during the first lap of each moto; Lorenzo never gave up, coming back from 31st to 11th in race one, and from 40th to 8th in race two. What a strong ride from him!
This week the Bud Racing Kawasaki Team will move to Mantova (Italy) for another triple GP within one week; three rounds of the European 250, and also one round of the European 125 will be at the program.

Quentin Prugnières: “Happy to get the title, just a shame that I missed both starts this weekend! I was able to come back twice in the pack; I’m now use to this 125 class, today I had a lot of fun riding the 125 and the results were good. We’ll continue to work, to get some great results in the European championship.”

Pierre Goupillon: “I missed the heat win in moto 1 when I did a mistake with two laps to go, always frustrating to lose a race due to a stupid crash in a corner. Between both motos we worked mentally with Thierry to prepare the second race, but I missed a good start as I did a wheelie; I was eighth and came back second, and then joined the leader. Happy with this second moto as I didn’t do any mistake and posted the fastest lap, I will go to Italy confident.”

Lorenzo Locurcio: “A tough day for sure, things were out of control as in the first moto some guy cut the track and hit me, I went down. I run out of tear off in the second lap, came back eleventh with the fastest time in this moto. Second moto some guy came from the inside and hit me, we went down and I came back from last to eighth. Speed was good this weekend, just unlucky and now I’m very excited to be in Mantova.”

Team Bud Racing Kawasaki was on fire this weekend near his team base, as the Bud Racing Training Camp welcome the opening round of the French Elite in Magescq. The event was successful, and the team performed really well as Pierre Goupillon won the MX2 class while team mates Lorenzo Locurcio and Quentin Prugnières both stand also on the podium of their respective class.

It was the first time in the history of the Bud Training Camp that an official competition was organized, reaching the maximum of persons to attend the event, the organizer had to close the gate middle day Sunday as the event was sold out ! On one of his favourite training facility Pierre Goupillon stormed to an overwhelming two-moto victory in the opening round of the Elite MX2 championship, while new team mate Lorenzo Locurcio finished third overall.

The twenty-one-year-old Frenchman Goupillon, who will head the Kawasaki challenge in the European EMX250 series which swings into action in Latvia next weekend, dominated both motos from start to finish and confirmed that he’s ready for the sandy rounds of the European championship. Coming straight from his native Venezuela a few days earlier Lorenzo Locurcio has signed with the team to replace Mitch Harrison, and he displayed strong potential in both races with a fifth and a third position; on the podium of his first race in Europe, he couldn’t have wished for a better start with the team.

In the Junior class Quentin Prugnières posted the fastest lap time in his qualifying group, and did a solid first moto; runner up during the first part of the race he increase the rhythm to overtake the leader with four laps to go. Winner of the first moto Quentin unfortunately crashed in the opening lap of the second moto; outside the top twenty, he came back fifth to finish second overall.

Pierre Goupillon: “I spent many, many hours training on this track this winter and that helped me to improve my riding skills in the sand. We worked hard with our trainer Thierry Van Den Bosch this winter and I’m confident for this season. We saw today that I’m now a sand rider, even if there’s always some pressure for the first race; I had a good feeling all day and I feel ready for Latvia.”

Lorenzo Locurcio: “It’s been a very positive weekend; it’s been a steep learning curve but I have been working hard with Thierry (Van Den Bosch), the bike is good and I’m really excited! It has always been in my mind to come to Europe one day, so when Stephane (Dasse) called me I jumped on a plane. Since I arrived in Europe I have only practised on sandy tracks; it’s never easy to do your first race with the team on this kind of track so I’m very happy with this podium result.”