En attendant le retour prochain de Brian Moreau qui récupère de sa blessure au poignet, Jimmy Clochet représentait le team Bud Racing Kawasaki lors de l’ouverture du championnat Elite à Castelnau de Lévis. Pour sa seconde sortie en 450 Jimmy se classe sixième de cette épreuve, avant de prendre part ce weekend a l’ouverture du championnat d’Europe 250 en Grande Bretagne.
Quentin Prugnières gagne chez les espoirs !

Avec des averses intermittentes et de fraiches bourrasques de vent, il fallait être très vigilant dimanche pour ne pas faire d’erreurs sur le tracé de Castelnau. Pour sa seconde apparition en course sur la 450 KXF Bud Racing, Jimmy qui a fêté ses 20 ans cet hiver bénéficiait d’une bonne place de la grille mais il n’en aura pas tiré profit au premier départ. Complètement enfermé en queue de peloton il va s’appliquer à remonter méthodiquement, franchissant la ligne d’arrivée à une bonne septième place. Bien mieux parti en seconde manche ou le holeshot lui échappait de peu il fera une solide course exempte d’erreurs pour se classer sixième.

Les jeunes crossmen Français en décousaient eux aussi à Castelnau, et chez les espoirs c’est Quentin Prugnières qui allait faire briller les couleurs Bud Racing en s’imposant. Absent des circuits l’an passé suite à des problèmes de santé, Quentin qui fetera ses 14 and en mai prochain, remporte la première manche, avant de rater son départ dans la seconde ; revenu jusqu’en seconde position, il remporte cette première épreuve et portera donc la plaque rouge de leader dans un mois à Romagne (Bretagne).

Jimmy Clochet : « J’avais un peu de pression avant cette épreuve, mais de la bonne pression et l’envie de bien défendre les couleurs Bud Racing pour cette première épreuve de l’Elite. Le MX Inter de Sommières s’était bien passé la semaine dernière, mais Castelnau de Lévis est une piste particulière en 450 surtout avec la météo de dimanche. J’ai complètement raté mon départ en patinant sur la grille, je remonte de la 29ème à la 7ème place dans une catégorie très relevée avec quelques pilotes de GP. J’ai quasiment fait le holeshot en seconde manche, j’ai pu contrer des garçons comme Tixier ou Coldenhoff pendant quelques minutes pour finir sixième de cette manche, un résultat pleinement satisfaisant pour une première sortie en Elite MX1. »

Quentin Prugnières : « Je suis assez content du weekend, mais j’aurais bien sûr préféré gagner les deux manches. En seconde manche j’ai tout perdu en ratant mon départ, j’ai mis du temps à remonter sur une piste sèche et compliquée mais j’ai pu réduire mon retard sur le leader de 15 à 3 secondes. J’ai beaucoup travaillé cet hiver avec Steven Frossard qui est aujourd’hui mon entraineur, le courant est rapidement passé entre nous. »

Brian Moreau didn’t really start his first World Championship campaign as expected, as the representative of team Bud Racing Kawasaki and youngest rider of the MXGP circuit got injured during the timed practice session in Argentina. But there’s at least one positive point to bring back from this long trip: Brian could show that he has the speed to battle with the top guys of the category.

Organized this year again in Villa La Angostura, the opening round of the World Championship was too brief for Brian and the staff of the Bud Racing Team, as Brian Hsu injured didn’t do the trip. Discovering this track designed on a slippery land of volcanic origin during the free practice session, Brian put his Kawasaki in eighth position during the timed practice session in what was only his second GP after France last season. Back on the track at the end of the session Brian was testing another line in a corner when his front wheel slides; in the crash his wrist hit the ground, and the medical exams reveal a small crack which forced him to skip the race. Back in France earlier this week to have a dedicate treatment and continue to work on his physical condition, he should be back on his bike within three weeks.

The Team is also announcing the venue of a new rider Lorenzo LOCURCIO coming from Venezuela to race the MX2 GP’s in replacement of Brian HSU who sustained a small back injury few days before heading to Argentina. Lorenzo is actually racing in the USA and will head to France next week to prepare his first GP race in UK Matterley Basin. Welcome Lorenzo !

Stéphane Dassé: “We are of course disappointed after this weekend, as Brian show that he had all the tools to get good results in the World Championship. Hopefully the injury is not too serious and Brian will be back soon on the tracks, the team to be in three weeks time for the next round of the World Championship in Great Britain.”

Brian Hsu #81

Brian Moreau #225

Conception: PBO Design / Photo: Jo Sierra Pictures

Team Bud Racing Kawasaki was in Mantova this weekend, involved in the final round of the” Internazionali d’Italia”. This first race of the season was a good one for Brian Moreau who scores a second place in the MX2 class, while Brian Hsu was back racing after a very long break.

After a long and busy winter for the mechanics and the riders who prepare the comeback of the team in the World Championship, this first race was a good opportunity for everyone to race against some of their future rivals before the GP of Argentina.

One race per class (MX1 and MX2) and a Super Final was the program of the day, and only forty of the 80 riders involved in the MX2 class qualified for the race; both Brian Moreau and Brian Hsu qualified easily in their group with a fourth position for BM225 and a ninth one for BH81. Brian Moreau got an impressive holeshot in the MX2 race, and led the pack during seven laps; only one guy passed him during the race, the reigning MX2 World Champion. Second of this race Brian had a good gate pick for the super final, but he was involved in a huge pile up after the start and was forced to retire with a damaged bike.
The race was tougher for Brian Hsu who was back racing after one year off; Brian posted a decent lap time in the practice session but missed a good start and never had a good feeling with the track.

Brian Moreau: “I’m pretty happy with this first race of the season, even if I did too many mistakes in the timed practice period to get a better result. After my holeshot in the MX2 race I was able to led the race during 12 minutes, and then keep a good rhythm to finish second behind Prado. In the crash at the start of the Super Final I lost one grip on my handle bar and it was nearly impossible to ride like that so I retired. But it was a positive weekend, and we’ll continue to work hard.”

Brian Hsu: “I nearly didn’t race last year, and my goal at this event was to be back behind the gate and try to find a good feeling among my rivals. It was tough to get a good feeling with the track, and after a bad start I struggled and rode stiff but we’ll continue to work and get experience during the next races to get the best results I can during the season.”