Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Mathis Valin takes the red plate of the points-leader in the FIM European EMX250 Championship into the summer break, after a fifth overall at Kegums in Latvia.

Fourth-fastest in practice Mathis rounded turn one sixth before making two decisive passes to advance to fourth by lap five. In the closing stages of the race he surrendered one position to an aggressive pass from a championship rival, to cross the finish line in fifth. On Sunday he took the holeshot in the second race and, even though a slight moment on the opening lap cost him the moto lead he was headed for the overall podium as he controlled his championship rivals for five laps until slipping off in a loose turn. Remounting fifth he then faced a lonely ride to the chequered flag; his brace of fifth-placed moto finishes earnt the same position over the weekend, and he takes a healthy thirteen point lead over his closest rival into the summer break as the next round of the series commences at Lommel in Belgium on July 27/28.

Benjamin Garib continued to show the good rhythm of recent rounds after a difficult start to the series. On Saturday the Chilean moved forward from an initial twelfth to tenth at the chequered flag, and he did even better on Sunday to get his best result of the season. Eighth through the early laps, he made a decisive pass for seventh on lap four, resisting all attacks from behind and pushing for sixth throughout the race to earn sixth overall on the day and move further up the series points standings to thirteenth, just ten points shy of the top-ten.
Next weekend the team will be at Ernée for the final race of the French Elite Championship

Mathis Valin: “It was a tough weekend; not exactly what I was expecting after several good races. But I have to accept the situation; that’s life! Today I got a good start and was fast, but to be honest Valk and Reisulis were faster on this track. I had a good rhythm and was close to them but I crashed and lost a couple of positions; my fault. The track was rough; it’s always like that here and I’m happy to be going home safe and still leading the championship after six rounds. Now we have seven weeks to prepare for the next round in Lommel where the goal will be a podium.”

Benjamin Garib: “We can take many positives from this weekend; top six overall and moving up in the points. The track was different to yesterday after the rain overnight; it was very slippery in some parts and more hardpack in others so it felt strange at first but I got a good start and made it happen. Now we have a break until the next round of the European series but we have the final round of the French Elite at Ernée next weekend and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Mathis Valin retained the red plate of the series points-leader and extended his lead in the FIM European EMX250 Championship with his second consecutive series victory at Teutschenthal in Germany. He will have again the red plate on his Bud Racing Kawasaki next weekend in Latvia.

In the first race Mathis swept through turn one seventh but was quickly up to fourth and a clever line-choice on lap four saw him sweep around his closest championship rival for third. A simple error accelerating out of a slippery turn cost him two positions on lap six and he was content to retain fifth to the chequered flag. On Sunday he made a neat inside pass for the lead on lap two after rounding turn one third and remained unruffled when challenged for the lead in the sticky conditions to take the chequered flag second. Within minutes of the finish he was awarded the win as a result of a penalty for a rule-infringement by his rival. The moto victory, together with fifth in Saturday afternoon’s first moto, also ensured overall victory – his second consecutive win in the series – and he has extended his lead in the championship to twenty-six points heading to Latvia next weekend.

On Saturday Benjamin Garib joined his teammate in the top-ten off the start to finish ninth, and he persevered in the demanding conditions of race two, avoiding mistakes to push forward from an initial thirteenth to his second ninth-placed finish of the weekend to secure his best result of the season with eighth overall. The Chilean is now sixteenth in the points standings.

Mathis Valin: « On Sunday morning my goal was to have a podium result, but in the end, as Lata got a penalty, I won the GP. For sure I don’t like to win that way, but it’s good for the championship! I showed my speed again this weekend and I did my best as always; the track was rough but I got a better start on Sunday and that was necessary in these conditions. I took the lead, but when Lata passed me I made a couple of mistakes and had to ride more calmly to finish second. Next up is Latvia; I won there last year in the 125s and I like this track so let’s go!”

Benjamin Garib: “I can take a lot of positives from this weekend. My starts have been costing me this year so we’ve been working on that and I finally got top-ten start again this weekend. On Saturday I rode a solid race – no crashes – and I maintained my pace to stay on two wheels when the rain came to finish ninth. The second moto was muddy, and that is not what I am best at, but I made it happen; I was happy with my riding and stayed on two wheels. Latvia is a new track for me but I’m excited after two solid motos this weekend.”

Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Mathis Valin took over the red plate of the series leader in the FIM European EMX250 Championship after completing his dominant weekend at St Jean d’Angely in his native France with a second moto win and his maiden overall victory in the class.

Mathis was in magnificent form all weekend, confirming his talent as he controlled both motos under fluctuating climatic conditions. He had already secured pole position in a dry Timed Practice and he was clearly not phased when track conditions changed dramatically as rain rolled in from the Atlantic. Fourth through turn one in the first race he quickly slipped through to third within a couple of turns, moved second on lap two and took over the lead on lap four. Quickly opening up a six second lead he maintained his composure in the slippery conditions to eventually take victory by ten seconds. On Sunday the track was still heavy and demanding but nothing could distract him from the task at hand. Second through turn one he dived past for the lead already on the second long downhill and, displaying immaculate bike-control and mature race-skills beyond his tender years aboard the incomparable KX250, he controlled the race from the front to claim his first EMX250 career overall win in the class with a perfect weekend. He also claimed the red plate of the championship leader and takes a twenty-three point advantage over second to the next round. Kawasaki now also leads the FIM Manufacturers’ Championship.

In the first race teammate Benjamin Garib made a superb start from fifteenth gate-pick to run seventh on the opening lap but a mistake on lap four in the slippery conditions pushed him down to thirteenth and, covered in greasy mud, the Chilean eventually finished eighteenth. On Sunday he had gated thirteenth but, looking to advance quickly, slipped off on the greasy surface and remounted way back in thirtieth position. Posting similar lap times to the top-six he narrowly missed the points by one position and is now twenty-third in the series points-standings.
This win is a great reward for Mathis and all the staff of the team, who worked hard since last winter. It was nice to have so many partners and friends with us this weekend, who wera able to celebrate with us this great result.

Mathis Valin: “A perfect weekend here in France with two moto wins! It was amazing this weekend, and I didn’t feel any pressure; it was just a GP like any other even if I felt the crowd behind me; there was more public than yesterday and it was cool to race with this support. I am so happy and enjoyed every minute. If someone had told me at the beginning of the season that I would hold the red plate this year I’m not sure I would have believed them as there are some strong guys with a lot of experience in this championship, but it’s cool to get the red plate and now I will try to keep it until the end of the season.”

Mathis Valin took another podium finish on his Bud Racing Kawasaki in the third round of the FIM European EMX250 Championship at a rain-hit Agueda in Portugal to retain second place in the series standings.

Third in the timed practice session on Saturday, Mathis was initially in the top-ten at the start of the first race on Saturday, as heavy rain swept inland from the Atlantic but he was soon displaying grit and determination to push forward to fourth by lap two. With the ruts getting deeper by the lap he finally broke down the defenses of the series points-leader three laps later before immediately moving clear to chase down the rider ahead of him, claiming his eventual second place with three laps remaining. Excellent trackwork overnight had repaired the rain damage from Saturday but the going was still heavy and unpredictable when light drizzle returned as EMX went to the line. Valin was keen to make an early move with a good start in 2nd position but his plans were dealt a blow within half a lap as he cross-rutted and flew over the bars. He remounted quickly in seventh but was clearly shaken by the crash and needed a couple of laps to settle before advancing decisively back to fourth at the finish despite pain in his left leg. His determination was rewarded with his second podium of the campaign and he retains second in the series headed to the next round on home soil in France at St Jean D’Angely on the weekend of May 18-19.

Bud teammate Benjamin Garib had been impressive and got his best result in Qualifying Practice to post seventh-fastest time but the Chilean was soon involved in collisions with other riders which cost him so much time that, rider and bike covered in greasy mud, he had to be content with thirty-first at the finish. On Sunday at race two he joined his teammate in the top-ten off the start, but his hopes of a good placing were soon negated as a second lap crash pushed him down to twenty-sixth; a difficult race saw the Chilean twenty-second at the finish.

Mathis Valin: “It’s nice to be back on the podium even if the second moto was not what I wanted. This year is a learning year for me in the 250 class so to get podiums is great, but without the crash in the second moto I could have done even better. I knew that the start was important due to the track conditions and I got that today but unfortunately during the first lap I had a huge crash and felt a lot of pain in my left leg. I really don’t know how I could manage to come back to fourth as I couldn’t even put my leg out in the left corners! But a return to the podium is a great reward; we have a weekend off now before the French GP so I will have time to take care of my leg.”

Benjamin Garib: “The weekend started well with good times in practice but the first moto yesterday was so muddy; I had problems with vision so I had to stop for fresh goggles and it was impossible to get back in the points from there. I made a decent start in race two but crashed on the second lap. I’m just feeling disappointed at the moment but we will keep working and I’m looking forward to St Jean d’Angely; I like that track so much.”