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.”
