Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki claimed another final podium in the French MX2 Elite Championship as Francisco Garcia finished runner-up in the highly-competitive French series, while Jake Cannon scored a top five result.
The sixth and final round of the French Elite took place at Rauville la Place in Normandy; in the MX2 class the situation was extremely close as Francisco was second in the standings, only fifteen points behind series leader Mathys Boisramé.
After posting fourth-fastest time in the Timed Practice Francisco did a decent start and as usual he was quickly in action and had advanced to third at the completion of the opening lap in the first moto. By mid-race he was second behind Janis Reisulis – riding as a ‘wildcard’ at this race – and crossed the finishing line less than two seconds behind the race winner and one position ahead of Boisramé. The gap between them was now only eleven points before the deciding moto of the series and neither title candidate made a good start; Francisco was eighth after one lap and gained three positions during the next few laps but, with his rival just behind him all race, there was no reversal of the situation in the battle for the title. Anyway Francisco can be proud of this silver medal, as he took five consecutive podiums on tracks which he had never raced before.
After taking his first podium in the series at the penultimate round, Jake Cannon confirmed his progress even though he didn’t felt so confident as usual on this track. Seventh in the Timed Practice session, sixth and seventh of the races, he ends the series fifth in the standings only two points from the fourth position. For him also it was a new experience which will help him for the rest of the season.
Stephane Dasse: “The French championships have always been important since we launched the team in 2007, and we enjoyed some success with sixteen gold, four silver and six bronze medals! We have many national partners and we are a French team so the French championships are a great opportunity to invite them and to thank them for their loyalty. This year the level of the MX2 class was very high with close racing; we have great championships and it is a good school for our riders. Francisco battled until the end for the title and Jake finished just two points from fourth place; this championship allows our riders to progress, as Marvin Musquin, Dylan Ferrandis, Maxime Desprey, Xavier Boog or Mathis Valin have each done before them with Bud Kawasaki, and we will continue to contest the French championships as long as we can!”
