The 250 European Championship kick off this weekend on the Spanish track of Red Sand, and thanks to Pierre Goupillon the first red plate of the season is for our team Monster Energy Bud Racing Kawasaki!
Nearly 80 riders were in Spain to qualify for this opening round, and our two riders did easily the job with a third position for Brian Moreau and a fifth place for Pierre Goupillon. None of them really performed at the start of the first race on Saturday, but both had good lines during the first laps and came back in the top ten until Brian crashed while he was 6th after 3 laps. Everyone was then focus on Pierre who came back quickly from sixteenth to tenth, and then never stopped pushing to finally cross the finish line in third position. The second heat on Sunday morning was even better for Pierre who got the holeshot, lead the race during eleven laps and then secured the overall win with a second position. In the top ten after the opening lap Brian did also a strong race to finish fifth only five seconds from the podium for his first international race aboard a 250cc; he is currently tenth in the championship before the next round in three weeks time in Portugal.
Pierre Goupillon: “Yesterday in the first race I missed a good start but I found some good lines and managed to come back to third. Today was different; I got the holeshot and could lead most of the race. In the last part of the race I didn’t wanted to take any risks when Barr pushed me as I knew that even with a second position I won the overall. It’s great to see that the hard work all winter long with the team and Yves is now paying off!”
Brian Moreau: “I’m happy with the second heat, I had a good start and didn’t do too many mistakes even of the track was rough with many bumps. It was a better day than Saturday, as I wasn’t too lucky for the first race; my start was not that great but within two laps I passed many riders. Then when I landed from a big jump I had no rear brake, probably damaged earlier when I was passing other guys. I crashed, was last when I stopped to repair in the pits and then ride, just to get some more experience.”
