Team Bud Racing Kawasaki officially launched its 2023 season this weekend, with the first round of the French Elite Championship which kicks off at Lacapelle Marival on a renovated track.
On Sunday morning the practice sessions were a great opportunity for the riders to discover the new layout; Quentin Prugnières and Benjamin Garib scored a fifth and a sixth position in their qualifying group, while Anthony Bourdon ends the single MX1 session in ninth. In the first MX2 race Quentin had a decent start, while Benjamin had to recover from a seventeenth position after one lap; he came back ninth, while Quentin was forced to retire when he was fifth with five laps to go. The second heat was much better for both riders as Quentin scores a third position and Benjamin a sixth which put him sixth in the standings, three positions ahead of Quentin before the next round in two weeks’ time at Castelnau de Levis.
For his first race of the season on the 450 Kawasaki, Anthony Bourdon delivers two consistent motos; twice eighth, he is currently ninth in the standings.
Quentin Prugnières: “My first start was average, then I lost time to pass one rider and just after I did it I was forced to retire. My second start was better as I was fourth, it took me a few laps to take a good rhythm and move in third position. I couldn’t j-keep the same rhythm in the last laps, my speed is good but I know that there’s still some work to do before the first round of the European championship in three week’s time in Sardinia.”
Benjamin Garib: “It was exciting to do my first French race, I didn’t get a really good first moto as I crashed but the second one was much better with a good start and a sixth place. I felt more comfortable, the track was super rough but I like it and had fun. I will have a lot of new tracks to discover but I love that, and I will do my best. »
Anthony Bourdon: “First race this season for me and it was a good one, I still need to work on some points but there’s a lot of positive with good starts and two top ten in the races. We have a long season in front of us, and I will do my best to be even better in the next races and come closer to the front positions.”
