Just one week after his strong performance in France, Quentin Prugnières had another great weekend in Sardinia as he brings his Bud Racing Kawasaki on the second step of the podium during the opening round of the European Championship.
Riola Sardo in Sardinia is with Lommel (Belgium) the toughest track that the 250 European Championship will visit this season, due to its sandy soil. During the timed practice session Quentin confirmed his ability in the sand with the fifth fastest lap, but that doesn’t help him in the first moto as he was only eighteenth after two corners! Back in the top ten after one lap he was able to come back third at mid race and cross the finish line at this position. On Sunday morning his start was way better as he got the holeshot, and then battled with Italian Bonacorsi for the lead; unfortunately he suffers a small crash in a fast turn, lost a few positions but never give up to come back third with four laps to go. Second overall, he equalled his result of last year in Sweden.
Next week he will be with Anthony Bourdon at the third round of the French Elite, in Britany. Injured last week at Castelnau de Levis, Benjamin Garib will have a shoulder surgery and will miss some races.
Quentin Marc Prugnières: “I was outside the top-fifteen at the start yesterday but I could find some spots where I was able to make passes. The track was pretty physical with a lot of deep holes so I was happy to come back to third; I wasn’t that far from Valk in the last few minutes but I made a mistake and lost a couple of seconds again. But a third in the first race was a good basis for the season. I was really focused at the start of race two today; I was so motivated to get this holeshot. Then we had some nice battles for the lead but I made one single mistake and crashed, but I never give up until the end and was rewarded with a pass near the end. I’m really happy with this podium; it was a tough race but we have worked hard this winter with the team and with Thierry (Van den Bosch) so it’s great to get the reward with this podium.”
