GP debut postponed for Brian Moreau

Brian Moreau didn’t really start his first World Championship campaign as expected, as the representative of team Bud Racing Kawasaki and youngest rider of the MXGP circuit got injured during the timed practice session in Argentina. But there’s at least one positive point to bring back from this long trip: Brian could show that he has the speed to battle with the top guys of the category.

Organized this year again in Villa La Angostura, the opening round of the World Championship was too brief for Brian and the staff of the Bud Racing Team, as Brian Hsu injured didn’t do the trip. Discovering this track designed on a slippery land of volcanic origin during the free practice session, Brian put his Kawasaki in eighth position during the timed practice session in what was only his second GP after France last season. Back on the track at the end of the session Brian was testing another line in a corner when his front wheel slides; in the crash his wrist hit the ground, and the medical exams reveal a small crack which forced him to skip the race. Back in France earlier this week to have a dedicate treatment and continue to work on his physical condition, he should be back on his bike within three weeks.

The Team is also announcing the venue of a new rider Lorenzo LOCURCIO coming from Venezuela to race the MX2 GP’s in replacement of Brian HSU who sustained a small back injury few days before heading to Argentina. Lorenzo is actually racing in the USA and will head to France next week to prepare his first GP race in UK Matterley Basin. Welcome Lorenzo !

Stéphane Dassé: “We are of course disappointed after this weekend, as Brian show that he had all the tools to get good results in the World Championship. Hopefully the injury is not too serious and Brian will be back soon on the tracks, the team to be in three weeks time for the next round of the World Championship in Great Britain.”

Final positive test for Brian Moreau and Bud Racing Kawasaki

Team Bud Racing Kawasaki was involved this weekend in its second pre season event of the season, just one-week prior the opening round of the World Championship in Argentina and once more Brian Moreau was one of the fastest MX2 rider on track.

After Mantova two weeks ago, Lacapelle International was the next stop for the team who unfortunately could only line up Brian Moreau as Brian Hsu suffers a lower back injury while practicing earlier last week.

For his second race of the season Brian Moreau showed again tremendous speed all day to lap within half a second of pole during MX2 qualification. Coming from the sixth to the fourth position in the opening MX2 race, Brian was fighting for a podium result but lost his chances and three positions during the second part of the race. He got a great start in race 2 and pressurised the eventual double winner during the early laps, finally losing his rhythm after several attacks on Watson, fourth strongest MX2 rider last season in the World Championship. The teenager set the second fastest time in this race, but his relative inexperience of world racing came into play during the later stages of each race as he tensed up and slowed to finish sixth. But Brian can fly confidently to the opening GP secure in the knowledge that he has the speed to succeed.

Brian Moreau: “It was a decent day and a good training before the first GP, even if I know that I still have some extra work to do. My speed was good and I was fighting with Watson in the second race but physically I’m not ready yet to keep that speed for the entire race; I posted the second fastest lap time, but later in the race I got stomach cramps. Overall I’m happy with the result as this track is not an easy one; in the Super Final it was difficult against the 450 as they shower us with stones.”

First shot of the 2019 Team


Crédit Photo: Jo Sierra Pictures

Italian podium for Brian Moreau and Team BUD racing Kawasaki

Team Bud Racing Kawasaki was in Mantova this weekend, involved in the final round of the” Internazionali d’Italia”. This first race of the season was a good one for Brian Moreau who scores a second place in the MX2 class, while Brian Hsu was back racing after a very long break.

After a long and busy winter for the mechanics and the riders who prepare the comeback of the team in the World Championship, this first race was a good opportunity for everyone to race against some of their future rivals before the GP of Argentina.

One race per class (MX1 and MX2) and a Super Final was the program of the day, and only forty of the 80 riders involved in the MX2 class qualified for the race; both Brian Moreau and Brian Hsu qualified easily in their group with a fourth position for BM225 and a ninth one for BH81. Brian Moreau got an impressive holeshot in the MX2 race, and led the pack during seven laps; only one guy passed him during the race, the reigning MX2 World Champion. Second of this race Brian had a good gate pick for the super final, but he was involved in a huge pile up after the start and was forced to retire with a damaged bike.
The race was tougher for Brian Hsu who was back racing after one year off; Brian posted a decent lap time in the practice session but missed a good start and never had a good feeling with the track.

Brian Moreau: “I’m pretty happy with this first race of the season, even if I did too many mistakes in the timed practice period to get a better result. After my holeshot in the MX2 race I was able to led the race during 12 minutes, and then keep a good rhythm to finish second behind Prado. In the crash at the start of the Super Final I lost one grip on my handle bar and it was nearly impossible to ride like that so I retired. But it was a positive weekend, and we’ll continue to work hard.”

Brian Hsu: “I nearly didn’t race last year, and my goal at this event was to be back behind the gate and try to find a good feeling among my rivals. It was tough to get a good feeling with the track, and after a bad start I struggled and rode stiff but we’ll continue to work and get experience during the next races to get the best results I can during the season.”