Back in the European 250 Championship, the Bud Racing Monster Energy riders had a tough weekend in Latvia as neither Brian Moreau not Pierre Goupillon felt comfortable on the rough track of Kegums. Brian scored points in both races with top twelve results, but Pierre didn’t get any point.
One week ago on similar conditions (sandy track and hot temperatures) Brian got his first pole position and the podium honours in the French Elite series, but this weekend was a different story. Fifteenth in a fast qualifying session as the first fifteen riders were all tight within 1.5 seconds, Brian got a good start in the first race but struggled to find his rhythm and could only save a thirteenth position. His second race will be similar with a twelfth position; twelfth of the GP, he is currently sixth in the series.
The weekend was even worse for Pierre, who was back racing after a short break to preserve his knee after his crash in Russia. Very far in the timed practice session Pierre was in the top twenty after the start of the first race, but after several mistakes he couldn’t score any points. His second race was similar, even if the result was a little bit better with a twenty-one position. He is now twelfth of the series.
The team will have a short break next weekend, and then will have five consecutive races with two French Elite and three European GP rounds.
Stéphane Dassé: “Our riders are still missing consistency; Brian was really good one week ago in Bitche, which was also a sandy and hot race, but here in Latvia he was never where he should be. In the practice sessions he made a couple of mistakes and lost his confidence with the track for the entire weekend; he is now sixth in the standings, but the gap with the top guys is now bigger and it will be difficult to reach the podium. Concerning Pierre he hurt his knee in Russia, he made a couple of mistakes there early in each race when he was in the top five and this weekend he was not really there. Everyone will have a short break next weekend, then we’ll go for the French series in Pernes before the next rounds of the EMX250; the British and French GP rounds will be a good opportunity for our riders to do well, and we expect to see them racing for podiums.”
