Two weeks after his big crash during the GP of Bulgaria, Valentin Teillet shines in Plomion during the penultimate round of the French Elite series. Winner in the MX2 class, the Rockstar Bud Racing Kawasaki rider is again leading the series, and will go to the final round in three weeks with a minor advantage – one single point! – over his closest rival. Second of the MX2 race, Dylan Ferrandis was unlucky in the last heat just before moving to South America for the next rounds of the World Championship.
Racing on a chalky track is never easy, but if you had some rain it’s even worst! Always suffering from an hematoma in his lower back, Valentin had not an easy opening moto; he was in third position behind Maxime Desprey, his main rival for the title, when Maxime crashed and took with him Valentin. Losing time to restart, and then having troubles to get a good rhythm, Valentin came back third behind his teammate Dylan Ferrandis, two ranks ahead of Desprey. A good start in the super final was a great support for Valentin, who scored a fifth position 250/450 mixed far ahead the other MX2 riders; with this result he is now leading again the series, with a minor advantage of 1 point.
Dylan did a strong performance in the MX2 race, as he missed the victory by a single second after an early crash and some troubles with his vision. He was unfortunate in the super final, as he got twice a stone in his brake pedal and was forced to stop twice in the pits; he will retire after the second incident.
On Tuesday riders, mechanics and manager will fly to Mexico and later San Paolo Brasil for the next two rounds of the World Championships. Then they will be back in France for the final round of the French series and the French Grand Prix, so nobody will have time to rest in May!
Valentin Teillet: “I was disappointed after the first heat, as I lost so much time when I crashed on Desprey’s bike; I was just behind him when he crashed, it was impossible to avoid him. I lost time to restart, and then I was not so happy with my riding. It was better in the super final, and to finish fifth among the 450 is a good result as the track was slippery. I didn’t train during the previous week as I spent most of my time with my doctor. But the most important this weekend was to take points in the series and to keep all chances for the title.”
Dylan Ferrandis: “I’m frustrated as I finish only one race, after my good result in the first heat I was expecting more in the super final. The first part on the MX2 race was not so good, as I didn’t had any more tear off after two laps and then I had a small crash! Finally I got a good rhythm and when I saw that I was coming back on the leader I pushed as I knew it was possible to win. But I didn’t saw so well as I had to clean my goggles with my glove, and I finished just behind the winner. In the super final I had to stop to the pits when I got a stone in my brake pedal, then I had again the same incident and I retired; the track was mainly one line, I was far and there was no possibilities to score points.”
Jacky Vimond: “Valentin was strong this weekend, as he still has pain in his ass but his courage was rewarded as he got back the red plate as leader of the MX2 series. His first heat was more difficult than the super final, where he got a good start among the 450. Dylan didn’t had a strong motivation for this race, as he doesn’t like the track, but when he realized in the opening race that he could win he rode perfectly and with one more lap I think that he would have won. He was motivated for the super final, but he had twice some problems with a stone and that was too much.”