The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team travelled south to the quaint village of Lacapelle-Marival this past weekend, as the hard-pack track hosted a stop of the FIM Motocross World Championship for the very first time. Thousands of French fans descended on the venue to get a glimpse of the Grand Prix stars battling it out – they saw an impressive showing from FC 250 rider Jed Beaton.
Beaton continued to be a consistent threat for a position on the podium, as he rocketed out of the gate in the first moto and ended lap one in fourth. Third was acquired quite swiftly and he then held that spot until the very end. Beaton was just two seconds down on the guy in second when the chequered flag fell. A third was a brilliant way to start the race programme and gave him some momentum entering moto two.
A mediocre start in moto two threatened to hinder Beaton, but he put his head down and charged. Beaton started fighting in the top five quite quickly and eventually hit the finish line in sixth, which meant that he was awarded fourth overall on the day. Five measly points separated him from a position up on the podium. Beaton sits fifth in the championship standings, following round twelve.
Kay de Wolf was unlucky in the first moto; he had a hard crash in turn one and could only advance up into nineteenth by the end. The second moto was more positive, as he started in fifteenth and had moved into the top ten by the halfway mark. De Wolf finished eleventh in the moto, which left him thirteenth in the overall classification. Eighth’s the spot that he occupies in the championship standings.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 will travel across to Spain next weekend, as the man-made circuit of intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos will host a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship for the second time.
Jed Beaton: “Today was alright. I needed two good starts and I got that in the first moto, so it ended with a good result. I did not execute the start in the second moto. The track was hard to pass on and one-lined. Some guys made it happen, but it was pretty sketchy. A lot of us were around the same pace today and that made it tricky too. It was a solid day, but it is not what I am looking for. I want more in Spain.”
Kay de Wolf: “I felt really good on the track in time practice. I did not expect it to be so close; P13 was a bit disappointing, even though I was eight tenths from pole. I had a big crash in the first moto and then I had to work my way up. I got back to nineteenth; it was a tough fight. My start was better in the second moto, but not the best. It was a big learning day. We will build from here.”
