Sixth podium of the year for Francisco Garcia
Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Francisco Garcia stormed back from a poor start in the second moto to claim his sixth podium of the European EMX250 Motocross Championship campaign at Uddevalla in Sweden. This result helped consolidate third in the series standings.
The Spaniard, so dominant in the first moto on Saturday, got closed down on the approach to turn one at the start of Sunday’s second moto. He found himself buried in seventeenth at the first timing split. He quickly moved into the top-ten halfway round the first full lap. However, the leaders had already escaped and his realistic aim was the overall podium.
Within three laps this was accomplished as he moved past his teammate into sixth. Another lap saw him advance to fourth. A small slip as the footrests dragged in a deep rut put him temporarily back to fifth. Rebounding in style and lapping faster than the leaders, he pushed to the end. A decisive pass for third on the final lap secured second overall over the weekend. He achieved the same points-haul as the winner.
With his main championship rivals also scoring heavily, his hopes of advancing further up the standings are now fairly remote. However, with just two rounds of the series remaining, he is now assured of at least the bronze medal. He is more than one hundred points clear of fourth.
Francisco Garcia:
“My start was not so good but I rode a good race. Everyone says it is difficult to pass on this track but I proved that it is possible and passed a lot of guys to come back to third even after a little crash the first time I got to fourth. My speed was again good and I am strong in the sand so I am confident heading to Arnhem next weekend.”
Bud teammate Jake Cannon finally got the good start he needed as he powered out on turn one fifth. However, he surrendered three places halfway round the first lap. This was after he was thrown off the side of the track after a big jump and needed time to settle back into his rhythm.
Decisive moves during the second half of the race saw the Australian teenager regain fifth in moto on the final lap. He also claimed fifth overall on the weekend. He is now tied for eighth in the series standings.
Jake Cannon:
“I’m frustrated with my first lap as I jumped off the side of the track after a good start. After ten minutes I started riding like myself again and came back to fifth for fifth overall; I just have to put it all together for a full moto.”