LACAPELLE MARIVAL (FRANCE), 9 August 2009 – Matthias Walkner (KTM) from Austria became the winner of the EMX2 European Championship event in France. Herjan Brakke (Netherlands) was second, Jernej Irt (Slovenia) third.
Gianluca Martini from Italy surprised riders with very fast start. Yamaha Gariboldi rider Christophe Charlier was third at the beginning. When he started to push to pass both riders in front, home spectators were supporting him in every corner. Charlier passed Austrian Matthias Walkner (KTM) and he was faster also of Gianluca Martini. Charlier was the leader after the first part of the day. His advantage in the Championship Classification was bigger because Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) did not finish the race one.
In the second race the situation was opposite. Herlings won and Charlier finished five laps before the end. He did not take any point. But Charlier was riding fast and strongly in the first part, when only Walkner was close. Riders were changing positions through all the race. Because of the mud the race was not decided till the end. Jeffrey Herlings won the second race in front of Matthias Walkner and Herjan Brakke. Klemen Gercar (Slovenia, Yamaha) was fourth, French rider Thibault Laurent finished top five. So in the EMX2 European Championship French riders were not on the top. EMX2 Championship leader Christophe Charlier finished seventh, Jeffrey Herlings was sixth.
Christophe Charlier is staying on the top of the EMX2 European Championsip Classification. The difference in front of the second Jeffrey Herlings is still 44 points. Today they both conquered one win, once they did not finish. Klemen Gercar is third, the winner of the French event Matthias Walkner is fourth, Herjan Brakke fifth.
RIDER’S COMMENTS
1st – MATTHIAS WALKNER (AUSTRIA): »The weekend has been successful since yesterday. I took the third position in the Qualifying Race. The track was almost perfect and the organizer made a good job. But when I saw the rain this morning I was not really glad about that. The track was full of water and mud. I took two fast starts. I think first was better. It was very difficult to ride today and I am more than happy to finished first.«
2nd – HERJAN BRAKKE (NETHERLANDS): »For me it was also very difficult weekend. Yesterday I was slow in the Qualifying Race, I was not riding well. Today it has started raining and it was even worse. In the first race I crashed. In the second race I was pushing as much as it was possible in this watery conditions, I finished second. I would like thank to my team for the bike preparation and for their support.«
3rd – JERNEJ IRT (SLOVENIA): »As both riders already said, the race track was muddy and difficult but still very good. I have started with the EMX2 European Championship in the middle of the season and I did not take very good results. Finally I made two good races and finished on podium. The team is working good, the result for that is my first podium and thank to everyone. I did not expect this podium today but of course I am happy for it.«
Next event for the EMX2 European Championship will be August 23 in Vantaa, Finland.
RESULTS
First Race Top Ten: 1. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 36:17.170; ; 2. Gianluca Martini (ITA, Suzuki), +0:08.112; 3. Matthias Walkner (AUT, KTM), +0:13.813; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +0:50.845; 5. Herjan Brakke (NED, Honda), +1:00.916; 6. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +1:10.275; 7. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Yamaha), +1:18.046; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, Yamaha), +2:25.981; 9. Thibault Laurent (FRA, Yamaha), +2:33.157; 10. David Adam (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s)
Second Race Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 36:37.721; ; 2. Matthias Walkner (AUT, KTM), +0:02.916; 3. Herjan Brakke (NED, Honda), +0:28.377; 4. Rasmus Jorgensen (DEN, Suzuki), +0:43.467; 5. Harri Kullas (FIN, KTM), +0:51.002; 6. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +1:20.990; 7. Thibault Laurent (FRA, Yamaha), +1:23.801; 8. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Yamaha), +1:25.900; 9. Giacomo Redondi (ITA, Suzuki), +1:52.275; 10. Petar Petrov (BUL, Yamaha), +2:01.987
Overall: 1. Matthias Walkner (AUT, KTM), 42 points; 2. Herjan Brakke (NED, Honda), 36 p.; 3. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), 30 p.; 4. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Yamaha), 27 p.; 5. Thibault Laurent (FRA, Yamaha), 26 p.; 6. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 7. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, Yamaha), 24 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), 23 p.; 10. Gianluca Martini (ITA, Suzuki), 22 p
Championship Classification: 1. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 448 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 404 p.; 3. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Yamaha), 327 p.; 4. Matthias Walkner (AUT, KTM), 302 p.; 5. Herjan Brakke (NED, Honda), 286 p.; 6. Harri Kullas (FIN, KTM), 217 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), 190 p.; 8. Axel Allertu (FRA, KTM), 145 p.; 9. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Suzuki), 133 p.; 10. Roberto Lombrici (ITA, Yamaha), 122 p.