Nobody was able to ride with the Bud riders this weekend, as Dylan and Greg didn’t let anything to their rivals. Best lap time during the practice session, holeshot and all the heat wins were for Greg and Dylan in Saint Jean d’Angely!

Fastest rider in the timed practice period, Dylan Ferrandis had a quiet MX2 race. He grabbed the holeshot and then controls Benoit Paturel, taking even more advantage when they joined the lapped riders to win the heat twenty seconds ahead his rival. Very confident before the super final he had some strong moves after the start to come in fourth place; he passed Paturel for third, and then reduced the gap with Fabien Izoird on a 450. He passed him after mid race to finish runner up behind Aranda and best MX2 rider.

Back to his best form and pole position in the MX1 class, Gregory Aranda had dreaming starts in both races, MX1 heat and super final. Leading the race in the first corner Greg posted some fast laps to secure his leadership; in the MX1 race Soubeyras who was second crashed, so Greg could save some energy for the super final; once more leader in the first corner he had no opposition in this race and scored his first double win this season. A great reward after his injuries earlier this season, and an encouraging performance for the coming Euro Supercross season.

Dylan Ferrandis: “My goal this weekend was to get a top 3 and score as many points as possible and after my MX2 win I had a great super final. I was next to Aranda on the grid and I came fourth in the first corner, but there was some confusion in the first uphill and I lost some positions. I came back second behind Greg, that’s a great result on the track against the 450. I keep the red plate and now the goal is to have it after the last round in three weeks, in Gaillac. It’s great for the mental to score such good results after my disappointment in second moto in Portugal, it’s a boost for the World Championship and I hope that we’ll have good racing conditions in Brazil next week-end.”

Gregory Aranda: “ It’s a perfect day for me with the pole position, two holeshot and two heat wins. I think that I’m back to the level I had last year, and I will continue to train and work to get even more. I didn’t take any risks today, for sure when you get two holeshot it’s easier; in the first race I had some arm pump, and in the second one I didn’t want to crash as I wanted to win both heats. It’s great to win after such a difficult period; I didn’t know what to expect after the last injury, and I had to work hard to be back; two weeks after my injury I had only one goal, to be back on my bike and I want to thank team Rockstar Bud Kawasaki and my mechanic for their support.”

Agueda has always been a demanding track, and for the first time since Thailand the riders had to face ‘hot temperatures’ with 25°C in Portugal. The ground was rough and slippery on Saturday, and was more wet on Sunday as the organisers watered the track during the night.

Now a top ten regular after a difficult start to the season as he recovered from injuries operation this winter, Dylan Ferrandis recorded his best result of the season to date when he crossed the finishing line in fifth place at the end of the first tough race around the demanding track in the hills 30 kilometres from the Atlantic coastline. A repeat or better performance was expected in the second race as the teenager charged through the field and was in fifth position again during the opening lap, but a wayward rival caused a collision, the impact snapping the chain of Ferrandis’ machine to eliminate him from the race.

Deprived of the services of Valentin Teillet for the remainder of the series after specialists discovered more serious damage in his shoulder than had previously been diagnosed, Rockstar Bud Racing Kawasaki drafted in young Frenchman Jason Clermont for the weekend. Coming back to the GP’s, the former 85cc European Champion who was racing the MX1 class in France tested the bike a few days before the event; he responded admirably to the team’s expectations with points-scoring rides to nineteenth and fifteenth.

Dylan Ferrandis: “ I had a good feeling with this track right from the first practice session, and I qualified in fifth place. My start in the first race was great; I raced top six all race to finish fifth, even though I had some discomfort from pumped-up forearms as it’s the first the this season that I have been racing at the front of the pack. My second start was not as good but I made a lot of good passes on the first lap and had just passed Charlier before he jumped on my bike and my chain was broken with the impact. It’s frustrating, but I’ve no more physical problems and feel that I’m improving and I will soon be battling for podium results.”

Jason Clermont: “I only tested the bike a few hours before coming here, and it was great to come back to the GPs on a good 250. I had good lap times in the races, but I need to improve my starts, to be faster in the corners and be more aggressive during the first few laps to get better results. I came from a long way back in both races to score points each time, and this was a demanding track to race for my return to the GPs.”

There were contrasting fortunes for Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe at Agueda for the Grand Prix of Portugal and across the continent in other competitions today.

Under hot sunshine for the sixth round of 17 in the FIM Motocross World Championship Max Anstie classified 10th overall on the factory-backed RM-Z250 while Jeremy Seewer was able to kick off his European EMX250 campaign – the feeder series to the MX2 class – with a podium result and third place.

Agueda, with 15,000 spectators through the weekend, was a bumpy, rutty and very rough prospect that was a challenge both physically and mentally through the limited overtaking chances away from a faster single line. Anstie was hampered by mediocre starts in his motos: The Brit had earlier showed good pace around the undulations with top three lap-times in the practice sessions. For the 35 minute and two-lap races Anstie fought through to ninth and 11th positions, recovering from a second moto crash to get near the top 10.

At the same event, Seewer competed earlier in the day and across a damper terrain. The track had been watered to help contain dust and create a softer surface and the European EMX125 (two stroke machinery) and EMX250 bore the brunt of the muddier conditions.

But first in front of the crowds was Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe team-mate Brian Hsu on the RM125. The teenager circulated just outside the upper-part of the leaderboard and a stomach problem in the second part of the single moto meant he could rise no higher than 11th.

Seewer wheeled out his RMZ-250 for the EMX250 sprint and was making decent laps to remain inside the top four. By the end of the race distance the stylish Swiss had moved up to third and launched his viable bid for the title with a solid result.

On the other side of Europe, Gianluca Facchetti took his RM85 to a double-moto victory at Montevarchi for the third round of five in the Italian Championship while Crisztian Tompa finished fourth overall in the latest outing of the European 85 series to now lead the standings.

The Grand Prix of Brazil at Beto Carrero will represent the next major international meeting for the Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe team on May 19th.

Max Anstie:

“Everything went well yesterday and I put in good times and we were third in both timed sessions; even when I went down in the qualification heat I was able to get up and move my way through. In both races I just felt like I was struggling. We didn’t get out of the gate and I don’t know why because we have been working so much on the start – it is all I have been doing during the week. On the track I felt like I was coming through OK but having to push very hard to pass. I made a few mistakes and went down in the second moto when I clipped some guy in the air. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time for a few moments today and it set me back. A shame; it could have been a much better weekend.”

Jeremy Seewer:

“I’m happy with third in the first race but for sure the win would have been nicer. We have seven races to go so it was a solid way to start. I know I can do better and my goal is the title; top three overall for sure. I have to look towards Ernee and the Grand Prix of France now. The track was completely different today; yesterday it was dry and hard and because of the watering, it was deep and with many ruts. I didn’t struggle but there was just one good line in the morning and it was difficult to pass another rider.”

Brian Hsu:

“My physical condition was good today but I had a stomach ache from the middle of the moto. I just kept going and tried to get as far as I could. I didn’t like the single moto final so much: It means just one chance. There is no second moto or second opportunity. Anyway, I’m enjoying the RM125 because there is plenty of power. With the 85 I was pushing the bike! I like the 125; it’s great for learning.”

MX2 Moto1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 39:53.240; 2. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:18.848; 3. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:21.605; 4. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:27.979; 5. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:30.999; 6. Dean Ferris (AUS, Yamaha), +1:35.904; 7. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:37.301; 8. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), +1:40.715; 9. Max Anstie (GBR, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), +1:50.274; 10. Petar Petrov (BUL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s).

MX2 Moto2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 40:30.592; 2. Dean Ferris (AUS, Yamaha), +1:08.304; 3. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:10.100; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +1:13.897; 5. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:20.092; 6. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:27.409; 7. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +1:32.973; 8. Alexander Tonkov (RUS, Honda), -1 lap(s); 9. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 10. Elliott Banks-Browne (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 11. Max Anstie (GBR, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), -1 lap(s).

MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Dean Ferris (AUS, Yamaha), 37 p.; 3. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 35 p.; 4. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 34 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 7. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), 25 p.; 8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Alexander Tonkov (RUS, Honda), 22 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), 22 p.

MX2 World Championship Standings (after 6 of 17 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 300 points; 2. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 219 p.; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 183 p.; 4. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 178 p.; 5. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 171 p.; 6. Dean Ferris (AUS, Yamaha), 152 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), 150 p.; 8. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 129 p.; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), 123 p.; 10. Mel Pocock (GBR, Yamaha), 112 p.

EMX125 Overall result: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 30:29.862; 2. Henry Jacobi (GER, KTM), +0:10.869; 3. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, Yamaha), +0:22.000; 4. Kade Tinkler (CAN, Suzuki), +0:35.795; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:39.858; 6. Riccardo Righi (ITA, KTM), +0:45.004; 7. Joel Van Mechelen (NED, KTM), +1:01.199; 8. Tomasso Sileika (LAT, KTM), +1:17.597; 9. Frederik Van Der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:27.174; 10. Emanuele Facchetti (ITA, KTM), +1:31.497; 11. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), +1:38.082.

EMX 125 Standings (after 2 rounds): 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 75 points; 2. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 54 p.; 3. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, Yamaha), 50 p.; 4. Henry Jacobi (GER, KTM), 49 p.; 5. Frederik Van Der Vlist (NED, KTM), 48 p.; 6. Anton Lundgren (SWE, KTM), 47 p.; 7. Riccardo Righi (ITA, KTM), 46 p.; 8. Kade Tinkler (CAN, Suzuki), 43 p.; 9. Ivan Baranov (RUS, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Lorenzo Ravera (ITA, KTM), 21 p.; 14. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), 16 p.

EMX250 Overall result: 1. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), 29:02.174; 2. Damon Graulus (BEL, KTM), +0:08.884; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), +0:09.955; 4. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), +0:18.166; 5. Micha-Boy De Waal (NED, KTM), +0:34.859.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Clement Desalle was one of the three fastest riders in the premier MX1 class of the FIM Motocross World Championship at a hot and sunny Grand Prix of Portugal.

The Belgian finished third overall at Agueda for the sixth round of 17 in the series, in front of 15,000 spectators, after battling with Gautier Paulin and Antonio Cairoli in both motos on his factory RM-Z450. Desalle survived a heavy second moto crash while trying to pass Paulin for second place to be able to spray champagne for the fourth time in 2013.

Agueda was a brutal mix of speed, bumps, ruts and forced concentration. The physical and mental demands throughout the two 35-minute and two-lap motos meant it was one of the hardest tracks of the series so far. Desalle came into the weekend as one of the favourites for victory thanks to success in the previous three visits to Agueda. Signs were positive on Saturday as he secured his first pole position of the season, but the terrain was heavily watered through Saturday evening and it meant a deeper and rougher course for Sunday where a single, quick racing line was prevalent.

Desalle had two good starts and together with Paulin and Cairoli set a frantic pace at the front. The 23 year old was frustrated in the first moto with an inability to overtake and a lack of comfort across the Portuguese dirt. He was able to finish second after Cairoli crashed in the closing stages. In the second affair he trailed Paulin for practically the entire distance as Cairoli led. A valiant attack on the penultimate lap cost him when a longer landing from the table-top nearest the crowd threw him into the braking bumps and pitched him off the saddle. Nursing pain in his back and neck Desalle was able to retrieve the bike and motored around the final lap-and-a-half to take fifth.

Team-mate Kevin Strijbos had a weekend to forget. The Belgian was not able to find a groove with the devilish hard-pack and the combination of mediocre starts and heavy arm-pump problems in the first moto eroded his capabilities for a top-five result. The Belgian struggled to 10th in the initial outing and a change of rear suspension helped improve his feeling for the second sprint. A better placing of ninth meant the same spot in the final MX1 ranking.

Desalle is third in the MX1 table and just 15 points behind Paulin while Strijbos is fifth and three points in front of Tommy Searle.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 will now immediately prepare for freight with the factory RM-Z material due to be shipped to Beto Carrero where the Grand Prix of Brazil will entertain round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship on May 19th.

Clement Desalle:

“What can I say? In the first moto I had good speed but I struggled the whole heat. I wasn’t relaxed and couldn’t find my rhythm. It was not so good, but also not so bad to finish third. In the next moto I was fourth at the start but it was the same thing: I was stuck behind Paulin and found it really difficult to pass. I couldn’t find a way, and Cairoli was just ahead. In the last two laps I said to myself ‘it’s now or never’. I did a good lap-time and got really close to Paulin but had a big crash in the braking bumps and now I have pain everywhere. I picked up the bike and could finish the race but my neck and back is painful. I was in the medical centre and they said I was OK but if tomorrow it is worse then I will go for a scan on Tuesday. I just went into that jump a bit faster than previous laps and the bumps kicked me over the top. I can’t remember if the bike hit me or not. It was a hard track but I liked it. I’m disappointed because I felt like I could win the GP. The two guys were just in front of me. Anyway, I did my best and I can only hope for some more fortune in the next races.”

Kevin Strijbos:

“A bad weekend overall and I couldn’t get going with the track. Yesterday I had arm-pump and had it again after the first lap of the first moto. I just rode around for the 40 minutes and couldn’t pass riders that I normally would do in one corner. I was so angry after that race. We tried a new shock for the second moto and it was better and I had less arm-pump but couldn’t find any aggression. I really don’t know why. A bad GP: I expected a lot coming here because I’ve had some decent results in the past. I know the track gets rough and I can be good on it, but today was not my day.”

MX1 Moto1: 1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 39:41.179; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:20.053; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:36.700; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), +0:41.427; 5. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:44.140; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:46.236; 7. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +1:19.715; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Honda), +1:23.112; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +1:28.350; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +1:30.680.

MX1 Moto2: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 39:56.650; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:03.804; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:08.306; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:08.912; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:21.757; 6. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:23.805; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), +0:28.000; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Honda), +0:33.464; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:39.969; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, TM), +0:51.773.

MX1 Overall result: 1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 47 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 38 p.; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 33 p.; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), 32 p.; 7. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), 31 p.; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Honda), 26 p.; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 23 p.; 10. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 22 p.

MX1 World Championship Standings (after 6 of 17 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 280 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 242 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 227 p.; 4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 217 p.; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 183 p.; 6. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 180 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), 132 p.; 8. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 131 p.; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Honda), 112 p.; 10. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, Kawasaki), 109 p.