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MX2, Kegums, KEGUMS (LAT), 16 Agosto 2020

Roan van de Moosdijk goes third in points with yet another podium

Roan van de Moosdijk of the F&H Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team has advanced to third in the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship points standings after clinching his third podium in eight days at Kegums.

The Dutch teenager again earned a vital inside gate with third fastest lap in Qualifying and once more proved maturity beyond his tender years as he remained unflustered in both thirty-five minute motos. Cleverly using the inside of turn one to soon take over fourth place in moto one he maintained that position throughout the race, sensibly conserving energy for later in the day on a warm afternoon. The wisdom of the move was proven two hours later when he got closed down immediately out of the gate and found himself down in twelfth place after the initial sort-out. Immediately making decisive moves he was already eighth at the completion of the first full lap and kept pushing forward to move into the top six already on lap two, take over fourth by half-distance and after twenty-three minutes make the all-important pass on his rival for the podium and third in the points chase with an enthralling move through the waves. He is the only rider to mount the podium in each of the three GPs in the space of eight days at the rugged Kegums track, his performances also opening up his series medal hopes as he has now advanced to third in the points standings despite injury at the second round earlier in the year.
 
Roan van de Moosdijk: “Today was tough because of the weather and my starts were not so good, but I am pleased with another podium because I really had to fight for this one. I got quickly to fourth in race one but I didn’t get into my rhythm so I was content to hold my position. The second moto I had to come from outside the top ten but my riding was much better and I made some good passes at the beginning of the race; after twenty minutes I saw Renaux and I knew it was for the podium and third in the points. I’m enjoying the one-day format we are racing at the GPs this year; it may be strange for some riders but I’m used to it from the Dutch Masters. It’s been a good trip with three podiums in eight days; we’re getting close and hope to win one soon! “
 
The last of three GPs at Kegums was frustrating for both of Roan’s teammates, particularly Mathys Boisrame. The French youngster claimed his second consecutive pole in the morning and used the inside gate to claim top-four starts in each moto but his joy was short-lived each time. In the opening race he moved quickly into third but stalled the engine under braking in a deep sandy turn on the second lap and was nearly last when he rejoined the race. Back into the points-scoring places after twenty minutes he slipped off in a turn and had to charge again to take an eventual fifteenth place. Fourth again at the start of race two he crashed in the waves to complete the opening lap twenty-eighth but regrouped to set leaderboard lap times and advance strongly to ninth at the chequered flag. He remains sixth in the series standings.
 
Mathys Boisrame: “Maybe I was maybe expecting too much from this race after topping Qualifying again, and I ended up having too many crashes! When you got two podiums in a row you want even better and you give everything; that was a mistake but I will remember that! I didn’t get the results I could expect, but I rode two strong races, especially the first one. First I stalled the engine and lost a lot of time; later I crashed twice to finish fifteenth. My second start was good but I had a big crash in the waves section; but I came back strongly for ninth. Physically I had no problems to do three races within one week; we were prepared for that with the team and it was OK even if the track was really rough today.”
 
Mikkel Haarup fell already on the opening lap of race one and withdrew mid-moto. The young Dane fell again early in race two to complete the opening lap twenty-seventh but showed great resolve throughout the remaining half-an-hour to recover to twelfth at the chequered flag. He is now eighth in the championship standings.
 
Mikkel Haarup: “My starts were better but it was a difficult day with too many mistakes, particularly in the first few laps each moto. I gave it all I had and I want to take away the positives; I turned it around in the second race, putting in a good effort to take twelfth from dead last. Three races in a week was physically tough but I enjoy racing so it was fine for me. “