SEVLIEVO (Bulgaria), 20 April 2014 – The European Championship’s round of Sevlievo was the ultimate example of why EMX racing is the best step a rider can take on their path to a career as a professional motocross athlete. Thanks to the rain, which had flooded the track earlier in the week, the clay circuit here in Bulgaria was moist and challenging. On a track that demanded the riders to walk the fine line between attack and respect, three riders reigned supreme in their respective categories. TM Racing Team’s Samuele Bernardini took the victory in the EMX300, while Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Jorge Zaragoza won the EMX250 with Red Bull KTM Racing’s Davy Pootjes taking hi
s second overall victory of season in the EMX125.
EMX125
With the drop of the gate for the EMX125 race two, the fans were immediately on their feet as Red Bull KTM Racing’s Davy Pootjes led the Bulgarian public’s future star Michael Ivanov around turn one. Within a couple of corners, Ivanov had already put the pass on the red plate holder, Pootjes, who then went down trying to respond half a lap later. With Pootjes remounting in fourth, Team MJC’s David Herbreteau took over second with De Carli KTM’s Joakin Furbetta moving into third.
Around lap five, a sudden influx of noise and hooting surged from the fence line as a battle between Herbreteau and the local kid Ivanov developed with both youngsters going head to head in one of the best duals of the championship to date. Despite the relentlessness of Ivanov, Herbreteau had found his groove and was moving fluidly up and down the gnarly clay hills of Sevlievo, eventually making a pass on Ivanov that would stick.
While Herbreteau proceeded to check-out, Ivanov was keeping himself entertained in second while a battle was cutting loose between the guy who was fastest in timed training, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Brian Hsu and race one winner Red Bull KTM Racing’s D
avy Pootjes.
Although initially it was Hsu who had moved forward to take third place, with Pootjes hard on his tail, a mistake a few laps later soon dropped the German back to fifth, which also allowed race one runner-upDiga Racing’s Tomass Sileika to sneak through.
After a full 30 minutes of jam packed action it was Team MJC’s David Herbreteau who took the checkers ahead of KTM Silver Actions Michael Ivanov and Red Bull KTM Racing’s Davy Pootjes. Meanwhile Diga Racing’s Tomass Sileika put in an outstanding ride to grind his way forward from a terrible start for fourth with Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Brian Hsu rounding out the top five.
After the combination of points of both races, Red Bull KTM Racing’s Davy Pootjes took his second consecutive round victory of the season, while Bulgarian star and KTM Silver Action rider Michael Ivanov did his nation proud with second overall. Diga Racing’s Tomass Sileika rounded out the top three.
Meanwhile De Carli KTM’s Joakin Furbetta, who was running third in the EMX125 championship before this round, crashed early on in lap four in race two and was forced to retire with a suspected broken collar-bone.
EMX125 Race 1: 1. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 30:28.450; 2. Tomass Sileika (LAT, KTM), +0:09.529; 3. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki), +0:12.079; 4. Michael Ivanov (BUL, KTM), +0:21.416; 5. Joakin Furbetta (ITA, KTM), +0:42.417; 6. Gabriel Chetnicki (POL, KTM), +0:50.532; 7. Ivan Baranov (RUS, KTM), +0:53.041; 8. Michele Baraiolo (ITA, TM), +0:54.295; 9. David Herbreteau (FRA, Yamaha), +0:55.082; 10. Natanael Bres (FRA, Yamaha), +1:07.028.
EMX125 Race 2: 1. David Herbreteau (FRA, Yamaha), 30:58.860; 2. Michael Ivanov (BUL, KTM), +0:06.531; 3. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +0:18.655; 4. Tomass Sileika (LAT, KTM), +0:25.878; 5. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki), +0:27.619; 6. Dan Houzet (FRA, KTM), +0:29.711; 7. Alvin Ostlund (SWE, Yamaha), +0:33.171; 8. Tommaso Isdraele Romano (ITA, KTM), +0:42.006; 9. Rene De Jong (NED, KTM), +0:44.448; 10. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), +0:52.582.
EMX125 Overall: 1. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 45 points; 2. Michael 
vanov (BUL, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Tomass Sileika (LAT, KTM), 40 p.; 4. David Herbreteau (FRA, YAM), 37 p.; 5. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 36 p.; 6. Natanael Bres (FRA, YAM), 21 p.; 7. Alvin Ostlund (SWE, YAM), 20 p.; 8. Gabriel Chetnicki (POL, KTM), 18 p.; 9. Joakin Furbetta (ITA, KTM), 16 p.; 10. Dan Houzet (FRA, KTM), 15 p.
EMX125 Championship Standings: 1. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 95 points; 2. David Herbreteau (FRA, YAM), 69 p.; 3. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 69 p.; 4. Michael Ivanov (BUL, KTM), 62 p.; 5. Tomass Sileika (LAT, KTM), 60 p.; 6. Alvin Ostlund (SWE, YAM), 51 p.; 7. Joakin Furbetta (ITA, KTM), 50 p.; 8. Michele Baraiolo (ITA, TM), 48 p.; 9. Filippo Zonta (ITA, KTM), 41 p.; 10. Gabriel Chetnicki (POL, KTM), 37 p.
EMX250
In the EMX250, CNC KTM’s Steven Clarke pulled a ripper of a holeshot leading last year’s EMX125 stars Marchetti Racing Team KTM’s Pauls Jonass and Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Jorge Zaragozaaround turn one. Although it was his second holeshot of the weekend, it was short lived, as the youngsters Jonass and Zaragoza were quick to find a way around.
Moments after passing Clarke, the duo Jonas and Zaragoza put space between themselves and third, both charging like bulls at a gate. After an intense battle which saw Zaragoza have a few sketchy moments as he looked for new lines around the Latvian Jonass, the duo allowed another rider to close up in the form of Martin Racing Technology Team’s Michele Cervellin. With the Italian Cervellin in on the battle, Zaragoza made a hasty pass on Jonass to take over the lead. Thanks to Zaragoza pushing Jonass wide, Cervellin took the opportunity to sneak up the inside and take second.
Having expelled an intense amount of energy leading the first half of the race, Jonass faded back and was left to his own devices in third. Meanwhile the battle up front raged on, with Cervellin eventually making a pass on Zaragoza. While Zaragoza did his best to respond, Cervellin made a lot less errors throughout the race and went on to win his first ever EMX250 race. The flamboyant Spaniard Jorge Zaragoza came home in a respectable second while Pauls Jonass held on for third. CNC KTM’s Steven Clarke and HSF Logistics Motorsport Team’s Ceriel Klein Kromhof rounded out the top five.
After combining the results of race one and race two, it’s obvious the field of future stars is deep. Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Jorge Zaragoza takes the overall victory with a sixth in race one and a second in race two. Standing on the second step, HM plant KTM UK’s Ben Watson combined his race one win with a ninth in race two with fellow Brit CNC KTM’s Steven Clarke rounding off the podium with his set of fourths.
EMX250 Race 1: 1. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), 30:05.489; 2. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:11.172; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Honda), +0:15.255; 4. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), +0:17.355; 5. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), +0:17.676; 6. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:23.898; 7. Ander Valentin (ESP, Yamaha), +0:26.298; 8. Henry Jacobi (GER, KTM), +0:29.252; 9. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, Yamaha), +0:29.634; 10. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), +0:33.256.
EMX250 Race 2: 1. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), 30:00.531; 2. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:04.601; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:25.963; 4. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), +0:33.642; 5. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), +0:39.628; 6. Karl Vilhelm Linus Olsson (SWE, Honda), +0:41.374; 7. Arnaud Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.163; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Honda), +0:44.246; 9. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), +0:53.167; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:54.610.
EMX250 Overall: 1. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, KAW), 37 points; 2. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), 37 p.; 3. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), 36 p.; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HON), 33 p.; 5. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 28 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Arnaud Aubin (FRA, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 22 p.
EMX250 Championship Standings: 1. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), 37 points; 2. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, KAW), 37 p.; 3. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), 36 p.; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HON), 33 p.; 5. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 28 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Arnaud Aubin (FRA, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 22 p.
EMX300
With the debut of the EMX300 European Championship this weekend, TM Racing Team’s Samuele Bernardini proved to be the man to beat as he went on to dominate both race one, which took place yesterday, and race two today to start the season with a perfect score. Meanwhile Team Maddii Racing’s Marco Maddii occupied the second step of the podium thanks to his consistent third place in race one, and a well fought second in race two with CEC I.S Racing’s Toms Macuks rounding off the podium with his combined 2 – 4 scores for third overall.
EMX300 Race 1: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 30:39.588; 2. Toms Macuks (LAT, KTM), +0:05.559; 3. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), +0:11.010; 4. Bence Szvoboda (HUN, KTM), +1:11.341; 5. Mark Szoke (HUN, KTM), +1:55.948; 6. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), +2:25.769; 7. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), +2:32.434; 8. Txomin Arana (ESP, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 9. Rene Rannikko (FIN, KTM), -1 lap(s); 10. Lewis Gregory (GBR, Yamaha), -1 lap.
EMX300 Race 2: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 30:12.766; 2. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), +0:02.031; 3. Bence Szvoboda (HUN, KTM), +0:02.798; 4. Toms Macuks (LAT, KTM), +0:34.747; 5. Lewis Gregory (GBR, Yamaha), +0:46.023; 6. Mark Szoke (HUN, KTM), +1:07.389; 7. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), +1:31.085; 8. Txomin Arana (ESP, Yamaha), +1:52.952; 9. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), +2:15.312; 10. Rene Rannikko (FIN, KTM), +2:17.490.
EMX300 Overall: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 50 points; 2. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Toms Macuks (LAT, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Bence Szvoboda (HUN, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Mark Szoke (HUN, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Lewis Gregory (GBR, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Txomin Arana (ESP, YAM), 26 p.; 10. Rene Rannikko (FIN, KTM), 23 p.
EMX300 Championship Standings: 1. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 50 points; 2. Marco Maddii (ITA, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Toms Macuks (LAT, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Bence Szvoboda (HUN, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Mark Szoke (HUN, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Stephane Watel (FRA, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Lewis Gregory (GBR, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Michele Cencioni (ITA, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Txomin Arana (ESP, YAM), 26 p.; 10. Rene Rannikko (FIN, KTM), 23 p.
Click here to obtain the complete results.
All the photos of the MXGP of Bulgaria are available here
MXGP BULGARIA – QUICK FACTS
Circuit length: 1735m
Type of ground: Hard Pack
Temperature: 21°C
Weather conditions: sunny
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