Valence met this weekend one of the main pre season International Motocross, but unfortunately bad weather conditions affected the event. On a slippery and muddy track, Kawasaki’s Dylan Ferrandis, Jordi Tixier and Xavier Boog all scored a podium result.
Two weeks prior the opening Grand Prix of the season, none of the riders took risks on the track for one of their last pre season races. A good start was one of the keys of the day, as well as keeping the goggles with so many mud and water projections. Fastest MX2 rider in all the practice sessions, Jordi Tixier wasn’t as successful in the races and ended the day in third position. “I had a very good feeling during the practice sessions, and was two seconds faster than my rivals in the timed practice period. But the races were not so good, and I’m unhappy with my results; in the first heat I took the outside gate but that was not the best choice and I scored a third position. The second race was not better, but I got a final podium and we’ll continue to work hard this week. Next Sunday I will go to Mantova, a good and last opportunity to prepare Qatar” explained Jordi. Teammate Dylan Ferrandis was doing his first race of the season, just a few weeks after his come back on his Kawasaki. “I wasn’t able to ride my bike so much since January, so I took the practice sessions as a good training. I posted the third fastest lap in the qualifications, but missed a good start in the first race; I had a good feeling and came back second, even if a stone hurt my chick when I took off my goggles. My second start was much better as I was third, but with the rain the track was so much damaged that it was impossible to pass. I’m happy with my weekend, especially as the settings of my bike are already perfect for me; it’s the first time that I’ve this feeling, it proves that we did a good job with the technical staff” said Dylan who will race another International event in Lacapelle Marival next weekend.
In the MX1 class, Xavier Boog celebrates his come back to Motocross and to Kawasaki with a strong second position; the Bud Racing Monster Kawasaki rider who didn’t raced any Motocross since his injury at the French GP last year had a good weekend with two strong starts and two podium results. “I was waiting this come back since so long! I didn’t trained so much on Motocross tracks as we had some sand races at our program, but I had good starts and a great feeling with my bike. I got two great starts, and then did two strong races to score podium results. It’s a great feeling to be back on a podium, just two weeks before the opening round of the French Elite series” confirmed Xavier, who will race the entire French series and a couple of Grand Prix this season. Also involved in this event, Tyla Rattray retired in the first race and decided with his team not to race the second heat. The South African will now finalize his preparation for Qatar in Belgium, alongside Ryan Villopoto who spent the last two weeks in Sardinia.