24MX Honda Racing is eager to keep the momentum going after a positive Italian GP last weekend in Arco di Trento. The award-winning Sevlievo circuit is the fifth round of the FIM MXGP World Championship. The Bulgarian GP was first hosted in Sevlievo in 2003, and the fast hard-pack track has become a widely appreciated event thanks to the spectacular uphill and downhill sections, nearly perfect visibility and excellent facilities.
For France’s Xavier Boog the return to Sevlievo will be his first visit with CRF technology but Boog has a strong track record in Bulgaria. Boogie finished fifth equal on points with Evgeny Bobryshev in 2012, scored several top-ten finishes and completed an all-French podium (Musquin first, Paulin second) in MX2 in 2009. The stylish Alias MX athlete started his 2014 MXGP campaign slowly but Xavier is building momentum and climbed up from 17th to 11th in provisional standings.
Boog’s team mate Jens Getteman, who injured his right wrist in Qatar, has just returned to action. Although the former Belgian MX2 champion is fit enough to ride again, he needs some more time on the bike before making his comeback in the highly competitive MXGP series. Because Getteman continued his physical training in the last few weeks he should be back to full speed soon.
Xavier Boog: “Sevlievo is a track that I like normally. There’s two nice wave sections, some good jumps and in general the flow of the track is really nice. Of course the conditions also depend on how they prep the track. Last year this was not so good, but all other years the track was very well prepared. For the moment I feel fine, every week we’re making headway and I’m still learning more about the bike. So overall we’re on the right track, it’s just frustrating that almost every moto I needed to come from behind! But of course we keep on pushing. Also it’s always great to go to a place we’re I have been on the podium before.”
Steven Lettani, 24MX Honda Racing team owner: “Week after week we see progress from Xavier. His eighth place in Arco was certainly creditable but we all know he’s capable of more. When every point counts it doesn’t help to have a DNF from Qatar on the books either. Anyway it was great to see his fighting spirit last weekend and we know the speed and the fitness are there as well. Boog just needs some more luck with his starts so that he can get to his race pace quicker. I’m sure that his and the team’s hard work will pay off in the end!
While we don’t have a replacement rider for Getteman in Bulgaria I have to say we were really pleased with the performance of Filip Thuresson last week. To jump on a bike you’re not familiar with, in difficult conditions because he only arrived on Saturday morning, and in the strongest GP class of all time is not so easy to pull off! Especially because Filip barely had any race rhythm before Arco.”
Best 24MX Honda (previously LS Honda) results in Bulgaria
2013: /
2012: 14th (16-12) with Jonathan Barragan
2011: 14th (13-16) with Shaun Simpson
2010: 5th (4-6) with Ashley Fiolek in WMX, 10th (10-12) with Davide Guarneri
2009: 3rd (3-3) with Ashley Fiolek in WMX, 10th (10-15) with Clément Desalle in MX1
2008: 3rd (3-3) with Ashley Fiolek in WMX, 23rd (DNF-18) with Wyatt Avis in MX2