Alessandro Lupino recorded the first GP podium finish of his career as he took his CLS Kawasaki to third overall in the Bulgarian round of the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship.
The Italian newcomer to Team CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy Pro Circuit finally shrugged off the misfortune which has followed him through the early rounds of the series to clinch the first GP podium finish of his career with two impressive displays at the fast hillside track on the outskirts of Sevlievo. Holding down eleventh place after the initial sort-out leaving the tricky first turn the 22 year old defied two broken ribs, a relic of last week’s GP in his homeland, fought hard to advance three places on a surface made slippery by slight drizzle to finish eighth before stepping into the limelight in race two to advance in determined fashion from an initial fifth to finish third, defying all attempts to dislodge him from the placing which clinched third overall on the day. The result also lifted Lupino three places in the standings to eighth.
Valentin Teillet of Rockstar Bud Racing Kawasaki made an heroic return from injury in Bulgaria to finish an astounding third in the opening moto, and the Frenchman had advanced to sixth in the early stages of race two before being forced to withdraw with a painful shoulder after a crash.
His young teammate Dylan Ferrandis had been most unfortunate in the first moto as he slipped to the ground in the hectic first turn, but he fought relentlessly to the chequered flag to finish nineteenth before reaping his just rewards in race two with an impressive ride from an initial twelfth to finish ninth.
CLS Kawasaki newcomer Jimmy Decotis proved the power of the Kawasaki KX250F as he snatched the holeshot award in the opening moto, but the American is still adapting to GP racing conditions and a second lap error left him trailing before he was forced to withdraw from the race after an awkward landing. Bravely going to the start despite a painful knee injury, he battled to the finish but has yet to open his points scoring account.
Alessandro Lupino: “It’s so nice to be on the podium, the first one in my career! I didn’t know that I was on the podium, and didn’t expect that as I finished only eighth in the first race. I have a great feeling with the team and my bike, but in the previous GPs I couldn’t show that and it was difficult to accept it. I had some better starts today, in the top ten in race one and top five in race two and that makes things much easier, but I must still work to improve my starts even more. I had to take some pills for the pain as I broke two ribs last week; it was painful during the first ten minutes but then it was OK.”
Valentin Teillet: “On Saturday it was pretty tough as my shoulder is not so strong, so I was satisfied with eleventh in the qualification. I felt a lot better today. In the first race I got a good start and then could keep my rhythm to finish third; that’s a great reward for my work with Jacky Vimond. I was in sixth position in the second race but I crashed on a downhill, I not quite sure what happened but I lost too much time to get back on the track to continue with the race. I will go to the doctors for them to look at my shoulder again this week as I never felt confident with it all weekend, and I want to understand why.”
Dylan Ferrandis:” I lost so much time with the crash at the first start that it was difficult to come back, but the second moto was much better. I feel that my speed is coming back, but I must get better starts and stay focused during the entire forty minutes. I will continue to work hard together with the team to get back to my best form; it is less than two months since I was able to start riding my bike again.”
Jimmy Decotis: “I got a good start in the first moto, but I crashed in the first lap and then it was tough. The second moto was no better and it’s very frustrating. The team are doing everything they can so it’s all down to me; I don’t know yet what I’m doing wrong but I will keep on working and working. We now have one weekend off from racing and I will work together with the team to improve my results; that’s what it’s all about.”