DIGA Racing Race Report: EMX125cc and EMX250cc, Lommel, Belgium
After the match in Lommel, the European campaign is now completely over. The boys of the DIGA Racing team were immediately presented with the toughest circuit on the calendar. In addition to the 125cc and 250cc, the 300cc boys also competed together with the MXGP and MX2 pilots. The Lommel sand circuit was transformed into a battlefield for man and machine.
Nolan, Thomas and Santtu gave everything, but not everyone was equally successful and satisfied. We let the boys speak for themselves to explain their weekend and future plans.
Nolan Cordens: “In qualifying I immediately didn't have a very good feeling. I was still able to qualify with a 34th time, but in the first series my start was not that good and I arrived in 37th.
In the 2nd series I didn't really feel like starting and I ended up 34th. A weekend to quickly forget. For the rest of the season I have the world championship in Belgium next week and after that I will take it easier. I would like to thank my parents, my sister, Wim and my private sponsors.”
Thomas Sileika: “It certainly wasn't my best weekend of the season, but I showed that I have the speed and technique to compete at the front. I was third in the qualifications and therefore had a good place at the starting gate. My start was good in the first heat, I entered the corner in the first three but in the next turn I was crashed. I had to start my race last, I managed to overtake 29 guys and ended up in 11th place. I started the second race in the lead, I continued to lead the race for the first 10 minutes, but then the dream race suddenly became a nightmare! I crashed three times in a short time and only finished eleventh, which was quite a disappointment. It was a season with "ups and downs". I sometimes wonder what the end result would have looked like if I had not crashed 4 times at the start and then had to go through the entire field again? Anyway, I'm among the best five 125cc pilots of 2014 and I'm happy with that, but I want more and can't wait to start working on it! I would like to thank my team again, we did this together! The biggest thanks of course goes to my mechanic Gino, he is a real fighter and a great motivator, no matter what happens he always gives 100%. Next year I will switch to the 250cc European Championships, I hope I can also participate at the front. Bring on 2015!”
Santtu Tiainen: “I actually thought it was my weakest race in the EMX250 class so far. I knew before the start that I am good in the sand, I am physically in shape and the DIGA Racing team's engine is really strong so it all depends on who is on the engine.
With the timed training I was only 21st, very far from what I expected. In the first series I had a bad start, I rode from 22nd to 15th. The second start was a bit better and I finished 13th. I struggled with the corners and my riding style was like on the 450cc machine and not enough like you have to ride a 250cc. It is difficult to alternate between those two engines for the different championships. Anyway, it was a great weekend with the team, thanks again to the DIGA Racing team for everything they do for me. Now I just have to stay positive and look ahead to the next matches.”
Team manager, Dirk Saelen: “I don't think Sanntu had such a bad race. On Saturday he really struggled, but on Sunday things looked a lot smoother. Of course it could have been better, but he somewhat underestimated the difference in driving style between the different motorcycles, especially at this level. He knows what he needs to work on to be better prepared for next season. At the start of the championship we hoped for a top 10 ranking for Thomas, he came 5th, we can all be proud of that. For Nolan, the objective was to qualify as much as possible and he was almost always able to achieve that. The boys all still have some competitions this year, but we are slowly starting to look towards 2015 and that already looks very promising. I would like to once again put our sponsors and everyone involved in the team in the spotlight and thank them for a wonderful and successful season.”
EMX125 Overall: 1. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 50 points; 2. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 40 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, KTM), 37 p.; 4. Cyril Genot (BEL, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Max Engelen (NED, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Hardi Roosiorg (EST, KTM), 25 p.; 8. Ivan Baranov (RUS, KTM), 22 p.; 9. Nathan Renkens (BEL, KTM), 21 p.; 10. William Andersson (SWE, KTM), 20 p; 11. Thomas Sileika (LAT,KTM) 20 p.
EMX125 Championship Standings: 1. Brian Hsu (GER, SUZ), 268 points; 2. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 252 p.; 3. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 216 p.; 4. David Herbreteau (FRA, YAM), 181 p.; 5. Tomass Sileika (LAT, KTM), 177 p.; 6. Joakin Furbetta (ITA, KTM), 168 p.; 7. Dan Houzet (FRA, KTM), 123 p.; 8. Max Engelen (NED, KTM), 115 p.; 9. Michael Ivanov (BUL, KTM), 102 p.; 10. Cyril Genot (BEL, YAM), 97 p.
EMX250 Overall: 1. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 42 points; 2. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, YAM), 39 p.; 5. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), 38 p.; 6. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, KTM), 24 p.; 8. Frederik van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 24 p.; 9. Ken Bengtson (SWE, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), 21 p; 11. Santtu Tiainen (FIN,KTM) 14 p.
EMX250 Championship Standings: 1. Steven Clarke (GBR, KTM), 237 points; 2. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 237 p.; 3. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 214 p.; 4. Brent Van doninck (BEL, KTM), 208 p.; 5. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), 197 p.; 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HON), 169 p.; 7. Sullivan Jaulin (FRA, KAW), 161 p.; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 161 p.; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 150 p.; 10. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 131 p…21. Santtu Tiainen (FIN, KTM) 40p.
Photo: Bavo Swijgers / CDS
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