Tonkov looking for the right level of form
Husqvarna's main hope for success in the MX2 FIM World Championship is Aleksandr Tonkov. The Russian rider of the Wilvo Negaan Husqvarna team has only been riding the bike since the end of January after he is still recovering from an arm and hand injury he suffered during the Grand Prix of Mexico. This also affected his participation in the Motocross of Nations in early October. Tonkov already scored a third place in the Hawkstone Park International last Sunday and is considered one of the contenders for the win in Losail-Qatar in about three weeks.
“I had some problems with pumped arms and wasn't riding smoothly yet, so I've only been riding for a few weeks and that's due to my injury at the end of last season,” he said in the official team press release . “It was my first time here and I really liked the layout of the circuit. But on these types of sand circuits it is really difficult if you are not really well prepared.”
MX2 World Champion Jordi Tixier emerged victorious in his second appearance for the CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki team, where the Frenchman signed a contract last summer. Tonkov is starting his second GP season as a factory rider and has already shown some nice flashes in the Grand Prix's, especially when he was at the wheel of the Honda in 2013. In 2014 he didn't get on the podium and that was partly due to minor injuries and lack of fitness. He had to watch as his former teammate Romain Febvre participated in the title debate.
Team owner Jacky Martens also contracted Dean Ferris to drive the FC350 in the MXGP class. The pressure on Tonkov to deliver results has increased somewhat this year. Although after this season he still has one year left in MX2 before he reaches the age of 23 to make the mandatory switch to the premier class.
Text: Adam Wheeler / OTOR
Photo: Husqvarna/Bavo Swijgers
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