EMX125: Benistant keeps a cool head!
After the serious injury of the dominant championship leader Rene Hofer, the cards in the EMX125 were shuffled again. Thibault Benistant (MJC Yamaha) is currently second, but gave a strong signal in the opening heat in Lommel. After all, the young Frenchman won ahead of Guadagnini and the Swede Arvid Lüning. Kjell Verbruggen (F4E Racing) was the best lowlander.
Due to Hofer's bad luck, the 2018 European 125cc title, which seemed reserved for the Austrian super talent, is once again vacant. For challenger Emil Weckman, it is important this weekend to regain as many points as possible from his rival Benistant. However, after the first heat the Frenchman further extended his lead.
After Guadagnini's holeshot, Weckman animated the match. The KTM Diga Junior Racing rider did not have a great start, but he moved smoothly from sixth place on the opening lap to second place two laps later. Guadagnini, however, did not allow himself to be pushed out of the lead, which resulted in a fantastic duel with Weckman. When Emil was finally able to deal with the Italian Maddi Husqvarna rider, his empire was short-lived. With three laps to go, Weckman choked on a deep berm, Benistant, who in turn had advanced, smelled blood and took the measure of Guadagnini. The latter kept the pressure on until the end, but Benistant still won his third round of the season. Completely empty, the Swedish sand specialist Lüning crossed the line in third place.
Raivo Dankers disappeared from the race after a few rounds. After a consistent race, Kjell Verbreuggen finished 13th. Young Brussels resident Lucas Adam showed that he had done his homework well for the toughest confrontation of the year. Lucas not only qualified directly again, he came back excellently from a weak 28th place in the opening round to 16th place.
EMX125 Race 1
1. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), 30:57.668; 2. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:00.849; 3. Arvid Lüning (SWE, KTM), +0:08.690; 4. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, KTM), +0:09.490; 5. Filip Olsson (SWE, Husqvarna), +0:09.773; 6. Tom Guyon (FRA, KTM), +0:11.741; 7. Emil Weckman (FIN, KTM), +0:22.166; 8. Raf Meuwissen (NED, KTM), +0:31.962; 9. Emil Jonrup (SWE, KTM), +0:56.236; 10. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, Yamaha), +0:59.571; 11. Petr Polak (CZE, KTM), +1:00.545; 12. Alessandro Facca (ITA, KTM), +1:07.011; 13. Kjell Verbruggen (NED, KTM), +1:17.734; 14. Axel Semb (SWE, Husqvarna), +1:21.095; 15. James Scott (NZL, KTM), +1:21.788; 16. Lucas Adam (BEL, KTM), +1:26.034; 17. Florian Miot (FRA, KTM), +1:27.641; 18. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:29.962; 19. Matheo Miot (FRA, KTM), +0:39.789; 20. Nikolay Malinov (BUL, KTM), +1:36.057; 21. Matias Vesterinen (FIN, KTM), +1:36.879; 22. Rasmus Pedersen (DEN, KTM), +1:47.223; 23. Maximilian Spies (GER, Husqvarna), +1:52.464; 24. Mario Lucas Sanz (ESP, KTM), +1:56.257; 25. Guillem Farres Plaza (ESP, Husqvarna), +1:59.840; 26. Loeka Thonies (NED, KTM), +2:01.096; 27. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, Husqvarna), +2:02.758; 28. Joel Rizzi (GBR, Yamaha), +2:07.237; 29. Adam Collings (GBR, KTM), +2:07.783; 30. Lion Florian (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 31. Dominic Lancett (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 32. Boyd Van Der Voorn (DOWN, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 33. Lawrence Corti (ITA, KTM), -3 lap(s); 34. Eddie Wade (GBR, KTM), -6 lap(s); 35. Raivo Dankers (NED, KTM), -6 lap(s); 36. Yago Martinez (ESP, ), -10 lap(s); 37. Adam Zsolt Kovacs (HUN, Yamaha), -11 lap(s); 38. Meico Vettik (EST, KTM), -11 lap(s); 39. Thibault Maupin (FRA, KTM), -11 lap(s); 40. Maksim Kraev (RUS, KTM), -13 lap(s)
Photos: Mediacross
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