Eager Kay Karssemakers remains hungry
The crucial first round of a new championship is always full of nervousness and uncertainty. After the GP riders and the EMX250 pilots, it was the turn of the EMX125 and WMX participants to get started this weekend in Valkenswaard, Netherlands. Kay Karssemakers (EMX125) as well as TJ O'Hare and Avrie Berry (WMX) took their first points at the Eurocircuit.
Nearly 100 participants had registered in Valkenswaard for the first EMX125 race of the season. Although Kay forced qualifying, after a decent seventh time in free practice, he was still hungry. Due to that disappointing time training, the four-time Dutch champion was only allowed to compete when he was 32th to the starting gate. The ambitious 125cc rookie scored his first points both in terms of riding and lap times, it became clear that Karssemakers had more to offer than the respective 18de in 15. de place he had noted.
World Cup debutante TJ O'Hare has made a good impression in recent weeks during training and in the JMS match of Arendonk. The Australian's typical neat driving style was at its best on Sunday. In the first moto TJ had a bad start, she lacked the confidence to jump the stepdown and due to painful arms she certainly rode too cramped towards the end. The next day O'Hare recovered and ran more regular lap times.
Teammate Avrie Berry had started well in the first series but then suffered a setback. She eventually managed to finish twelfth, her best result of the weekend. The second heat was one to quickly forget. Avrie never reached her best level, so she had to settle for 16de place.
This weekend both the EMX125 and EMX250 riders will be in action in Arco di Trento, Italy. The ladies now have more than a month and a half to finalize the finishing touches in the run-up to the second WMX round at the famous Agueda circuit in Portugal.
Kay Karssemakers: “Valkenswaard did not go as I had hoped for me! I had a bad place behind the starting gate because I was 16de was qualified. That actually bothered me all weekend. In the first heat I finally found my rhythm, but I had to come back from far away and finished 18th in the wheel of Liam (Everts). I almost crashed at the start of the second moto. Once I got going, the driving was okay. In any case, we learned a lot. Thanks to these competitions, we already know some areas for improvement, both for myself and the bike.”
TJ O'Hare: “Overall it was okay. I can't be satisfied with Saturday, but on Sunday it went much better. In the second moto I rode better and I was able to keep in touch with a faster group. In terms of riding, I enjoyed Valkenswaard, I thought it was a nice track and my training had prepared me well for this type of surface. Of course the level in the World Cup is so much higher than what I am used to in Australia, but that is exactly why I want to ride here! I know I still have a lot to learn, but this first competition was a great motivation to work even harder.”
Avrie Berry: “I expected more from this weekend. It's no excuse, but due to visa problems I spent this winter on very different tracks (in the US) than the tougher circuits you normally ride here! The first heat was still reasonable, on Sunday it was all over the place and I never got into my rhythm. My preparation was not immediately a plus for Valkenswaard, but now that the first GP is over, things can only get better for me. I perform better on harder courts and this season I just want to go for the top 10.”
Photos: Eric Laurijssen
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