KTM Diga Jr Race Report: Sileika surprises, O'Hare confirms!
The tough conditions on the Eurocircuit made Valkenswaard a race that was looked forward to with particular interest. KTM Diga Junior Racing team ended their Dutch GP weekend with a positive feeling. TJ O'Hare drove through an 8th place to her best World Cup result ever. Substitute Tomass Sileika made a strong return to finish 10th in the second heatde within.
After an absence of almost two years, his last major competition was the Russian EMX250 round in 2018, Tomass Sileika made a fairytale comeback in Valkenswaard. The tall Latvian took a creditable 10th place in his timed training. Due to a technical problem, Sileika had to retire prematurely in the first heat, but a consistent second heat confirmed his speed on a treacherous circuit. From 14th place, Tomass rose to P8 and eventually finished 10th.
For Emil Jönrup, Valkenswaard was a first major test on the quarter-liter engine. Thanks to a solid 15th time in timed training, the former Scandinavian 125 cc champion easily overcame his first obstacle, qualifying. However, Jönrup found it difficult to manifest himself in the first series on Saturday. Despite a good start, nervousness bothered Emil. The Swedish promise rode cramped, crashed and disappeared from the race after five laps. In the second heat a combative Jönrup gave the best of himself at 24th to finish less than 2 seconds behind the 22th.
For the first WMX series, the best female motocross riders in the world were given a very tough job. O'Hare remained below her best level and made several mistakes. She hurt her shoulder when she fell on the waves, but TJ persevered and won six World Championship points.
The Australian felt much more comfortable today on a faster and more fluid course. O'Hare sent her 250 SX-F to a great top-5 start, made a small mistake but still finished the job with an excellent 8th place.
TJ O'Hare: “I think I was a little too tense on Saturday. Halfway through the race I calmed myself down because I had made a number of mistakes one after the other. From that moment on things got better and I reassembled the 26th to the 15de place. Because they had leveled the track, it was much easier to maintain the speed today. I am therefore very pleased that I finished eighth in the second heat, my best World Cup result ever! At the moment I'm quite happy with my speed, but I just have to get used to avoiding mistakes. If I can make that step, even a top 6 is a possibility.”
Thomas Sileika: “The plan was to come to Valkenswaard alone with a standard motorcycle and a friend who would lend a hand to do some tinkering for me this weekend! I only started riding again in November, because I was actually a motocross rider for a year and a half! However, now I know that motocross is my life, so I was determined to make the most of this opportunity. The engine ran fine. Unfortunately we were unlucky in the first race, but in the last race I showed that I (still) have the speed. I got arm pump halfway through the race and made some stupid mistakes. However, given the circumstances, I am very proud of what I have achieved here. Valkenswaard was my third race this season and my first big race in a long time. Of course I'm short of competition rhythm and the new engine also required an adjustment. Hopefully I can continue this trend.”
Emil Jönrup: “I am happy to have achieved my first goal - qualifying in the EMX250 - for the new season. My second moto was definitely better than the first. I was more motivated to fight. Starting from the outside was difficult, but I had to make the best of it. In the next races I want to be more consistent and drive the same lap times from start to finish. In any case, it was positive to see that my condition is in order. At the moment I mainly lack racing experience because I haven't competed for so long.”
Alessio Sasso: “Of course I am very disappointed by this injury. I had prepared well for my first race weekend in EMX250, but this kind of thing happens sometimes in our sport. I want to thank everyone who is behind me, and I want to apologize for letting people down. My recovery will take a long time, but giving up is not in my dictionary!”
Photos: Eric Laurijssen
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