Pietramurata (Italy), 20 April 2015: Following the first three overseas races, it was back to Europe for the Wilvo Forkrent KTM team for round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship and round one of the EMX250 European Championship at the glorious Arco di Trento circuit in Italy. Adam Sterry was looking forward to getting his campaign off to a solid start and Steven Frossard was intent on kick-starting his MXGP season after a lacklustre beginning.EMX250 Timed Practice:
With 89 EMX250 riders entered in the season opener, the organisers split the group in to two sets for qualifying with Sterry firmly securing his position with a good gate pick and clocking 3rd fastest time in Group A.EMX250 Race 1:
In race one, Sterry didn’t quite get his usual good start and found himself boxed in on the first turn but through sheer determination he somehow managed to squeeze his way through to 6th by the end of the first lap. On the sketchy hard-packed track it wasn’t possible to push too hard and a sensible, steady race was the way forward. Sterry managed to gradually pick off his rivals one-by-one to eventually move into 2nd place on lap ten however, race leader Desprey already had a commanding lead and the 18-year old was content to ride out the remaining laps to take a great 2nd place at the finish line.EMX250 Race 2:
Clipping the gate in race two Sterry found himself way back, but as in the first race he somehow managed to navigate his way through the carnage of the first few corners to move all the way through to 7th continuing to ride a similar race, once again gradually picking off the places. The gap between the front few riders was greater than in the first race and the best he could get to was 3rd before the chequered flag. His two-three finish gave him 2nd overall, behind maximum man Desprey and with the sand of Valkenswaard lying in wait for round two, Sterry will be confident of turning the tables on the Frenchman.
MXGP Qualifying Race:
After posting the 5th fastest time in practice, Frossard gave himself a decent chance of making a good start but he didn’t quite manage to take full advantage. After a moderate start, the Frenchman looked more comfortable than in previous races and pushed forward to take his best qualifying position of the season in 9th place.
MXGP Race 1:
Making a great start in the race one, Frossard rounded the first turn in 3rd, but lost a couple of places on the next lap and then another later to Desalle to leave him in 7th. Paulin and Van Horebeek then found a way through but Frossard still looked good as he circulated in 9th until lap ten when he landed heavy on the step-down behind the pit-lane and jarred his thumb, leaving him in a lot of pain and unable to continue.
MXGP Race 2:
Attempting to ride the second race following his injury in race one Frossard managed to complete a couple of laps but had to retire due to the pain in his thumb.
Commenting on the weekend, Adam Sterry said: “Another solid weekend! Qualifying overall in fifth meant I had a good enough gate pick but unfortunately starts just weren’t my forte this weekend. Two bad starts meant I had to fight through the field each time and on this track it wasn’t easy. I went two-three for second overall which is a good way to start the championship. It’s a long season so consistency is the key and I hope to do the same in Valkenswaard.”
MXGP rider Steven Frossard added: “It was a difficult weekend again. It started well with timed practice and qualifying was OK. My start was also really good in the first race but then I injured my thumb when I landed on the step-down and just couldn’t continue. I tried again in the second race but I just had too much pain unfortunately.”
Team Manager, Steve Turner summed up: “Adam was great again this weekend. He rode within his comfort zone, which is the sensible thing to do on such a gnarly track and he did everything that was expected of him, apart from taking his usual good starts. It’s good for his confidence to start this season’s campaign off with a podium and going into the sand of Valkenswaard next week he will be confident of being at the sharp end again. Frossard started the weekend positively with fifth fastest in timed practice, followed by ninth in the qualifying race but then sadly badly jarred his thumb in race one which destroyed his weekend. It’s very disappointing for everyone.”
The team head to the MXGP of Europe at Valkenswaard on the 26th April where EMX250 rider Adam Sterry sits in 2nd position in the European Championship and MXGP rider Steven Frossard lies in 17th place.
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