The final day is done and dusted here in Ernée. In keeping with the trend of recent MXGP rounds, rain followed us through the early part of the day, leaving the EMX125 boys with a slick, muddy track to contend with. Thankfully, the rain soon passed, and as the sun broke through the clouds, the circuit began to shape up beautifully. The mix of moisture and drying conditions created a race surface that was, in many ways, ideal for racing (despite the width of the track!). With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the Brits fared on the world stage.
Words by Edward Heather – Feature Image by MRT Beta
EMX125 Moto 2 saw two Brits finish inside the points-paying positions – JK Racing Yamaha’s Jamie Keith and the #418 Drew Stock. Keith started just outside the top 10 and moved into 10th on lap six, where he remained until the final three laps. A small mistake then caused him to drop to 12th, but he managed to make one pass on the final lap to finish 11th.10–11 moto score isn’t what Keith would want on paper; however, he has finally completed a GP weekend after well-documented collarbone issues in recent weeks – good work by the #184!
Drew Stock completed the first lap in 20th and improved to 18th by lap three. As rain drizzled throughout the moto, track conditions became more challenging and mistakes more likely. A couple of errors pushed Stock back outside the points, but the #418 regrouped well to cross the line in 20th position. A strong weekend for Stock, who seems to be finding his feet both on the EMX circuit and in the British Championship. Charlie Richmond narrowly missed out on scoring his first-ever EMX points, coming home in 21st. After running as far back as 34th, Richmond showed real heart to dig deep and steadily work his way through the pack, racing without goggles for the majority of the moto, no less! A strong weekend for Richmond; hopefully, he can make it to future EMX rounds and continue to build on the promise he showed in Ernee.
Hayden Statt also had a poor start but progressed ten positions from lap one to the chequered flag, finishing 29th. There’s no doubt that Statt’s ceiling is higher than his current results suggest, and the learning phase of moving up into the 125cc class is part and parcel of the transition. Lucas Moncrieff came home in 31st place. Having another Brit in and amongst the competition is a reassuring sign for British motocross overall. It’s great to see a young rider showing they have the talent to be part of the picture on the big stage. Dream Team Fantic pilot Cole McCullough could not replicate his podium finish from yesterday and exited the race on lap 10, after he made extremely impressive progress toward the top 10. Gutting for McCullough as he looked to secure his second podium of the season!
EMX250 Moto 2 saw only one Brit complete the full race distance — Chambers Racing’s Ollie Colmer. Colmer ran as high as 18th for much of the 25-minute-plus-two-lap moto, but a few mistakes in the latter stages dropped the #456 to a finishing position of 21st. Despite what the results may show, Colmer has made impressive progress since the start of the season, with his riding continuing to develop well. Askew and Barker pulled out after lap one due to a first-turn crash, while Bobby Bruce opted not to race after injuring his knee in yesterday’s moto.
MXGP Moto 1 featured standout rides from two British pilots. Ben Watson finally got a decent start, positioning himself in 11th for the opening four laps. Consistent 1:55.000 lap times from the MRT Racing Beta rider allowed him to close the gap to the group ahead and progress to 9th by the chequered flag. Chambers Racing’s Adam Sterry also had a strong ride, finishing in a well-respected 15th place. After starting inside the top 20, Sterry ran competitive lap times alongside a number of factory riders. As he clicked off consistent laps, he steadily worked his way up to 15th by lap sixteen, holding that position to the finish. Lexa MX’s John Adamson came home in 27th, and the other Lexa MX pilot, Josh Gilbert, had goggle issues on the opening lap and pulled off after lap two.
In MXGP Moto 2, Ben Watson was the only Brit to finish in a points-paying position, crossing the line in 11th place. Another start just outside the top ten saw Watson complete the opening lap in 13th. However, on a tight, technical circuit with limited passing opportunities, the MRT Racing Beta rider could only advance to 11th by the flag. His speed, however, was clearly on display — his fastest lap time (1:51.446) was quicker than several riders ahead of him, reaffirming that raw pace is not an issue for the #919. With 9th and 11th place finishes, Watson earned 22 championship points and secured 11th overall on the day.
Lexa MX’s Josh Gilbert was the second-highest-placing Brit, finishing in 23rd. Gilbert ran inside the top 20 for the first five laps before gradually being shuffled back to his final position. Teammate John Adamson got off to a strong start, clocking the first lap in 19th. Unfortunately for the Scotsman, a heavy crash on lap two forced him to retire from the race. It was a tough weekend all around for the Lexa MX squad, who came away without scoring championship points. However, given the number of variables thrown their way, they were battling an uphill challenge from start to finish.
Chambers Racing’s Adam Sterry was unable to replicate his strong Moto 1 performance, finishing 24th in Moto 2. A poor start made for a tough challenge on a circuit where overtaking is limited — despite the result, there are plenty of positives to take away for both Sterry and the team. The goal remains to consistently run within the top 15, and this weekend once again proved that he has the pace to compete with factory-supported riders. The 6 points earned in Moto 1 placed him 18th overall for the weekend.
