The weather forecast hasn’t been so kind to us today here in Lugo. Heavy rain during the morning all the way up to EMX250 Moto 2 has drenched the Circuito Municipa Jorge Prado track. Mother nature hasn’t been so kind to the GP competitors in recent weeks, but the show must go on. Let’s take a look at how the Brits placed on the final day of racing here in Lugo!
Words by Edward Heather – Feature Image by MRT Beta
Unfortunately, in EMX250 Moto 2, there was no Brit in the points-paying positions when the chequered flag was waved. James Barker continued his impressive weekend, however, finishing the race in 22nd—just two positions shy of claiming his first EMX250 points. Overall, the weekend was certainly a step in the right direction for Barker, as he displayed top-15 pace and demonstrated his worth on the European scene. Chambers Racing’s Ollie Colmer showed his heart once again, battling from just inside the top 30 to climb into 17th by lap seven. However, a couple of crashes just one lap later saw the #456 drop back to 30th. He once again mounted a hard charge through the tricky conditions to finish 24th.
Billy Askew was running as high as 11th place until the chaotic racetrack caught out the Dirtstore Triumph pilot. A couple of crashes saw Askew eventually exit the race on lap 8. It was a tough weekend for Askew, but ultimately, speed wasn’t the issue—something that’s no doubt reassuring for the youngster. Jake Davies also failed to finish the second moto, but it’s great to see another Brit competing among the fastest European racers!
Lucy Barker pieced together a great ride in WMX Moto 2, coming home in 9th place! On a track that caught out many of the fastest men and women, Barker navigated her way around impressively—starting just inside the top 20 and progressing to 11th by the end of lap 1. She held that position until lap 6, when she moved up to 9th. With 10-9 moto scores, Barker secured 9th overall for the weekend, finishing just 5 points shy of 5th!
The rain held off for MXGP Moto 1, allowing the circuit to transform into a deep, technical racetrack that demanded extreme attention to detail throughout the 30-minute plus two-lap race. MRT Racing Beta’s Ben Watson got off to a so-so start, finding himself in 13th by the end of the opening lap. With five laps remaining, Watson posted his fastest time and moved up to 12th, where he would ultimately finish. Chambers Racing’s Adam Sterry had an unbelievable ride coming home in 14th place! Sterry gated well, positioning himself in 12th during the opening laps. He was shuffled back to 16th but found an impressive race pace, clocking a best lap time of 1:56.955—quicker than a long list of factory riders. With three laps to go, Sterry capitalized on mistakes from some front-runners, gaining two positions to finish a very respectable 14th.
Lexa MX’s Josh Gilbert rounded out the points, coming home in 20th place. Gilbert had a quiet but valiant ride throughout the moto and navigated the tricky circuit well to collect one championship point. The other Lexa pilot, John Adamson, managed to avoid first-turn carnage and positioned himself in the points for a handful of laps. The Scotsman was then shuffled back to 21st, where he fended off the other MRT Racing Beta rider for a significant portion of the race—until a crash on lap 8 pushed him down to 22nd, where he would ultimately finish.
The second and final MXGP moto of the weekend was blessed with relatively good weather, which meant the track had significantly more grip and traction compared to the earlier races. Ben Watson put together a strong second moto, progressing from 15th to 11th by the time the chequered flag was waved. His 12-11 moto scores were good enough to secure the Brit 10th overall — the second time this season he has finished inside the top 10 overall on a race weekend.
Chambers Racing’s Adam Sterry couldn’t quite find the pace he showed in Moto 1 and came home in 19th place. Sterry confirmed after the race that a niggling injury he sustained last week caught up with him by the second gate drop of the day. Nevertheless, this weekend marked a significant step in the right direction for the #811. He finished 18th overall; a solid result from a productive weekend for the Brit.
Josh Gilbert scored a pair of 20th-place finishes over the weekend, earning two championship points for his efforts. The speed in the MXGP class is no joke, so it’s encouraging to see Gilbert consistently placing his Lexa MX machine inside the points. His teammate, John Adamson, opted not to line up for Moto 2; however, this weekend was certainly a step in the right direction, speed-wise. The #212 was in the mix throughout the weekend and looks to be making steady progress in his pursuit of further championship points as the season unfolds.
