PETIT AND BERVOETS OPEN EMX250 AND EMX125 PRESENTED BY FMF RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FIRST EUROPEAN WINS.
The first round of the EMX250 and EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing championships at the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha in Cozar delivered an action-packed start to the season. Riders battled the rain, wind and tough track to kick off their campaigns.
And it was a day to remember for Adrien Petit in EMX250 and Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC’s Jarne Bervoets in EMX125 who came out on top of the European podium for the first time of their career following impressive control on the muddy track of Cozar Moto Ranch.
In Race 1, Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna’s Nico Greutmann charged down the inside at the start, but Team VHR VRT Yamaha Official’s Janis Reisulis made a bold move around the outside, setting the tone for a fiercely contested race. Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Jake Cannon and his teammate Francesco Garcia both got off to strong starts, while KTM Kosak Team’s Bradley Mesters also looked competitive before a costly mistake on the opening lap saw him drop from second to 15th.
As the race developed, Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna’s Mads Fredsoe executed a clean pass on Team VHR VRT Yamaha Official’s Ivano Van Erp to take fourth place, but it was Greutmann who emerged from nowhere to grab the race lead on lap 4 of 11. However, his time at the front was short-lived as he suffered a dramatic crash, launching over the handlebars and injuring his wrist. Meanwhile, Fantic Factory Racing EMX125’s Simone Mancini, a standout in the 125cc class last season, also had an off-track moment. Petit was also on the charge and mastered the mud to make his way up from 11th to 5th showing impressive skills along the way.
Reisulis maintained control of the race despite increasing pressure from behind. Fredsoe’s bid for the lead happened on lap 6 but was derailed after running into trouble with two laps to go, allowing Reisulis to make an outside pass on the Husqvarna rider. Meanwhile, Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Jake Cannon was one consistent rider as the Australian came from the back in 7th place to go up to 3rd on lap 4. In a thrilling finale, the battle for second with Fredsoe intensified, leading to a final lap showdown. The last word went to Cannon in the last lap with Fredsoe making a little mistake. In their wake, was JM Honda Racing’s Noel Zanocz, the 2024 EMX125 European Champion, surging forward to join the battle from further down the pack but settled for 4th.
Despite a last-minute scare near the finish line, Reisulis held firm to claim victory ahead of Cannon, Fredsoe, Zanocz, and Petit.
The second race of the EMX250 European Championship at Cozar saw more action unfold as riders faced freshly prepped but rain-soaked conditions following overnight storms. With the championship leader’s red plate up for grabs, the battle on the track was fierce from the very first corner.
At the start, Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Jake Cannon lined up hoping to build on his second-place finish from Race 1, but an early crash derailed his chances. The Australian went down after getting tagged in a tight battle, while Team VHR VRT Yamaha Official’s Ivano Van Erp launched into the holeshot, leading the pack into the first turns. Right behind him, the Frenchman Petit and Venum BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Francisco Garcia slotted into second and third, followed closely by GABRIEL SS24 KTM Factory Juniors‘ Max Werner, Fredsoe, and Team VHR Racing’s Tom Brunet.
As the race settled, Zanocz and Mancini started charging through the pack, eager to make up lost positions. Meanwhile, Brunet suffered mechanical issues, forcing him out of contention. Van Erp, who had been running strongly in third place, had a rough couple of laps on lap 6 and 7 of 12, first running off track and dropping to fifth before crashing two corners later. Despite his struggles, he fought back to finish inside the top ten.
Race 1 winner Reisulis had a rollercoaster race. Initially, he fluctuated between podium contention and mid-pack battles, but a series of mistakes and an unfortunate late-race incident saw him drop down to 12th place, knocking him off the overall podium standings.
At the front, Petit made his move on Van Erp by lap two, taking over the lead. From that moment on, he displayed a masterclass in control, extending his gap and cruising to his first-ever EMX250 race victory. The French rider crossed the line a dominant 41 seconds ahead of second-place Garcia, marking his arrival as a serious contender for the championship.
Behind Petit, Zanocz put in a solid ride to claim third place, while Wozniak MX Racing Team’s Nicolai Skovbjerg managed to work his way into fourth, overtaking Fredsoe and Werner in the latter stages of the race.
With a fifth-place finish in Race 1 and a dominant win in Race 2, Adrien Petit claimed the overall victory and secured the red plate as the championship leader heading into Round 2. Noel Zanocz finished second overall, just three points adrift, while Mads Fredsoe secured his first podium finish since 2023 in Germany, a long-overdue return to form. Despite his Race 1 win, Reisulis’ struggles in Race 2 saw him drop to fourth overall, just missing the podium. Nicolai Skovbjerg rounded out the top five after two consistent races.
EMX250 – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), 32:25.546; 2. Jake Cannon (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:11.177; 3. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:14.735; 4. Noel Zanocz (HUN, Honda), +0:16.764; 5. Adrien Petit (FRA, Yamaha), +0:32.937; 6. Brando Rispoli (ITA, KTM), +0:41.865; 7. Bradley Mesters (NED, KTM), +0:47.843; 8. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), +1:15.727; 9. Ivano Van Erp (NED, Yamaha), +1:29.065; 10. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, Yamaha), +1:32.694
EMX250 – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Adrien Petit (FRA, Yamaha), 32:52.879; 2. Francisco Garcia (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:40.540; 3. Noel Zanocz (HUN, Honda), +1:03.049; 4. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, Yamaha), +1:12.118; 5. Maximilian Werner (GER, KTM), +1:14.899; 6. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, Husqvarna), +1:15.078; 7. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), +1:44.239; 8. Lyonel Reichl (LIE, Husqvarna), +2:23.268; 9. Gyan Doensen (NED, KTM), +2:29.204; 10. Ivano Van Erp (NED, Yamaha), +2:39.410
EMX250 Overall – Top 10: 1. Adrien Petit (FRA, YAM), 41 points; 2. Noel Zanocz (HUN, HON), 38 p.; 3. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, HUS), 35 p.; 4. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, YAM), 29 p.; 6. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Bradley Mesters (NED, KTM), 24 p.; 8. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Francisco Garcia (ESP, KAW), 22 p.; 10. Lyonel Reichl (LIE, HUS), 22 p
EMX250 Championship – Top 10 Classification: 1. Adrien Petit (FRA, YAM), 41 points; 2. Noel Zanocz (HUN, HON), 38 p.; 3. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, HUS), 35 p.; 4. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DEN, YAM), 29 p.; 6. August Frisk (SWE, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Bradley Mesters (NED, KTM), 24 p.; 8. Ivano Van Erp (NED, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Francisco Garcia (ESP, KAW), 22 p.; 10. Lyonel Reichl (LIE, HUS), 22 p.
EMX250 Manufacturers – Top 10 Classification: 1. Yamaha, 50 points; 2. Kawasaki, 44 p.; 3. Honda, 38 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 35 p.; 5. KTM, 31 p.; 6. Triumph, 15 p.; 7. Fantic, 4 p.; 8. GASGAS, 3 p.;
Text/Bild: Infront