Hofer ends encouraging EMX125 season with another top five finish in Sweden

8th & Final Rd. EMX125 2017 – Uddevalla (SWE)

A changeable climate in northern Europe and for MXGP’s return to the popular Uddevalla circuit helped create some challenging conditions for the sixteenth Grand Prix of the season and where the fine Scandinavian terrain close to Gothenburg hid a firm and sometimes tricky hard base.
Hofer and Mike Gwerder flew north from the last round in Switzerland with the aim of ending their first campaign on the KTM 125 SX on a strong note. Gwerder made the qualification cut for the second weekend in a row and the youngster gained valuable race mileage on the way to results of 27-30.
Hofer was unlucky to fall on the third lap of the opening moto on Saturday. The Austrian lost time recovering his bike and then spent the rest of the race working his way back to a creditable 14th. The fifteen year old made a better job on a sunny Sunday morning for the second moto. A top five launch put #711 just off the leading quartet. Hofer then maintained a steady pace to confirm 5th spot (7th overall); the fifth time he has breached the first five in 2017 and he fittingly ends the contest with fifth position in the standings. 
Didi Lacher, Team Manager: “A shame what happened in the first moto today for Rene and we all expected a bit more from that race but it really motivated him for the second moto and he almost grabbed the holeshot. On the first corner he had a front wheel slide and nearly crashed so lost some positions and he had to recover some good feeling while also worrying about front grip for most of the moto. In the end he found a really good rhythm but it was just a bit too late. Overall it was a good weekend but also a bit frustrating because his lap-times indicated that he could have been in for a podium. It was good that Mike made the gate but again we are not seeing the speed he can make in practice and training in the motos. I think he just needs to cope with the circuits, crowds and realise his own potential. It has been a bit up-and-down for Mike and I think we all hoped for a bit more by the end of the season.”
“So Rene is fifth overall and scored points in every moto and that's pretty good for a first season. We didn't have any injuries and Rene made good recoveries from the little mistakes that were made in the races. We know what we have to build on for next year and I think we have a package that looks good and is ready to make the next step.”
EMX125 Champion Brian Stubhart Moreau used a KTM 125 SX to claim the title and was also victorious in Sweden.
Results EMX125 Uddevalla 2017
1. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA), KTM (1-2)
2. Kevin Horgmo (NOR), KTM (2-3)
3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN), Husqvarna (5-1)
4. Matteo Puccinelli (ITA), KTM (3-12)
5. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha (9-6)
Other KTM
7. Rene Hofer (AUT), KTM (14-5)
40. Mike Gwerder (SUI), KTM (27-30)
Final Standings EMX125 2017
1. Strubhart Moreau 342 points
2. Haarup 301
3. Facchetti 294
4. Kevin Horgmo 272
5. Rene Hofer 189
Other KTM
30. Stauffer 27

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