23.07.2018

NO LUCK IN LOKET FOR HITACHI ASA KTM UK

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Irwin in Czech for points as Mewse is sidelined by injury for MXGP Round 14

The world championship circus returned to Europe after a brief Asian adventure and what better greeting could they have gotten than the iconic Loket circuit. The charming backdrop of the Czech Republic round was a familiar sight for the riders while tackling the massive elevation changes of this classic venue.

Team Hitachi ASA KTM UK started off their weekend on the back foot as MX2 rider Conrad Mewse dented his femur and has huge hematoma on the whole thigh. The pain and discomfort saw him opt to recuperate ahead of the next round in the Maxxis British Championship, where the #426 is defending a 31-point lead in the standings on his KTM 250 SX-F. This respite cost him one position in the MX2 standings – where Mewse dropped from 13th to 14th – and left Graeme Irwin to pick up the baton for the team in the premier class.

MXGP

A strong start to the weekend was slightly knocked by a small off in Saturday’s Qualifying Race, placing the #55 KTM 450 SX-F in 16th after challenging for a near top-10 position. The lowly start gate combined with a poor start saw Irwin swallowed by the pack at the beginning of the first moto and he dropped as low as 27th before starting to fight back and steadily climb into 21st position by the time the chequered flag waved.

Narrowly missing out on the top 20 at the first try, a much better start in the second moto was abruptly followed by being forced out wide at the first corner. The Carrickfergus-born rider battled back to finish 20th this time around and grab the final point scoring position.

With the lap times Irwin had been posting throughout the weekend, clearly some better starts and a little luck are all that is needed to demonstrate why he is the reigning British champion and worthy to be in arguably the most competitive season of MXGP yet.

Meanwhile, KTM is running away with the constructors’ championship, with Jeffrey Herlings dominating both races of the day in the MXGP class, ahead of teammate Antonio Cairoli.

In the MX2 class, KTM had a bit more competition but Jorge Prado came out on top to break the tie with teammate Pauls Jonass and snatch the championship lead going into Round 15 in Belgium.

Irwin, Mewse and the Hitachi ASA KTM UK team return to action in the Maxxis British Motocross championship this coming weekend (July 29) in Duns, Scotland.

Graeme Irwin #55 said: “Well it was one of those full turnaround weekends. We had really good pace on Saturday in Free Practice and Timed Practice. In the Qualifying Race I washed the front making a pass for 11th and ended up finishing 16th. I was confident of my pace after Sunday morning’s warm-up, but in the first race got the most horrendous start but managed to claw back up to 21st. I desperately needed the start in the second race and I got that until I got hit in the first corner, coming out in the 25th and then having to battle back up.

“I’m working so hard and just so frustrated that I couldn’t show it in the races. But this weekend has been good in some respects and we are definitely starting to go in the right direction - just two bad starts killed it. There’s nothing I need to change now about my preparation for the races, I’m training hard and it will all come together.”

Photos by Ray Archer

MXGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS – ROUND 14 of 19

MXGP Race 1

1. Jeffrey Herlings KTM

2. Antonio Cairoli KTM

3. Tim Gajser HONDA

21. Graeme Irwin KTM

MXGP Race 2

1. Jeffrey Herlings KTM

2. Antonio Cairoli KTM

3. Tim Gajser HONDA

20. Graeme Irwin KTM

MXGP Overall