09 Oct 2016 ID: 81354
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Team Honda finish second in inaugural Supermotocross Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup

Team Honda finish second in inaugural Supermotocross Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup

The debut SMX event saw three races of furious action on the specially built track inside the Veltins Arena, and in the early stages it was clearly Honda leading the way.

Gajser contested the Superpole shootout for the team and took pole, and romped to a dominant first race win. Meanwhile though, Bobryshev came together with another rider in the opening race and was forced to retire with pain in his wrist. Gautier Paulin also took a large rock to the right shoulder on the opening lap, and with Gajser crashing and injuring his shoulder in the second race, Team Honda were somewhat in the wars.

The Slovenian led the way in the Superpole shootout to finish fastest, and stormed to the first motocross race victory for the new 2017 machine, with fastest lap for good measure.

Race two also started strongly, but then two crashes dampened the rest of his night – whilst the first crash was harmless, the second crash which happened three laps from the end put him down hard on the shoulder he injured whilst practicing before the Nations.

Losing a lap, he steeled himself to still cross the line to take 19th, but whilst he came back for more in the third and final race, the lingering injury hampered his style. Although he started strongly, as the race rode on he slipped from second to an eventual fifth.

However the trio kept fighting, and a 6th, 7th and 9th for Paulin and a 7th and 8th for Bobryshev, alongside Tim’s results of 1st, 5th and 19th, was enough to take Team Honda to the podium.

1. Team KTM

2. Team Honda

3. Team Kawasaki

4. Team Husqvarna

5. Team Yamaha

6. Team Suzuki

 

Tim Gajser, no.243

“I definitely showed I had pace to run out front today, and to take the first race win and on the new bike was great. To take the pole and the holeshot was amazing, and the new 2017 CRF feels so good to ride and is so fast. I did my best for the team and to finish second with Team Honda is a good result. But I had the pace to win overall today, so I’m disappointed with the crashes. The first one wasn’t so bad and I was able to get going again in fourth, but the second one when I went down was so painful. I landed on the same shoulder I injured in practice before the Nations, and I could barely lift the bike back up at first. But I’m still pleased that we could finish second thanks also to Gautier and Bobby. It was really nice to race indoors in Europe and a really good experience because this is the first time we do this.”

 

Gautier Paulin, no.21

“In the first race I took a huge stone to my shoulder and I lost a lot of power in my arm which made it difficult. The track was good though and it was good to ride because everyone was at the same rhythm, and it was just about giving the right push and the right moment. I had a great team and it’s great to put Team Honda in second place this evening.”

 

Evgeny Bobryshev, no.777

“In the first race I had a little crash and damaged my wrist so I couldn’t continue with the pain so I had to pull off which was disappointing. The track was getting rough today, especially in the last race, so it was tough but it’s great to take Team Honda into second.”

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Tom Tremayne
Tom Tremayne
Honda Motor Europe
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