PORTUGAL NEXT FOR PETROV AND KULLAS
The seventh round of 16 in the FIM Motocross World Championship takes place this weekend at Agueda for the Grand Prix of Portugal as the series nears the half way stage. Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe has arrived on the western tip of Europe having completed the Grand Prix of France last weekend and will face the second meeting of three in three weeks.
Petar Petrov managed to bag one of his best results of the season at St Jean D'Angely on Sunday in what is his first campaign on the factory backed RM-Z250 and now goes looking for more - and better - when the bikes engines are started again in several days.
"I want a long massage!" he said after the race in France last Sunday with regards to his plan for the week. "I need to work on my starts more so that is the idea for the week. I think if I can get away near the front, then my speed at the moment will take me near or into the top six. My fitness is good and everything is getting to a good level. The bike is great and the way we are working with the team is going very well so I am happy and thankful."
"Agueda is actually my favourite track on the calendar," he added. "It does seem to be a bit different each year there depending on the weather and how the ground has been prepared. I really hope I can get into the top 10 again. I definitely want it to be dry this weekend! After Brazil I don't want any more mud races!"
Harri Kullas crashed after a collision with another rider in the second moto of the Grand Prix of France last weekend and retired from the race with a painful neck and suspected concussion. The Fin has been convalescing over the last three days but his participation at Agueda remains '50-50' at the moment. "I'm getting better and there is already an improvement over the weekend," he revealed. "I'll see a doctor tomorrow for a check-up and should be able to make a decision then if I ride or not in Portugal."
Agueda has been a staple part of the FIM Motocross World Championship since the turn of the century and the undulating layout can either be rough and rutted or hard-pack in sections that offers varying technical demands. A lot will depend on the climate at the small town inland from Aveiro and just 30km from the Atlantic sea. A provisional long-term forecast indicates that Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe could be in for another wet weekend.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 6 of 16 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 270 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 248 p.; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 231 p.; 4. Joel Roelants (BEL, Kawasaki), 188 p.; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), 160 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 159 p.; 7. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 144 p.; 8. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Husqvarna), 118 p.; 9. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 110 p.; 10. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), 107 p.; 11. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 106 p.; 12. Harri Kullas (FIN, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe),105 p.; 13. Petar Petrov (BUL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), 90 p.
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