ZECCHINA SCORES 1ST MX2 POINTS
New temporary recruit Simone Zecchina had an encouraging debut at a stuffy St Jean D'Angely for the Grand Prix of France as Suzuki Europe MX2 tasted FIM Motocross World Championship action for the first time since April.
The young Italian took a break from leading the European 125cc two-stroke series to make his GP bow and picked up his maiden points with 18th position in the opening moto on the RM-Z250.
Some 32,000 spectators and a lively atmosphere guaranteed a large and adrenaline-pumping stage for the teenager who was able to taste the speed and intensity of grand prix racing for the first time. The demands of the series and the varying grip levels, deep ruts and many bumps of the St Jean circuit had to be swallowed by Zecchina and he made decent work of running in the points during the first moto but understandably tired in the second race and crossed the finish line in 26th. He was 21st overall.
Zecchina will again fill the saddle of the RM-Z250 for the next two weeks. The next appointment for the Italian and the team will be the Grand Prix of Portugal in the red dirt of Agueda, south of Porto.
Simone Zecchina:
"I had one very good race and one not so good. I started very well in the first moto and pushed as hard as I could for a long as I could. Near the end I was finished at that speed. The second race was very difficult. It was good to be at the GP and this is an important opportunity. It was fantastic to ride this bike and the team is really good for me. I go to Portugal now. It will be my first time but I have seen the pictures and watched the races on TV."
MX2 Moto1: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 40:46.690; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:13.754; 3. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:24.369; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:36.109; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:53.180; 6. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), +1:13.915; 7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +1:28.231; 8. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:34.282; 9. Elliott Banks-Browne (GBR, Honda), +1:48.937; 10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:54.521; 18. Simone Zecchina (ITA, Suzuki Europe MX2), -1 lap(s).
MX2 Moto2: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 39:47.629; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:01.734; 3. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:04.429; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:05.211; 5. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), +0:51.885; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:58.504; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:15.537; 8. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:24.505; 9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:32.280; 10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:35.299; 26. Simone Zecchina (ITA, Suzuki Europe MX2), -2 lap(s).
MX2 Overall result: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 43 points; 2. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 40 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 40 p.; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 35 p.; 6. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 30 p.; 8. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 24 p.; 9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 23 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 19 p. 21. Simone Zecchina (ITA, Suzuki Europe MX2), 3 p.
