Simone Zecchina took another step in his motocross education at the highest level by taking the RM-Z250 of the Suzuki Europe MX2 squad almost into the points at a warm Agueda circuit for the Grand Prix of Portugal.
A crowd of 13,000 came to the facility south of Porto for the sixth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship and although the agreeable climate created a pleasant event, the track itself was rough, demanding and difficult for overtaking. The layout represented another tough lesson for the Italian teenager on his second appearance of three for the GP team. Number '12' rued two mediocre starts, and in the first moto his part in a crash in the formative stages meant that he showed good resilience to push his way back to 23rd. In the second race, the rookie tried hard but did not have the power to last the entire distance at the speed he wanted to carry.
Zecchina and Suzuki Europe MX2 will next be in action at La Baneza for the Grand Prix of Spain this coming weekend. Valentin Teillet is scheduled for a return to action for the Swedish round at the beginning of July. The same event will also host the second meeting of six in the European 125cc two-stroke series; a contest that Zecchina currently leads.
Simone Zecchina:
"My starts were not good but I was quite pleased with how I could keep going and finish the race near the top 20. I couldn't get a good rhythm going in the second moto and after 25 minutes I was finished. Physically I felt better than I did in France and I am learning a lot about what I need to do. Spain will be my last GP with the team but I hear the track is quite 'Italiano' so that should be good for me."
MX2 Moto 1: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 40:23.948; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:02.308; 3. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:27.082; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:30.894; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.916; 6. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +1:15.943; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +1:44.811; 8. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +1:47.950; 9. Antonio Jose Butron Oliva (ESP, KTM), -1 lap(s); 10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), -1 lap(s). 23. Simone Zecchina (ITA, Suzuki Europe MX2), -2 lap(s).
MX2 Moto 2: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 39:09.082; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:16.263; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:20.500; 4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:22.398; 5. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:45.623; 6. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), +0:52.971; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:04.150; 8. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, KTM), +1:08.713; 9. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), +1:10.771; 10. Antonio Jose Butron Oliva (ESP, KTM), +1:34.843. 25. Simone Zecchina (ITA, Suzuki Europe MX2), -1 lap(s).
MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 44 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), 36 p.; 3. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), 36 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 32 p.; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 28 p.; 6. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Yamaha), 28 p.; 7. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 25 p.; 8. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Harri Kullas (FIN, Yamaha), 23 p. 27. Simone Zecchina (ITA, Suzuki Europe MX2), 0 p.
