Team HRC look to take qualifying performance to Valkenswaard
With only a few days separating rounds four and five, Team HRC will be heading straight to the GP of Europe at Valkenswaard from Trentino. The back-to-back European rounds will see the riders tackle the first sand track of the year.
Both Evgeny Bobryshev and Gautier Paulin have podium history at the Dutch track: 2013 saw Bobby finish third and last year Paulin took the first moto win.
Riding on a high after his first-ever qualifying race win, Bobryshev will be looking to convert that pace to a podium finish this weekend. The race starts hampered his race efforts so the popular Russian will looking to rectify that this weekend at one of his favourite tracks.
Paulin will also be looking for more after it was clear from his pace in Italy that both he and the CRF450RW have race winning capability. The Frenchman also has a history of performing well in the sand after his dominant performance at the Latvian track of Kegums at last year’s Motocross of Nations.
The 1550m long Valkenswaard track, located just north of the Belgian border, is known for being tough and physically demanding for the riders. On track action for the GP of Europe will start on Saturday with free practice at 10.45hrs local time, culminating in Sunday’s two races at 14.15hrs and 17.10hrs local time.
Roger Harvey
“We saw all last weekend that we had the pace to run at the front, and of course on Saturday Bobby took his first MXGP qualifying race win, so we hope this weekend at Valkenswaard we can continue that momentum and bring the same level of performance. It’s very different being a sand track, but we’ve tested in these conditions and got a good baseline setup which we’re happy with. We’ve got to do some work on the starts, but overall the work we’ve been doing, especially in the last weeks, is now starting to show.”
Gautier Paulin 21
“I know what we can do and where we are, and we were able to show that a little bit in Arco. We need to work more on the starts, but we’re working hard in testing and on the bike, and we’re moving in the right direction. Now we look to continue that this weekend on the sand.”
Evgeny Bobryshev 777
“I like sand tracks, and Valkenswaard is one my favourites. Last year there was hard because I was still recovering from injuries to my back and ankle, but I’m feeling strong this year, especially after Arco. Even in the races we saw that we had the pace to run at the front, so with more work on the starts I hope we can continue in that direction this weekend.”
Location Information
Eurocircuit, Valkenswaard, The Netherlands - View in Google Maps
