Team Honda finish second in inaugural Supermotocross Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup
The Team HRC pairing of Evgeny Bobryshev and Gautier Paulin, alongside Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser, took Team Honda to second overall in this evening’s Supermotocross Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup at the Veltins Arena in Germany.
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.
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
Gautier Paulin 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 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.”
Roger Harvey
“We’re happy with second today in the Manufacturers’ Cup. The day was a little bruising for all the guys with little injuries, but they all did a good job. It was great to see Tim take a race win on the new 2017 CRF as we continue the programme of working forward to next season, and although Bobby, Gautier and Tim all picked up little things that slowed them down a bit, generally we come away from this first SMX event reasonably happy.”
Location Information
VELTINS-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - View in Google Maps
