EKS Brand Weekend Report
Another amazing weekend for the EKS BRAND goggles race team members. Congratulations to all of them!
FIM World Grand Prix of Latvia.
MX-1 Kevin Strijbos 3rd.
MX-2 Jose Butron 5th.
It was a very special weekend also for Kevin Strijbos, not only for being on the third step of the podium, but also for wining the second heat. The last time the Belgian rider won a race in the FIM Motocross World Championship was back in 2007 during the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in Lierop, so it was a great feeling for the Belgian to cross the finish line first once again after such a long period of time. Strijbos felt really comfortable in the second race because the track was muddy, but he admitted that he struggled a lot in the first one because it was too fast for him. In fact, he was really surprised to be on the podium because he had only been able to finish tenth in the first race.
Kevin Strijbos: “ The first race was really bad, I had a good start but then I dropped down from third to tenth. The track was very hard and was very scary in some places, so I was riding really tight everywhere. Before I started the second race Harry [Everts, trainer] gave me a shout and he made me react. The rain also came down between the races, so I was pretty happy about that because the track was much slower. I got another good start in the second race and I was riding behind Tony [Cairoli] when he made that crash. In the beginning I was nervous because I was leading again after a long time but everything went well and I managed to keep the gap with Paulin who was riding second at that point. I’m really happy about winning, especially because it has been five years since my last victory. I’m also happy for the team because they work really hard for me, so thanks to them, Harry, my girlfriend and everybody who works on my bike.
My next goal is to be second on the podium, I’ve been third three times and I just want to be second and then first! I think I could have been second this weekend because I got two good starts but I was not ‘into’ the first race. I actually didn’t think I was on the podium because with a tenth and a first I could not imagine it, so I was really happy. I will keep on working really hard for the Russian Grand Prix next week and I’m really happy about going there and having a new track to race.”
In the MX2 races, the fifth overall position was for Diga Racing KTM’s Jose Butrón; the Spanish rider took the holeshot of race one and he was able to lead the race for seven laps, but he could not keep the rhythm and crossed the finish line sixth. In the second moto he did not have such a good start and had to fight from his initial twelfth position to finish seventh.
AMA Pro Motocross Championship Spring CreekRaceway - Millville, MN
Kyle Chisolm 12th.
WORCS National off road race Pala CA.
PRO-1 Bobby Garrison 3rd.
PRO-2 Justin Jones 1st. Ivan Ramirez 2nd. Corey Graffunder 3rd.
In the PRO 1 division, third place fell to Monster Energy Kawasaki’s BOBBY GARRISON, who is still riding hurt. “I’m racing for the WORCS Championship and I’m still in it,” said Garrison. “My shoulder is a small problem, it doesn’t hurt so much anymore but it goes numb after a while and is hard to hold on.” Garrison held on for third and kept Robert from clinching the title early.
Justin Jones took the holeshot and set the pace with a 7:44 fastest lap time in the Pro 2 class at Pala WORCS. Jones was never challenged as he continued to hold the lead to take the victory. Second place fell to Pro 2 point’s leader Ivan Ramirez on the RPM/Maxxis/FMF/KTM. Ramirez worked his way forward but could not catch the fleet Honda of Jones. Corey Graffunder rode his Husky to another WORCS podium scoring third at Pala to keep his title hopes alive.
Yamaha National Quad X Series Round 6 & 7 Glen Helen Raceway, Devore, CA
Round 6 David Haagsma 1st, Beau Barron 2nd, Dustin Nelson 3rd
Round 7 David Haagsma 1st, Dustin Nelson 2nd, Beau Barron 3rd.
Thank you to all the EKS BRAND team members and supporters!
