Honda riders Mitch Evans and Nathan Crawford displayed race-winning speed but suffered unlikely setbacks at the MXGP of Latvia.
Mitch Evans was thankful to back in action, as he continues his recovery from the shoulder injury sustained at Valkenswaard. He was unlucky to be involved in two first turn crashes which gave him no chance of battling near the front of this competitive MXGP field. Instead, he had to work his way through the pack in both motos finishing 19th in Race 1 and 18th in Race 2 for 20th overall.
“It’s good to be back racing and it’s good to back at the GPs with everyone, even though there is a few restrictions,” said Evans. “I’m just glad to be here racing really because the surgeon told me when I first had my operation that I would be out for six months so to be on the line in four months, I’m pretty happy with it.
“Unfortunately, I got caught up in the first turn pile ups in both motos, and fought my way back to 19th and 18th so it wasn’t great but I’m treating it as a building process and I need to regroup for Wednesday and work on my starts in order to make my life a bit easier. Still, the first race is done and I’m sure I’ll feel better and better as the season progresses.”
Honda 114 Motorsport’s Nathan Crawford secured 12th overall in MX2 after finishing 14th in Race 1 and eighth in Race 2. Issues with his transponder during timed practice did help his cause but the Queenslander was happy with his performance.
“I had a few issues with transponders in qualifying and although I put in a really good lap, my transponder didn’t record it. This gave me a poor gate pick which lead to a pretty average start in race one. I battled my way through the pack for the whole race and finished in 14th, which on paper isn’t the best, but I was very happy with my riding. I got a good start in the second race and raced hard to finish 8th, so that was much better and my best result so for on the MX2 World Championship, so that gives me confidence and I feel that I have more speed in me and will build off that result now.”
Crawford’s teammate Bailey Malkiewicz struggled to find his groove and managed 21st in Race 1 and 26th in Race 2.