Team Suzuki Press Office – September 17.
Jett Lawrence – EMX250 -Suzuki RMZ250 – 1st
Larissa Papenmeier – WMX – 5th
Team Suzuki Germany rider Jett Lawrence won both races of the EMX250 European Championship in Assen, The Netherlands, at the weekend with Larissa Papenmeier (Team Twenty Suspension Suzuki) improving her WMX Championship rank to third position.
During the Motocross Grand Prix of Netherlands, the finals of European Championship EMX250 took place; and 15-year-old Jett Lawrence is one of the youngest participants of the strong youngster-series aboard his RM-Z250.
Even with this supposed disadvantage, Lawrence has often proved his talent his year, and he showed it again at Assen. Qualifying is not Lawrence’s specialty so he was not worried about his eighth position in qualifying. “I’m never the best in practice sessions“, the teenager said. “But because we all start in the same line, it is not that dramatic.”
In Saturday’s first race, the Australian had a strong start and grabbed the lead in the first lap. Even when he had to give back the lead, Lawrence stayed calm and focused on his race. He said: “Around half of the race I was able to take the lead again and gained a comfortable gap until the race was finished.”
In the second race on Sunday, Lawrence controlled the race on the technical and demanding sand-track and won the race despite the pressure of his competitors. He added: “This is my first overall win in this class! We could not have ended this year’s European Championship any better. Now I have to take this positive momentum to the finals of ADAC MX Youngster Cup next weekend in Holzgerlingen. There I want to get the title!”
The penultimate round of the Women’s World Championship (WMX) also took place in Assen: Papenmeier has already impressed in Qualifying and reached Pole Position.
Both WMX races were very similar and not very good for the 28-year-old. Papenmeier took both starts and was able to lead for some laps. But in every race she crashed and dropped back to sixth position. She said: “That was definitely not what I wanted for the races. I had a good pace but I cannot be satisfied by those results.
The next race for Jett Lawrence and Team Suzuki Germany is the finals of ADAC MX Youngster Cup in Holzgerlingen next weekend, September 22nd & 23rd.
Women’s World Championship finals take place in Imola, Italy on September 29th & 30th.
Overall result EMX250 Assen:
1. Lawrence, Jett (AUS, SUZ), 50 Points
2. Horgmo, Kevin (NOR, KTM), 42
3. Vialle, Tom (FRA, KTM), 36
4. Haarup, Mikkel (DEN, HUS), 29
5. Grothues, Caleb (AUS, YAM), 24
6. Kellett, Todd (GBR, KTM), 22
7. Forato, Alberto (ITA, HON), 22
8. Clarke, Steven (GBR, HON), 21
9. Boisrame, Mathys (FRA, HON), 20
10. Barr, Martin (GBR, HUS), 20
EMX250 Championship final result:
1. Boisrame, Mathys (FRA, HON), 366
2. Pocock, Mel (GBR, HUS), 312
3. Van De Moosdijk, Roan (NED, YAM), 274
4. Barr, Martin (GBR, HUS), 273
5. Clarke, Steven (GBR, HON), 264
6. Walsh, Dylan (NZL, HUS), 239
7. Strubhart Moreau, Brian (FRA, KAW), 237
8. Vialle, Tom (FRA, KTM), 227
9. Goupillon, Pierre (FRA, KAW), 205
10. Horgmo, Kevin (NOR, KTM), 191
11. Haarup, Mikkel (DEN, HUS), 171
12. Renaux, Maxime (FRA, YAM), 168
13. Lawrence, Jett (AUS, SUZ), 155
Overall result WMX Assen:
1. Fontanesi, Kiara (ITA, YAM), 50
2. Van De Ven, Nancy (NED, YAM), 42
3. Laier, Stephanie (GER, KTM), 40
4. Verstappen, Amandine (BEL, KTM), 38
5. Papenmeier, Larissa (GER, SUZ), 30
6. Van Der Vlist, Shana (NED, KTM), 29
7. Dam, Line (DEN, HON), 28
8. Valk, Lynn (NED, YAM), 24
9. Berry, Avrie (USA, KTM), 24
10. Kane, Natalie (IRL, HON), 23
WMX Championship standings (after 5 of 6 events):
1. Fontanesi, Kiara (ITA, YAM), 213
2. Van De Ven, Nancy (NED, YAM), 205
3. Papenmeier, Larissa (GER, SUZ), 191
4. Duncan, Courtney (NZL, YAM), 184
5. Laier, Stephanie (GER, KTM), 152
6. Verstappen, Amandine (BEL, KTM), 146
7. Kane, Natalie (IRL, HON), 132
8. Van Der Vlist, Shana (NED, KTM), 122
9. Dam, Line (DEN, HON), 90
10. Andersen, Sara (DEN, KTM), 86
