Husqvarna riders have claimed winning results in two out of three classes at the 2017 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship finals in Estonia. TC 125 powered Gianluca Facchetti has been crowned 125cc Junior World Champion while TC 85 mounted Eddie Jay Wade secured the 85cc Junior World Championship crown. Showcasing the brand’s robust presence in top-level Junior class competition, Husqvarna riders filled all but one of the podium spots in these two classes.
Putting in a convincing weekend-long performance in Tartu, TC 125 mounted Gianluca Facchetti topped his qualifying moto before going on to claim two emphatic victories in the final 125cc class motos. Topping the podium in Estonia, the Husqvarna Italy supported rider became the 2017 125cc Junior World Champion.
Involved in some great battles in both motos with Facchetti, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Mikkel Haarup secured a strong runner-up spot in the championship. Earning second in the opening 125cc class moto and then third in the second race, the TC 125 mounted rider assisted Denmark in topping the Nations Classification.
In the 85cc category, Husqvarna mounted riders secured all three spots on the podium in Estonia. Securing a pair of victories at the Tartu track, Britain’s Eddie Jay Wade came out on top to be crowned the 2017 FIM 85cc Junior World Champion.
Pushing the Brit in both motos was TC 85 mounted Noel Nilsson, with the young Swede settling for a strong runner-up overall result in the class. Collecting 4-3 results in Estonia, Husqvarna mounted Kay Karssemakers earned a podium result finishing third overall in the 85cc class.
In the 65cc category, Latvian Kirils Maslovs collected 12-7 finishes to secure eighth overall and become Husqvarna’s best-performing rider in Estonia.
Gianluca Facchetti: “I’m really happy with my performance during the weekend and to become a World Champion is a dream that has come true. I started the event on a high getting pole position from Saturday’s qualifying race. In the opening moto we had a good battle with Mikkel Haarup. He kept pushing me and I couldn’t avoid making a few mistakes. At the end I had to focus on getting the victory and this is exactly what I did. The second moto was not so intense for me. I pushed hard from the start and managed to put in some fast laps. Mikkel had a fall and that made it easier for me to retain the lead until the end. I would like to thank all the members of my team, especially Corrado and Marco Maddii. Their help since last winter has been enormous. I’m happy I’m back in top form and I can focus on the remaining three races of the European Championship. My goal is to win it this year.”
Mikkel Haarup: “It feels great to get the runner-up spot in the 125 class and I’m also very happy I helped my team top the Nations Classification. With Denmark being such a small country, it’s great that we have such a strong presence in the sport. In the final races I got two good starts and rode two strong motos battling with Gianluca. We had a good battle in moto one and then in moto two I made a mistake. I did my best for the wins in both motos and I have to congratulate Gianluca for his performance. The season is by no means over for us. We’re now heading back to the European Motocross Championship and I’ll do my best to come out on top in the remaining three races of the series.”
Eddie Jay Wade: “It feels very special to win this World Championship. It’s been a perfect weekend for me. I was the fastest in each of the qualifying sessions and then managed to get two victories. We had some good battles during the final races with Noel Nilsson and it felt good to come out on top. In moto one I got the lead early and managed to cross the finish line with a four-second gap to Noel. Then in moto two I had an OK start and made a pass for the lead shortly. I enjoyed racing in this track a lot. It had some big jumps and I liked it even if it became very rough at the end of the day.”
Noel Nilsson: “It’s been a good weekend for me. I had two good motos and showed that the speed was there. In the first race I pushed hard and managed to stay close to Eddie until the end. In the second moto I felt I was running out of energy so I couldn’t continue pushing for the win. Overall, I’m really happy with my runner-up result and I’m looking ahead to the future.”
Kay Karssemakers: “It was a good event for me. I started off with a third-place result in my qualifying group on Saturday. Then in the first final moto I got a good start and pushed hard for fourth at the chequered flag. My riding was good and I was happy about that. In the second moto I didn’t manage to get a good start. I kept my head down and made some passes to finally cross the line in third. I’m really happy I earned a place on the final podium. It’s a good step for the future. The track was really nice in Estonia. I enjoyed the jumps and my speed was quite good. Overall, it’s been a great weekend for me.”
Results – FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, Estonia
125cc – Overall
1. Gianluca Facchetti (Husqvarna) 50pts; 2. Mikkel Haarup (Husqvarna) 42; 3. Kevin Horgmo (KTM) 40… 11. Bailey Malkiewicz (Husqvarna) 17… 13. Andreas Hiiemagi (Husqvarna) 15… 17. Filip Olsson (Husqvarna) 12
125cc – Race 1
1. Gianluca Facchetti (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 29:10.430; 2. Mikkel Haarup (Husqvarna) 29:14.920; 3. Brian Strubhart Moreau (KTM) 29:19.344… 12. Bailey Malkiewicz (Husqvarna) 29:57.183; 13. Filip Olsson (Husqvarna) 30:07.738… 31. Rainers Zuks (Husqvarna) 30:58.981… 33. Mauno Nieminen (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 29:16.818… 37. Rossi Beard (Husqvarna) 13 laps, 25:49.515
125cc – Race 2
1. Gianluca Facchetti (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 29:34.734; 2. Kevin Horgmo (KTM) 29:43.323; 3. Mikkel Haarup (Husqvarna) 29:53.906 … 6. Andreas Hiiemagi (Husqvarna) 30:09.690… 13. Bailey Malkiewicz (Husqvarna) 30:39.848… 17. Filip Olsson (Husqvarna) 30:46.479… 25. Rainers Zuks (Husqvarna) 31:08.135… 31. Raf Meuwissen (Husqvarna) 31:08.135… 36. Mauno Nieminen (Husqvarna) 13 laps, 30:00.556
85cc – Overall
1. Eddie Jay Wade (Husqvarna) 50pts; 2. Noel Nilsson (Husqvarna) 44; 3. Kay Karssemakers (Husqvarna) 38… 11. Bobby Wayne Bruce (Husqvarna) 19… 13. Pietro Razzini (Husqvarna) 17… 17. Mairis Pumpurs (Husqvarna) 7… 21. Nico Greutmann (Husqvarna) 2
85cc – Race 1
1. Eddie Jay Wade (Husqvarna) 13 laps, 25:17.680; 2. Noel Nilsson (Husqvarna) 25:21.972; 3. Max Palsson (KTM) 25:29.485; 4. Kay Karssemakers (Husqvarna) 25:35.238… 10. Bobby Wayne Bruce (Husqvarna) 26:05.019… 13. Pietro Razzini (Husqvarna) 26:20.527… 17. Mairis Pumpurs (Husqvarna) 26:35.386… 19. Nico Greutmann (Husqvarna) 26:43.703… 34. Noah Ludwig (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 25:50.075
85cc – Race 2
1. Eddie Jay Wade (Husqvarna) 13 laps, 25:31.753; 2. Noel Nilsson (Husqvarna) 25:46.824; 3. Kay Karssemakers (Husqvarna) 25:52.073… 12. Pietro Razzini (Husqvarna) 26:32.535; 13. Bobby Wayne Bruce (Husqvarna) 26:40.644… 18. Mairis Pumpurs (Husqvarna) 26:48.327… 31. Nico Greutmann (Husqvarna) 12 laps, 25:40.816… 39. Noah Ludwig (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 26:38.177
65cc – Overall
1. Ivano Van Erp (KTM) 50pts; 2. Mads Fredsoe Sorensen (KTM) 44; 3. Kayden Minear (KTM) 38… 8. Kirils Maslovs (Husqvarna) 23… 12. Bradley Mesters (Husqvarna) 14… 14. Alejandro Perez Martin (Husqvarna) 13 65cc – Race 1 1. Ivano Van Erp (KTM) 8 laps, 17:54.130; 2. Mads Fredsoe Sorensen (KTM) 18:02.659; 3. Maksymilian Chwalik (KTM) 18:21.533… 8. Alejandro Perez Martin (Husqvarna) 18:50.989… 12. Kirils Maslovs (Husqvarna) 19:07.889… 15. Bradley Mesters (Husqvarna) 19:28.263… 29. Ferruccio Zanchi (Husqvarna) 7 laps, 18:17.417… 33. Noel Zanocz (Husqvarna) 18:44.558
65cc – Race 2
1. Ivano Van Erp (KTM) 8 laps, 17:59.389; 2. Mads Fredsoe Sorensen (KTM) 18:06.431; 3. Kayden Minear (KTM) 18:24.762… 7. Kirils Maslovs (Husqvarna) 18:49.736… 13. Bradley Mesters (Husqvarna) 19:12.442… 26. Alejandro Perez Martin (Husqvarna) 20:24.498… 32. Ferruccio Zanchi (Husqvarna) 7 laps, 18:38.752; 33. Jakub Kowalski (Husqvarna) 18:48.599… 37. Noel Zanocz (Husqvarna) 4 laps, 11:11.975
