main content of page
Racing News |
Valin Fights Through Injury for Top-10 Finish at MX2 GP of Europe
Kawasaki Racing Team MX2’s Mathis Valin showed remarkable determination at the GP d'Europe in St. Jean d'Angely, overcoming the discomfort of a recent wrist injury to secure ninth overall at the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
Despite the lingering effects of his injury, the young Frenchman came out swinging in the first moto, quickly moving from a tenth-place start into sixth by lap two. However, an incident with another rider on lap three sent him to the ground, dropping him back to fifteenth. Undeterred, he fought his way forward, targeting twelfth by mid-race before the strain on his wrist forced him to adopt a more cautious approach, ultimately finishing a respectable thirteenth.
In race two, Valin made an excellent start, emerging from the first turn in the top three. Determined to put on a strong performance for his home crowd, he maintained a top-six pace for the opening laps before settling into a rhythm that would carry him to eighth at the checkered flag. His consistent effort earned him ninth overall on the day, propelling him up to fifteenth in the championship standings.
With a weekend off before the next round, Valin will take the opportunity to recover before the series resumes in the demanding sand of Riola Sardo.
Mathis Valin:
"I had a great start and was riding really well in the first moto until another rider crashed in front of me. After that, my wrist started hurting, so I focused on staying upright and finishing safely. In race two, I got another strong start and ran up front for a few laps, but the pain kicked in again. I wanted more from this weekend, but considering I wasn’t even sure I’d be racing on Wednesday, finishing 13-8 is not bad. Now, I’ll use the break to heal up and come back stronger."