INTU-XANADÚ ARROYOMOLINOS (Spain) 24 March 2024 – The EMX250 Motocross European Championship season kicked off at Intu-Xanadú Spain with electrifying races, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely competitive and exhilarating season. With a lineup packed with talent, the EMX250 ignited the season with a thrilling round of races.

It was Beddini GASGAS Factory Juniors’ Valerio Lata who showed great character throughout the weekend to win the overall and take the Red Plate on the opening round in Spain.

In race 1, Teammates at VRT Yamaha Official EMX250, Karlis Reisulis and Ivano Van Erp took the best start of the pack with Valerio Lata on their tail initially. However Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Mathis Valin, VRT Yamaha Official EMX250’s Janis Reisulis and Gabriel SS24 KTM’s Cas Valk all went to pass Lata within the first official lap. 

Valk didn’t waste any time and took on the two blue machines of first J.Reisulis and then Van Erp by committing on the outside, Valk and moved up to 2nd.

The man on the charge was Lata! Lata kept improving along the way and got up to 3rd when he saw Valk in front of him making his way out of the track after poor negotiated jump in what costed the young Dutch rookie no better than a 4th place in the end. 

Things were going to get even better for Lata who got the best of K.Reisulis to ride through to a solid victory. 

Valin and K.Reisulis in the meantime battled hard for most of the second half of the race but K.Reisulis maintained his 2nd place while Valin settled for a good 3rd spot on his first EMX250 Race. Behind them and still up for a podium were Van Erp 5th and J.Reisulis 6th.

In Race 2, J.Reisulis with a tremendous start but then fell into the order quickly while Van Erp took the lead from the first corner. However the young Dutch crashed shortly after with Valin taking charge of the race.

Bike It Kawasaki Racing Team’s Billy Askew made an amazing effort to go 3rd quickly. After winning race 1 Lata, who was 4th and very much in the mix to win the overall fell down in a corner and found himself in 8thafter a couple of laps. The Italian made a good charge and showed composure after his crash to quickly pass J.Reisulis, Fantic Facotry Racing MX2’s Alexis Fueri and JM Honda Rcing Max Werner. 

Van Erp managed to get his ride back on track and showed good speed as he moved back up to 3rd after a good pass on Askew. 

Meanwhile, Valin was simply flying at the top, making a comfortable gap with K.Reisulis while Askew crashed out of 4th which was ideal for Lata as he moved to 4th. The Italian also showed tremendous speed as he clocked the fastest lap of the round and reduce a large gap with Van Erp and K.Reisulis.

The last two laps were something over rollercoaster of emotions. While Valin was doing the perfect race and sit on top of the podium, Lata 3rd on the podium at that time kept pushing and closed on Van Erp and K.Reisulis. The number 53 Lata charged the two riders and passed Van Erp while K.Reisulis’ clutch completely fred at the same time to see his hopes of a podium vanished. K.Reisulis retired, Lata moved up to 2nd to win the overall in great fashion while Valin finished the race thinking he was the one winning it all after a perfect race.

In the end Valin stepped on the 2nd step of the podium showing a solid performance while Van Erp finished 3rdoverall. Lata was the big winner of the day after an impressive comeback. This exciting opening round was a stunning indication of the highly competitiveness we will expect this season.

Main Photo: EMX250 Podium, (left to right: Mathis Valin, Valerio Lata, Ivano Van Erp)

Bottom Photos: 1.Valerio Lata ; 2. EMX250 Start

MXGP OF SPAIN QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1650m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 21°

Weather conditions: Sunny