DRT Kawasaki’s Kay Karssemakers, brimming with confidence after signing a new contract for 2027 during the week, bounced back from a frustrating Qualifying on Saturday to record a career-best fifth overall in the FIM World MX2 Motocross Championship courtesy of 8-5 moto finishes at Afyonkarahisar in Turkey.
Railing the outside of turn one in the first moto he emerged eighth and made quick passes to move forward to fifth before a fall pushed him temporarily back to ninth. He responded by regaining eighth and was challenging for seventh but a loose, flapping side-plate from the earlier slip eventually forced him to accept eighth at the chequered flag.
A resolute move, diving inside the pack at turn two, at the start of the second moto was the basis for the Dutch youngster’s best-ever GP performance as he emerged from the turn seventh and by the completion of the first lap he had advanced even further to sixth. In inspired form he made another pass on lap two for fifth and set his sights on one of the title-chasers in fourth, staying in the wheeltracks for half the race until he began to feel armpump in the stifling heat at altitude.
Regrouping at the twenty-five minute stage he again dropped his lap times to secure a career-best GP moto result in fifth, which also brought the same scoreline overall. The twenty-nine championship points also secured eleventh in the series standings and he now needs just thirty-five points from the final two rounds to earn a top-ten series ranking at the end of the campaign.
Kay Karssemakers #33: «Finally two good motos on one day! It’s not easy to stay focused after a few setbacks but I’m not one to give up. I’m fit and I knew I can be up there if I get the starts. I have the speed and I got two pretty good starts today. In the first moto I had a little crash as I tried to pass Mikula which cost me a few places but I felt even better in race two and could push quickly from seventh to fifth; I got a little armpump in the middle of the moto but I picked it up again at the end. Two solid motos today, now I’m looking forward to China.»
