Kay Karssemakers of Husqvarna BT Racing has taken a podium position at round three of the EMX250 Championship in Agueda, Portugal. Karssemakers was riding a strong first moto and came home in third place. In the second moto he was fighting for the win and finally finished the race in second, which gave him second place overall as well. Maxime Grau managed to score eleven points in Portugal.

The track in Agueda was in the opposite direction which was a new challenge for the riders. Karssemakers was feeling well on the track and managed to set the fifth fastest time in time practice. Grau had some difficulties to ride the perfect lap and qualified himself in fourteenth place. Besides Karssemakers and Grau, Ignacio Liprandi from Argentina qualified himself as well for the race and set the 32nd time.

Karssemakers took a good start in the first moto and took third position after a few corners. He started to put the pressure on the second place rider and managed to take over this position. Unfortunately he lost this position again and wasn’t able to take it back. Karssemakers was riding a consistent moto and finished the race in third place. Maxime Grau had a difficult first moto and after a few crashes he finished the race in twentieth position. Liprandi had a nasty get off and was forced to retire from the race.

Karssemakers was on fire in the second moto. He took a good start and after a few laps he took over the lead. He was leading the race till the midway point because then he got passed and dropped back to second position. Karssemakers kept the pace high and managed to finish the race in a strong second position. Grau was riding just outside of the top ten for the entire race and finished in eleventh place. Before the race the team and Liprandi decided to sit out this race.

Karssemakers finished second overall with a 3-2 moto finish. After three rounds he sits in second position in the championship as well. Grau is in twelfth position after the race in Portugal. This weekend the series continues in Arroyomolinos in Spain.

Overall EMX250 Portugal:
1 Andrea Bonacorsi 45 Pnt
2 Kay Karssemakers 42 Pnt
3 Ferruccio Zanchi 37 Pnt
4 Marc Antoine Rossi 37 Pnt
5 Quentin Prugnières 35 Pnt
16 Maxime Grau 11 Pnt

EMX250 Championship Standings:
1 Andrea Bonacorsi 142 Pnt
2 Kay Karssemakers 107 Pnt
3 Valerio Lata 97 Pnt
4 Cas Valk 93 Pnt
5 Marc Antoine Rossi 90 Pnt
12 Maxime Grau 44 Pnt