Red Bull KTM’s Rui Goncalves’ MX2 weekend in the Czech Republic mirrored that of his MX1 team-mate Max Nagl in more ways than one.
A stomach virus began affecting a number of the team, including Nagl, and despite succumbing to the same nausea and abdominal pains, Goncalves managed to claim the third step on the podium in both races at Loket to finish second overall and stay in the hunt to overtake Red Bull KTM team-mate Marvin Musquin in MX2 title race as the championship heads to the Netherlands for the penultimate round – Nagl, too, had taken second overall in MX1 to keep his title dreams alive.
Frenchman Musquin finished second ahead of Goncalves in race one, but technical gremlins meant that he drew a blank in race two, finishing ninth overall for the round. It was a disappointing result for the man who’d taken two great wins at the last round in Belgium.
“I felt rather nervous and tense in the first moto, so I took some time to finally be able to overtake Rui,” said 19-year-old Musquin of the initial battle with his Portuguese team-mate. “But then I had engine problems and couldn't finish the [second] race, and that’s very bad for the championships, even though I understand that these things can happen in racing.”
The points shakedown now sees a finely-poised championship table, with Musquin and Goncalves on 443pts and 423pts respectively.
“I didn’t feel that good in the second race, but I still managed to finish third, so now I’m only 20 points behind Marvin,” said 24-year-old Goncalves. “I’m still in with a good chance for the title. Now, I’ll concentrate on getting well and be very positive going to Lierop.”
© R Archer/KTM Images
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