In the opening race of the EMX300cc two-stroke championship, Greg Smets (KTM) – the son of four-time world champion Joel – took a 17-second victory over Dutchman Mike Kras (GL12 Racing KTM).
Kras led initially before Smets made a pass for the lead. The 2016 champion and reigning British two-stroke champ – who races for Bob Buchanan’s Gloucestershire-based team – got back in front as the pair started to run into back-markers but the Belgian retook the lead as lapped riders again came into play and then eased away for the win.
“After timed practice I was hoping to get a good start and then give it everything I have,” said Smets. “It doesn’t feel real right now – I still can’t believe it.”
Defending champion Brad Anderson (Verde Substance KTM) was third ahead of fellow Brit James Dunn (GL12 Racing KTM) with Belgium’s Mathias Plessers (KTM) rounding out the top five.
The EMX125cc race was won by Austrian Rene Hofer (KTM) by eight-and-a-half seconds ahead of hotly-tipped Finn Emil Weckman (KTM) and Spain’s Mario Lucas Sanz (KTM).
Britain’s World Junior 85cc Champion Eddie Jay Wade was forced to sit out the action with a broken collarbone and in his absence Sam Nunn (Yamaha) was best Brit in 27th, five places ahead of Dominic Lancett (KTM).
Both classes will be out first thing tomorrow for their second motos.
