SECOND EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY OF THE SEASON FOR HOFER

Courtesy of KTM

3rd Rd. EMX125 2018 - Kegums (Latvia)

The Grand Prix of Latvia provided another memorable moment in the 2018 EMX125 European Championship for KTM Junior Team’s Rene Hofer as the Austrian claimed victory in round three of the eight-race series today at Kegums.

The vast 125cc two-stroke flock arrived with MXGP to the former Motocross of Nations venue outside of the capital city of Riga and to a regular circuit on the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar since the end of the last decade.  The quick and bumpy loamy soil provided a slightly different challenge this weekend with a reversed racing direction and other modifications to refresh the Kegums experience. Pleasant weather conditions created a solid weekend of racing and Hofer was able to use his burgeoning form and confidence on the KTM 125 SX to again be a major protagonist of the ultra-competitive contest. On a track that rewarded starting prowess Hofer circulated to third position on Saturday. #11, who is negotiating just his second season in the category, worked his way up from a top five start on Sunday morning to seize the lead with five laps remaining. Rene toasted his third chequered flag from the six motos run to-date in 2018 and has only dropped out of the top three in one sprint. The result allows Hofer to increase his lead in the championship standings to 34 points over Thibault Benistant.  Hofer: “A solid weekend. Qualifying went well but I wasn't really happy with my riding in the first moto. Today was a lot better. The sandy soil was very heavy but I made a top fifteen start and made an improvement in the first laps. I had the lead by the middle of the race. It was good to finish that way, with the overall win, and to increase our championship lead. The track was really challenging and tough for the 125s; but I liked it! Big thanks to the team for all their work this weekend.” Didi Lacher, Team Manager: “A very good weekend overall with Rene taking Pole Position thanks to the fastest time in Qualification. He had a tangle at the start of the first moto and was around fifteenth and then rode a bit tight when in third place. The track was really bumpy but was very different on Sunday; heavily watered and ripped. Rene did some quick passes in the second moto and he rode much better and felt comfortable. We didn't see the best of Rene this weekend but it shows a lot for his level at the moment that he can still win. We need to help him perform a bit more fluid and free. Overall we’re really happy with how things turned out.” The KTM Junior Team will carry the red plate and a large slice of expectation into their ‘home’ round with the Grand Prix of Germany at Teutschenthal next week and the midway point of the EMX125 campaign. Results EMX125 Latvia 2018 1. Rene Hofer (AUT), KTM (3-1)2. Petr Polak (CZE), KTM (4-2) 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA), Yamaha (1-7) 4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER), Husqvarna (6-3) 5. Arvid Lüning (SWE), KTM (9-4) Standings EMX125 2018 after 3 of 8 rounds 1. Hofer, 133 points2. Benistant, 99 3. Polak, 88 4. Emil Weckman, 82 5. Tom Guyon, 72

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