SM Junior European Championship:
Yevsevii Kovalov new red plate holder
The SM Junior European Championship did a stop-over in Romania, in Cerghid, at the Transylvania Motor Ring which welcomed the paddock for the first time.
The Romanian race offered a turn of events in the morning warm-up. Undisputed standings leader Andrea Benvenuti (KTM Mtr Racing) was the victim of a crash that caused him a suspected fracture so he could not take part in the two races. Nathan Terraneo (KTM) and Yevsevii Kolavov (Husqvarna) shared the victories. The Ukrainian was crowned race winner and the new red plate holder of the Championship.
Race 1
Third qualified in the overall standings, Nathan Terraneo (KTM), was the author of a solid race. The Swiss rider pulled away at the start and took the lead in the first corner. Terraneo had the right race pace and opened a solid gap over second qualified, Ukrainian Yesvevii Kovalov (Husqvarna), who tried to keep the rhythm of the race leader but without succeeding. Nathan Terraneo won the first moto of the season and reduced the gap in the standings. Third place went to the Romanian rider, applauded by the crowd, Mark Luca Iovita (Husqvarna).
Race 2
In Race 2 there was a thrilling battle. Nathan Terraneo took the lead of the race in the first corner, chased by Yesvevii Kovalov but the race leader could not repeat the same rhythm of Race 1 and leave behind his main rival. For several laps, Kovalov monitored Terraneo and eventually overtook him in the start main straight. The Ukrainian rider took a little advantage and was able to win the race. Third place went once again to home rider Mark Luca Iovita.
Thanks to both results Kovalov won the GP and moved to the head of the SM Junior standings with a 2-point advantage over Terraneo and Benvenuti. The latter did not take part in the race and is currently third qualified with 3 points to recover and one more race to face.
SM Junior Classification Top Ten
1. KOVALOV Yevsevii (UKR, Husqvarna) Pts. 47,000 (22+25); 2. TERRANEO Nathan (SUI, KTM) Pts. 47,000 (25+22); 3. IOVITA Mark Luca (ROU, Husqvarna) Pts. 40,000 (20+20); 4. GRIŠMANAUSKAS Benas (LTU, GasGas) Pts. 36,000 (18+18); 5. IRZYK Liliana (POL, KTM) Pts. 32,000 (16+16); 6. SZABO Mark (ROU, Husqvarna) Pts. 25,000 (-1+25); 7. BOR Poyraz (TUR, ) Pts. 22,000 (-1+22); 8. BERKAY Sariay (TUR, ) Pts. 20,000 (-1+20); 9. BAS Hasan Huseyin (TUR, ) Pts. 18,000 (-1+18); 10. ENES Cagan Cakir (TUR, ) Pts. 16,000 (-1+16)
