On the opening day of the Motocross World Championship round at KymiRing, the sun shone brightly on the large crowd, and Finnish riders also enjoyed success in the European Championship classes.
The KymiRing circuit is now hosting its first-ever Motocross Grand Prix in history. On Saturday, a great number of spectators gathered to enjoy the fantastic weather and world-class motocross action.
“I’m really happy about how today went. We had a great crowd here at KymiRing, and they seemed to enjoy themselves. Everything went smoothly,” commented CEO Kornél Öry at the end of the day.
Rainio Shines in EMX250 Class
The EMX250 class featured an excellent performance from Finnish rider Sampo Rainio, who blasted into the lead off the start, led the race for a while, and battled among the front-runners for most of the moto. He eventually finished 10th, the top Finnish rider in the race.
“A really good start, maybe the best I’ve ever had. My first time leading off the gate in a European Championship race, and it felt like being on a roller coaster at Linnanmäki for the first time. I probably pushed a bit too hard, and the adrenaline was running high, so I started to fade a little too early. Still, I’m very happy,” Rainio said after the successful moto.
Sahlstén and Miettinen Impress in EMX125 Class
In the EMX125 class, Arttu Sahlstén impressed in time practice, finishing second. However, in the race, it was Matias Miettinen who showed the best pace among the Finnish riders. He was fighting for a top-ten position but went down and ultimately crossed the line in 15th place.
Young Stars and Finnish Contenders in the World Championship Classes
In the MX2 World Championship qualifying race, reigning world champion Kay de Wolf of the Netherlands took the win. The sole Finnish rider in the class, Kasimir Hindersson, finished 17th.
In the MXGP qualifying race, 18-year-old teen sensation Lucas Coenen claimed victory. Miro Varjonen was the top Finnish rider in 18th place, followed by Pekka Nissinen in 20th and Kasper Kangasniemi in 21st.
Big Day Ahead on Sunday
An even larger crowd is expected at KymiRing tomorrow, ready to soak up the Grand Prix atmosphere up close in spectacular surroundings. The day kicks off at 9:20 a.m. with the second moto of the EMX125 class, followed by the second moto of the EMX250 class and two motos each from both World Championship classes.