Rick Elzinga increases his championship lead in Sweden

Rick Elzinga of Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing has increased his championship lead to 44 points in the EMX250 race in Sweden. Despite the fact that he had to be satisfied with a ninth and a fourth position in the motos he still took 14 points over his closest rival in the championship.

The track in Uddevalla was well prepared but really sketchy in places. Elzinga came close by the pole position and set the second fastest time in qualifying. Dave Kooiker qualified himself in eighth place and Andrea Bonacorsi posted the eleventh fastest time.

The first moto started with a set back for Bonacorsi because he crashed in the start and due to a very sore body he was forced to retire from the race. Elzinga and Kooiker had a difficult start of the race as well and were around the twentieth position. They were fighting their way through the field and finally it was Elzinga who finished in ninth and with a 13th position it was Kooiker who took eighth championship points.

Bonacorsi was determined to race the second moto but was in a lot of pain during the race and finished in twentieth position. Elzinga charged back to fourth place and Kooiker finished the race in fourteenth place!

Elzinga finished in fifth position overall and has an advantage of 44 points over his closest rival in the championship. Kooiker was sixteenth overall and Bonacorsi ended the weekend in a painful 23rd position and sits in fifth position in the championship while Kooiker is in thirteenth. Next weekend the series continues in Hyvinkaa, Finland.