Motocross

Nathan Crawford endures a tough start to World MX2 Championship campaign

Posted:

Monday, March 2nd, 2020

9:00 AM

Nathan Crawford endures a tough start to World MX2 Championship campaign

A tenth in moto two was a highlight for Nathan Crawford as he kicked off his debut MX2 season with the Honda 114 Motorsport team.

Queenslander Nathan Crawford has undergone a baptism of fire as he made his debut in the 2020 MX2 World Motocross Championship at Matterley Basin in the UK.

Storm Jorge did his best (and worst) to spoil the weekend with impressive storms blowing over the Hampshire circuit, wrecking some of the track infrastructure and leading to the cancellation of Saturday‰Ûªs qualifying races ‰ÛÒ replaced with a relatively short timed qualifying session.

Crawford riding for the Honda 114 Motorsport team lead Honda‰Ûªs CRF250 campaign with 14th overall with a 14-10 scorecard ‰ÛÒ a result which belies his efforts following a big crash in race one. Crawford was also joined by compatriot and former World Junior Champion Bailey Malkiewicz who was riding with an injury and scored a 38-29 finish for 32nd overall.

A tenth in moto two was a highlight for Nathan Crawford as he kicked off his debut MX2 season.

"Qualifying was a really challenge - especially for me coming from Australia," Crawford said. "I‰Ûªve never race in condition that cold, windy and rainy. It was definitely something that I hadn‰Ûªt been through before, so it was quite a shock. We tried to prepare for it and did our best in the tough conditions.

"In race one I got a mid-pack start, but made some good passes on lap one. I was hovering around 10th position and then had a big crash and after that I was just surviving and trying to get through the race. In race two it was an OK start, but not great - so I set about battling my way through and ended the race in 10th place. The second race was definitely better for me and that gives me something to build on," he concluded.

Gordon Crockard, Honda Europe Off-Road Manager, was full of praise for Crawford and his compatriot Malkiewicz.

"Nathan Crawford and Bailey Malkiewicz did well as they‰Ûªve not competed in the MX2 class previously, so I think they did really well under the circumstances and the reduced track time due to the weather. They had a lot to consume and a lot to learn in a very short space of time," Crockard said.

"Nathan Crawford did exceptionally well to recover a big crash in race one and finish race two in 10th which is a very good result for his first weekend racing in the World Championships. His teammate Bailey is carrying some injuries, so hats-off to him for persevering with all that he was up against."

Former Junior World Champion Bailey Malkiewicz rode through injury in his debut in the MX2 World Championship.

MX2 - Race 1 Results:
1. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), 36:43.110
2. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:04.920
3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Kawasaki), +0:08.010
4. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:09.481
5. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:13.963
6. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:24.521
7. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:25.937
8. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), +0:28.707
9. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:31.644
10. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:34.181
18. Nathan Crawford
21. Wilson Todd
38. Bailey Malkiewicz

MX2 ‰ÛÒ Race 2 Results:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 36:05.077
2. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), +0:01.963
3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Kawasaki), +0:03.508
4. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:07.568
5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:10.936
6. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:17.277
7. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:19.310
8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.016
9. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:31.897
10. Nathan Crawford (AUS, Honda), +0:44.728
13. Wilson Todd
29. Bailey Malkiewicz

MX2 - GP Classification:
1. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 43 points
2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 40 points
3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KAW), 40 points
4. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 37 points
5. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 35 points
6. Alberto Forato (ITA, HUS), 28 points
7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 26 points
8. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 22 points
9. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 22 points
10. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, KAW), 21 points
14. Nathan Crawford
17. Wilson Todd
32. Bailey Malkiewicz