Portuguese rider Rui Goncalves made his dream come true and those of his team and his many fans, on Sunday when he won his home MX2 GP at the Agueda circuit with a 2-1 result in the two motos, launched with two holeshots.
Just shy of his twenty fourth birthday, Rui now goes to the GP of Catalunya next weekend as the winner of the last two MX2 GPs after having vaulted into fourth place in the season's standings. "This is what I have been working for with so much passion. It's so great to be here on top of the box," he told reporters straight after the race.
Emotional win
The win was very emotional for Rui, as well as for his family and the thousands of fans that flocked to see his victory. "Today it was such a great feeling to win here and it is unbelievable to follow up my win from Valkenswaard. It was a huge help to have the support of the crowd. I took the hole shot in the first heat and I led the race for the first half before Musquin got past me. Then I decided to conserve me strength for the second race. I had a good start again in the second race and I managed to get out in front. Then I tried to be consistent and not to make any mistakes. I hope to be able to be up with the front runners in the coming races but I am just taking things race by race and not thinking about the championship".
Praise from Everts
Team boss Stefan Everts was also generous in his praise for Rui. "I want to congratulate Rui because he defended his victory in Valkenswaard so well and it is certainly not easy to win in front of your home crowd where there is always a lot of emotion and pressure. The season is long but I am confident that we will win again with Rui. He's very strong at the moment both mentally and physically," Everts said.
It was a great turnaround for the Red Bull Factory Racing team after their other factory rider Shaun Simpson suffered a broken leg in a recent training accident and will be out for three months. Doctors have said that they are satisfied that Shaun's fractures are healing well and he is expected to make a full recovery. He has said he would like to be with the team in Mallory Park at the end of the month, as a spectator at least.
Results MX2 Portugal
1. Rui Goncalves, Portugal, KTM (2-1) - 47 points
2. Steven Frossard, France, Kawasaki, 42
3. Marvin Musquin, France, Honda, 40
4. Davide Guarneri, Italy, Yamaha, 36
5. Loic Larrieu, France, Yamaha, 31
Other KTM
8. Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, KTM 26
13. Stephen Sword, Britain, KTM 14
15. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM, 12
16. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM, 11
17. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM, 9
World Championship Standings (after five of 15 GPs
1. Gautier Paulin, France 171
2. Marvin Musquin, France, 165
3. Davide Guarneri, Italy, 147
4. Rui Goncalves, Portugal KTM, 125
5. Xavier Boog, France, 108
Other KTM
9. Shaun Simpson, Britain, KTM, 97
10. Arnaud Tonus, Switzerland, KTM, 72
13. Marcus Schiffer, Germany, KTM, 66
14. Joel Roelants, Belgium, KTM, 61
16. Stephen Sword, Britain, KTM, 52
17. Jeremy van Horebeek, Belgium, KTM 47
