LIEBER SCORES BEST RESULT AT FAENZA MX2

2012-09-09 12:33
Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe's Julien Lieber was able to guide his factory-backed RM-Z250 to an encouraging 10th position overall across the bumps and through the hard-soil ruts of the Monte Corelli circuit in Faenza, Italy for the Grand Prix of Europe and the second-to-last fixture on the FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship.

The young Belgian recorded his best Grand Prix finish in his maiden season in what was only his third appearance with the team. His haul of 21 points is the most he has managed at the highest level to-date to underline the positive day experienced by the crew across a tricky and at time treacherous track.

Lieber was a constant menace to the fringes of the top 10. He held off Max Anstie to collect 11th spot in the first moto and went one better to 10th in the second, almost catching Loic Larrieu by the chequered flag. His efforts gave the team an air of satisfaction after a difficult culmination to the European 125cc two-stroke championship for Jorge Zaragoza.

The Spaniard was a little under-prepared for the depth of the challenge that he faced in Italy after only recently making a full recovery from his broken arm. He was unlucky to run off the track in the first race and lost time and positions, finishing outside the points in 21st. Some mistakes and hitting the dirt on at least two occasions meant that he could do no better than 10th in the second sprint.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe will tackle the final round of the German ADAC MX Masters championship next weekend at Holzgerlingen before their home Grand Prix and final chapter of the FIM Motocross World Championship at Teutschenthal. The crew will roll onto Lommel in Belgium for the 66th Motocross of Nations with Jeremy Seewer (hopefully for Switzerland) and Marcus Schiffer (Germany) set to fly their national colours.

Thomas Ramsbacher - Team Manager:

"We are pleased for Julien and pretty satisfied with how it went today. He marked a couple of 'best-ofs' with us and it was impressive that he did it at a track that was slippery and could punish even the slightest error. He has made good progress with us and to see him become more competitive has been rewarding. Jorge wasn't in the best shape to show his best today and we expected that coming here; 2012 has been difficult after a bright start but he can now begin to focus on the future."

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MX2 Moto 1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 39:22.472; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:32.107; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:36.092; 4. Zachary Osborne (USA, Yamaha), +0:40.051; 5. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:50.964; 6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:57.551; 7. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:58.468; 8. Loic Larrieu (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:02.918; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, KTM), +1:06.133; 10. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:07.100; 11. Julien Lieber (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), +1:24.581.

MX2 Moto 2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 40:01.924; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:22.079; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:33.067; 4. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:40.132; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, KTM), +0:50.745; 6. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:54.646; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:07.609; 8. Alexander Tonkov (RUS, Honda), +1:10.627; 9. Loic Larrieu (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:14.063; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), +1:17.807.

MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), 44 p.; 3. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 29 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Valentin Teillet (FRA, Kawasaki), 26 p.; 8. Loic Larrieu (FRA, Kawasaki), 25 p.; 9. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe), 21 p.

Source: Team Suzuki Press Office

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