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MXGP, MXGP OF PATAGONIA - VILLA LA ANGOSTURA, ARGENTINA, 20 mars 2022

Solid scorelines on a tough weekend for Kawasaki’s MXGP duo

Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Ben Watson and F&H Kawasaki’s Jed Beaton each put a tough weekend behind them to record solid scorelines in the third round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship.

Watson defied the pain of a two-week old knee injury to complete the full two-day programme around the demanding track on the outskirts of the community of  Villa La Angostura in the Patagonian region of Argentina and come away with a top-ten placing in the second moto. His KX450-SR taking the Englishman to a top-ten start in both motos, he conquered the discomfort to remain cool throughout both motos; he finished the first race fourteenth and pushed forward to tenth during the latter stages of the second thirty-five minute race, scoring sufficient points to retain twelfth place in the series points standings.
 
Ben Watson: “It was another very tough weekend. I was far from my potential again but I am trying my best to put my weaknesses behind and get back to myself as soon as possible. I felt better in the timed sessions but struggled in the races more than I should have. I didn’t feel I could ride to my potential but I tried to salvage everything I could. All the team worked hard to try to find areas to improve and we will keep going in this direction. “
 
Beaton was also carrying an injury from the previous GP and entered race day in Argentina coming off a massive collision during the first lap of the Qualifying race. With less track-time than his rivals and a gate-pick on the extreme outside after the incident he inevitably needed some time to settle but regrouped to clinch thirteenth in the opening moto, adding eleventh in race two to advance from eleventh to ninth in the championship standings after three rounds of the series.
 
Jed Beaton: “It was a pretty difficult weekend for me; I still have a sore shoulder from Mantova and don’t have as much strength in it as I would like. And it didn’t help crashing in Quali and landing on it again. I was so far wide at turn one from the gate pick but I managed to do the best I could with the cards I was dealt. I wasn’t riding at the level I should have been but I’m just glad to be going home safe.  The next GP is at Agueda where I got my first GP podium; in fact, I like all the tracks coming up and look forward to getting my shoulder back in shape so I can perform to my ability. “