The JM Honda team had their first race of the season at Hawkstone and whilst David Braceras had a solid day finishing second overall, things didn’t go well for Brent van Doninck.
The Belgian had a big crash in race one and then crashed out again in race two but this time with an injury. Unfortunately, he has fractured the same thigh he injured in Argentina last year.
The team have already confirmed that he will miss the first MXGP World Championship event of the year in Argentina.
The team revealed the news in the following press release:
The JM Racing Honda team experienced both success and setback during the international race at Hawkstone Park in the UK. David Braceras delivered a strong performance in the MX2 class, securing second place overall. However, Brent van Doninck suffered a thigh injury in the second moto of the MXGP class, forcing him to miss the first Grand Prix.
Conditions in England were favorable. Braceras started the day strong by setting the second-fastest time in MX2 qualifying, just slightly behind the fastest rider. This solid result gave him confidence heading into the motos. In the highly competitive MXGP class, Brent van Doninck qualified in eighth place and aimed to build on his form throughout the races.
Braceras put together two solid motos, finishing second in both races, which also earned him second place overall in the day’s classification.
Van Doninck, however, faced misfortune. After an early crash in the first moto, he was forced to retire. Another crash in the second moto made matters worse, as he injured the same thigh he had broken last year in Argentina. This morning, Van Doninck underwent a medical examination at the hospital, where a small fracture in his thigh was diagnosed. As a result, he will need several weeks of rest, meaning he will miss the first Grand Prix in Argentina. Van Doninck and the team are fully focused on making a return for the second Grand Prix in Spain on March 16.
