Kooiker and Van Mechgelen Score Valuable Points in Latvia

The De Baets AIT Racing Team showed promising pace at the MXGP of Latvia in Kegums, particularly in the EMX125 category where riders Dex Kooiker and Torre van Mechgelen delivered encouraging performances. Kooiker began the weekend well, setting the eighth-fastest time in practice and finishing eighth in the opening race after moving up from twelfth at the first lap. Although a crash hampered his progress in the second race, resulting in a 23rd-place finish, his overall speed remained evident. Torre van Mechgelen also impressed, achieving his best qualifying result of the season with the sixth-fastest time in practice. The Belgian rider maintained a strong position throughout the first race, finishing twelfth after engaging in several competitive battles. However, his second race was marred by a poor start and two crashes, which pushed him back to 32nd place, despite feeling that he had delivered some of his best riding of the year. In contrast, Vencislav Toshev faced a difficult weekend in the EMX250 class. The Bulgarian rider qualified 20th and struggled to make headway during the races, finishing 24th and 25th respectively. Mistakes and a lack of progress from mid-pack starts characterised his races, leaving Toshev disappointed but determined to improve at the next round in Italy. Both Kooiker and Van Mechgelen’s performances highlight the potential within the De Baets AIT Racing Team’s EMX125 squad, suggesting they are capable of challenging for higher positions as the season progresses. Meanwhile, Toshev’s struggles in EMX250 underline the challenges of competing at this level, with the team focused on regrouping and building on the experience gained in Latvia. The upcoming rounds will be crucial for all riders as they seek to convert speed and potential into consistent results.