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MXGP Latvia: Barr, Pocock take charge in EMX250 standings

The British REVO Husqvarna UK team sits one and two in the EMX250 championship chase with Martin Barr just two points ahead of Mel Pocock after a dramatic second race at the MXGP of Latvia on Sunday.

Denmark’s Mikkel Haarup (Husqvarna) holeshot the moto with Pocock fourth and Barr seventh. Within just a few turns Pocock had moved into third and when Karel Kutsar (KTM) crashed in the right-hand turn before the pitlane straight he inherited second.

Haarup, seventh in the previous day’s opening race, was in no mood to be caught and extended his lead to 10 seconds at the flag but the important business for the championship lead was going on behind him.

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After race one Pocock was equal on points for second with Mathys Boisrame (Honda) – six adrift of his team-mate – and with one lap to go he looked set to regain the series leader’s red plate on a tie-break as Barr trailed race one winner Boisrame in fifth.

The veteran Irishman had moved to the front of the championship last time out in Russia and wasn’t about to give it up without a fight. After losing fourth to Boisrame three laps from the end he kept the Frenchman in his sights and timed a pass to perfection on the final lap to retain the series lead heading into round five – the MXGP of Great Britain – at Matterley Basin on June 3.

“It was always going to be a tough one,” said Barr, who’s still carrying a hand injury, “but I battled through to go four-four and kept hold of the red plate going into the home GP in a few of weeks time at Matterley.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to 100 per cent and getting back to riding the way I know I should.”

Pocock ended the weekend in third overall behind Boisrame and Haarup with Barr fourth. GL12 Racing KTM’s James Dunn, a sensational sixth in race one on his 250cc two-stroke, was 13th second time out for eighth overall and Steven Clarke (Carglass Honda) came home 11th in race two for 16th overall but Todd Kellett (Verde Substance KTM) failed to score.

The overall in the EMX125 class went to Austria’s runaway series leader Rene Hofer (KTM) but Britain’s world 85cc champion Eddie Jay Wade was impressive as he continues to find his feet following his switch to an eighth-litre machine.

A solid 10th in race two coupled with his 11th in race one gave him a season-best ninth overall and saw him jump from 22nd to 15th in the championship. Fellow Brit Joel Rizzi also scored his first points of the campaign with 18th in race two.

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