On the last weekend of September, a Kawasaki rider secured the 2024 EMX250 class – the European motocross championship. Bud Racing Kawasaki has specialised in EMX and other off road disciples for many years and rider, Mathis Valin, took the crown with a spectacular win/win weekend. Of course, Mathis will soon be even more familiar as he takes his seat in 2025 for KRT in the world MX2 class.
Dominating the first race on Saturday, Valin pulled off an impressive victory to clinch the EMX250 Championship showcasing his dominance and mastery of the track. His follow up of winning race two simply underlined his EMX dominance – a sign of things to come from the young French rider.The story of success was augmented by actions in the WorldSBK paddock over the same period where Kawasaki clinched the WorldSSP 300 Championship in the Manufacturer category… with one round remaining.Inigo Iglesias Bravo (Füsport - RT Motorsports by SKM Kawasaki) and Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) each won a race at the penultimate round of the 2024 WorldSSP 300 Championship and in doing so they ensured Kawasaki's name would once more be engraved on the Manufacturers cup.
Both EMX and WorldSSP 300 are so-called “feeder” classes for MX2 and also WorldSSP (where Kawasaki will race the ZX-6R 636cc model in 2025). Gaining experience in terms of race craft and machine control is one of the prime benefits of a rider gradually working their way methodically through classes and something Kawasaki actively supports.
Steve Guttridge, Race Planning Manager, Kawasaki Motors Europe, said: “Kawasaki is understandably proud to have added to our existing Championship success in WorldSSP300 by achieving the manufacturer title honour once more in 2024. This is now our sixth success as a brand from eight attempts, but the real credit has to go our teams and their riders delivering such consistently strong results on the Ninja 400.
With no less than four riders sharing the top step of the podium so far in 2024, this Championship provides real excitement and – being part of the WorldSBK paddock – creates a great ladder of opportunity for aspiring riders. Add the fact that Kawasaki Bud Racing and Mathis Valin took a European title and this add up to a very fruitful weekend for Kawasaki riders and fans”.
