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RACE REPORT – MURCIA, SPAIN – 7TH FEBRUARY 2010HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK riders Jake Nicholls and Graeme Irwin rounded off their 2 week training sessions in Spain with overall 2nd and 3rd respectively behind local rider and ex-GP contender Alvaro Lozano. Nicholls and Irwin on their SXF250s proved to be almost a match for the more powerful 450 of Lozano on the typical Spanish hard-pack track near Murcia. Race 1 saw 18 year old Irwin take the holeshot with Nicholls further down the pack after a mediocre start. Jake systematically picked his way through the pack to finish on the rear wheel of Irwin at the flag, who had led for most of the race only to have been passed by Lozano for the win in the last few laps. Race 2 saw Irwin again take the holeshot with an improved start by Nicholls. Irwin again led for a substantial number of laps only to be passed again by Lozano and his 19year old team-mate Nicholls towards the end of the race. Jake Nicholls – “Following my extensive training over the winter period, it was good to get out on my SXF250 KTM for the past 2 weeks. Today’s race was good to get back into “race-mode” for the forthcoming season which starts in earnest at the 1st round on the British Championship at Little Silver on 28th February. I suffered a bit of arm-pump in both races today, as I had done in my first race out last year. I’m really looking forward to this season to improve on my 2009 results at both World and British Championship level. The bike is really working well thanks to my mechanic Wayne Banks” Graeme Irwin – “After a bit of a lay-off to have my tonsils removed at the end of last season, I have really enjoyed the past 2 weeks in Spain with my team-mates Jake Nicholls and Natalie Kane. We have had good weather to help us with our testing and set-up, and I’m looking forward to what is my “rookie-year” in the MX2 World Motocross Championship with my new mechanic Jeremy Long”. The race at Murcia was the culmination of 2 weeks hard training for the HM Plant Red Bull KTM squad. At the start of the training they joined the Factory KTM squad for 1 week at Benicassim - under the watchful eyes of 10 times World Motocross Champion Stefan Everts and his father Harry. Nicholls, Irwin and the new members of the Team – Natalie Kane, Nathan and Ben Watson - all benefitted greatly from the experience of “rubbing shoulders” with Cairoli, Musquin and ex-KTM UK Team member Shaun Simpson. The HM Plant Red Bull KTM squad now return to their base in The Netherlands to prepare for next week’s event at Lommel, Belgium on 14th February. Roger Magee
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