It was clear right from the start that the GP of Indonesia would take a huge toll on riders and teams, but it takes much more to stop Stephen Rubini and Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR!
Hot temperatures, more than 40 hours of travel, stress and tiredness were the welcome gifts at Samota Sumbawa track, during the 12th stage of MXGP 2022.
Our rider Rubini could not enter the qulifying round due to a stomach ache that had him go back to the hotel and get better for the official race day on Sunday, on which he started in P14 at the grid.
Ready to leave his mark on the Indonesian track, #38 rode well lap after lap, ending Race 1 in P6 and Race 2 in P8: a good performance indeed, with a 7th place overall that secures in position in the top 10 of the World Championship.
Stephen Rubini: “Never easy to manage such a long trip, and especially here in Indonesia where you have to take many precautions with food and drink. I was really care with that but on Saturday I was sick, and couldn’t do the qualifying race. I felt a little better on Sunday and save a sixth and an eighth position, despite a minor technical issue in race two. Between both motos I spend a lot of time in the toilets, but overall and as we were not so many riders behind the gate the result is not that bad as I score twenty-eight points.”
Josse Sallefranque, Team Manager: “Happy with the results if we consider that Stephen was sick, and just secured his position for the race on Saturday. He did a strong first moto, the second one was of course more difficult but again he scores good points for the championship.”
Time to go back to Europe, where team and riders will prepare for the next stage of Loket in 3 weeks. See you there!