The US Grand Prix organised in Glen Helen (California) was a great opportunity for Valentin Guillod to end the season with a podium result! Third of this last GP of the season, the Yamaha Standing Construct rider was doing his last race on a 250, and next weekend at the MX of Nations he will open a new chapter of his career on a 450 Yamaha.
Glen Helen is one of the most famous Motocross track in the World, and the GP circus was pleased to go there four years after the last US GP. Long and wide, with many up hills and down hills, the track suits perfectly to Valentin who was in the top six of both practice sessions and later qualified in second position for the race. On Sunday his starts will not be as good as expected, and he will have to fight to come back from tenth to fifth in the first race. His second start was again average but Valentin did an incredible opening lap to come fourth, and later gain one position to finish third behind two American riders. Third of the GP and best European rider this weekend, Valentin ended his MX2 season in fourth overall and will now move to the MXGP class as he is 23 years old. Next weekend he will defend the Swiss colours in Ernée, during the Motocross of Nations.
Valentin Guillod: “The end of season was really not easy, and I wanted to end with a great result in Glen Helen and of course I’m pleased with this third position. I’m the first Euro rider in this GP, for sure I’d like to race with the Americans but both were in front at the start while I was between tenth and fifteenth in the first corner. It was a great weekend, tough with the heat, a difficult race on a great track, with many up and down hills, a lot of different lines; it was nice to race there. The bike was perfect, one more Ludo and the team did a great job and now it’s time to switch bike. We’ll try to recover from the trip and jetlag as the MX of Nations is next weekend, I will try to have fun on the 450 in Ernée for the Nations and I’m sure that the fans will be there to support us. A great thanks to Yamaha, Standing Construct, Tim Mathys, Yves Demaria, my partners, my family and my fans who are always behind me.”