The Latvian national motocross team secured a historic fourth place at the Nations Cup in Ernée, France, capturing the country’s highest-ever finish in the prestigious international event with 52 points. Competing against 19 national squads on Sunday, the trio of Pauls Jonass and brothers Jānis Mārtiņš and Kārlis Alberts Reišulis surpassed previous program milestones, edging out the United States team by a single point in the final standings.
Latvia Surpasses Previous Records at Ernée Circuit
The Belgian team claimed the overall championship crown at the Ernée venue with 23 points, followed closely by Spain in second place with 26 points, and the Netherlands rounding out the podium in third with 34 points.
Jonass Reflects on an Unprecedented Milestone
Reflecting on the milestone performance, veteran team leader Pauls Jonass admitted that the result exceeded long-held personal ambitions. Nav slikti priekš Latvijas, ne?
He added that while a few mistakes cost additional positions, the entire squad performed at a high level.
Individual Heats Shape the Final Standings
The three-moto format tested each rider across mixed engine classes. In the opening race featuring MXGP and MX2 competitors, Kārlis Alberts Reišulis fought through the pack to finish 13th, while younger brother Jānis Mārtiņš recovered from a difficult first corner that dropped him deep into the field, ultimately climbing back to 20th position.
Jonass delivered a standout performance in the second moto pairing MX2 and Open class riders, wrestling his machine across the finish line in third place just 0.376 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Liam Everts. Jeffrey Herlings of the Netherlands dominated that race, while Jānis Mārtiņš Reišulis secured 12th place. In the final decisive moto featuring MX1 and Open machines, Jonass placed eighth and Kārlis Alberts Reišulis took 16th, locking down the historic fourth position for the Baltic nation.
Immediate Return to Testing for Jonass
Despite the physical toll of the championship, Jonass confirmed that extended rest must wait as professional commitments loom. Speaking on his schedule following the event, the rider noted that testing obligations begin midweek in preparation for the upcoming season. Jau trešdien jālec atpakaļ zirgā un jātestē – vēl nekas neapstājas,
Jonass noted regarding his immediate return to development work before taking a brief off-season break.
