On Saturday Scott Redding defended his lead in the Moto2 World Championship with a hard fought second place in Assen, while on Sunday he picked up his first points in the Belgian National Supermoto Championship.

After a race long duel with Pol Espargaro in the Moto2 Dutch TT at Assen, Redding parked his Kalex Moto2 bike and immediately headed south to Belgium, to compete in the inaugural Supermoto de Spa Francorchamps event.

The event, which was held in aid of a children’s cancer charity, pitched Redding against the regulars of the Belgian and Dutch Supermoto Championships, as well as other guest riders such as reigning Superstock Endurance World Champion, Grégory Fastré.

Bright sunshine, perfect track conditions and a big crowd, many fortified with copious amounts of Belgium’s finest beer, greeted Redding as he headed out for the 20-minute qualifying session, to the accompaniment of someone’s ‘80s mix tape blasting out over the circuit PA.

“That was fun,” declared Redding, after the session. “It’s the first time I’ve ridden the Supermoto bike on a dirt section, which was interesting. Riding the dirt, and the big jump, was okay, but it was a bit sketchy coming off the dirt and back onto the tarmac. It was hard for me, as I ride with the knee down and need to take some lean angle but overall I was happy with the first session, which I finished in P9. Not bad when you see how fast some of these guys are!”

After the session Redding joined a group photo with all the competing riders and was presented with a race shirt by Marc Fraikin, multiple Belgian and Dutch Supermoto Champion who also races with the number 45.

It was Fraikin who took the win in the opening prestige class race, in which Redding collected three championship points and qualified for the second race aboard his Kawasaki KX450F. In the second outing, which was won by Jaimie van Sikkelerus, the Marc VDS rider improved again, picking up four more points and qualifying for the Superfinale.

The physical demands of a full race programme at Assen and then a qualifying session and two races at Spa, meant that Redding opted out of contesting the Superfinale, which was won by Kevin Novelli Vieillevoye.

“The racing was fun but also hard work, especially the dirt section. Riding the dirt on slicks and then hitting the asphalt sideways with dirt on the tyres was interesting, but mega fun! After racing in Assen yesterday and then doing two races and a qualifying session here at Spa today, I’m looking forward to a lie in tomorrow, as well as some rest ahead of the next Moto2 race at the Sachsenring. It’s been a great day here at Spa; everyone I’ve met has been fantastic and, hopefully, we’ve raised a fair bit of money for the children’s charity as well.”

“I’d like to say a big thank you to Joël Delsupexhe, the guys at AS Moto and the event organisers for the invitation and also for looking after me so well. Thanks also to Marc Fraikin for the shirt, it’s good to see there’s a fast rider behind the number 45 in Supermoto too! Finally I want to say get well soon to the Marc VDS Parts Coordinator, Patrick Kramer, who was going well in his race, until he had a bit of a moment on the jump and dislocated his shoulder,” concluded Redding.

Redding will stay on in Belgium for training, before heading to the Sachsenring next week for round eight of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the final round before the traditional summer break.