CLS Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle took both his and the team’s first win of the season at the French GP and a confidence boost in his quest to win the MX2 world championship.

After poor luck at the previous round in Brazil, where a spectator’s unwanted assistance in qualifying saw him lumped with last gate choice for both races, Searle felt strong in France after the team found a good setting at the rough Saint Jean D’Angely circuit.

“The team is doing a great job to give me a winning bike; we made some changes to the suspension this morning and it worked,” commented Searle.

After taking a solid fourth in race one, Searle lined up for race two knowing he had the speed to win.

“I made a couple of mistakes early in the first race but I was the fastest at the end of the race,” he added.

After a fall from early race leader Ken Roczen, Searle was able to then dispatch of Zach Osborne and after temporarily losing the lead to Jeffrey Herlings, was able to retake the lead to take the race two win and the overall.

“When I saw Roczen rolling about on the ground on the first lap of race two I felt bad for him, but I had to take full advantage,”Searle remarked.

“I went past Osborne for the lead, but then Herlings came up fast. He was making mistakes and I knew I would be able to get him again before the end; he went wide in a corner, I was able to go under him and just put my head down”

“I’ve been consistent so far but we’re all picking up the pace. I’m so happy to give Jean-Jacques, Gael and the rest of the team this victory in their home GP but we are getting stronger every week and I now need to win more races if I’m going to win this championship.”

Searle sits third in the MX2 championship as the series moves to Portugal for round six.