First lap crashes during both MXGP motos severely limited the charge of Team HRC’s Mitch Evans in round 16 of the world championship at Hyvinkaa.

The Australian qualified seventh in Saturday’s race, but 14-20 moto scores were the best he could salvage when it counted on Sunday after the misfortune on each opening lap.

“Today was definitely not my day,” said Evans. “I felt good coming into the motos but things just didn’t work out for me. A crash on the first lap in race one ruined any chance of a good result there, as I was almost last by the time I remounted. I charged through to 14th but it definitely wasn’t what I was after.

“Then a similar story in race two. Obviously, I’m really disappointed with how it went but I’m still fit, and motivated to get things right in the final two rounds of the season.”

Despite a challenging round in Finland, Evans has built momentum throughout the season, highlighted by a career-first heat race win at the previous round in Sweden.

With his MXGP future not yet confirmed, there are two rounds remaining in the 2022 MXGP World Championship for the number 43 to impress as the series moves to St Jean d’Angely on 21 August.