Gajser and Geerts in Victory

For Team HRC factory rider Tim Gajser and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jago Geerts last weekend’s MXGP of The Netherlands proved to be a happy hunting ground. While Gajser didn’t dominate his 3-2 results was enough for the top step on the MXGP podium, while MX2 winner Geerts showed all his sand skills with a perfect 1-1 performance.

Geerts coming off a pre-season knee injury had found the going tough in the opening three Grand Prix’s in Orlyonok, Great Britain and Italy, but came into his own in Holland and his beloved sand.

“It feels a lot better,” Geerts said. “I am really happy with the win because the season has been difficult for me with my knee and everything. Even the GP of England didn’t go that well, and I am really happy to turn it around and win the GP.”

One thing that Geerts enjoyed was the different type of circuit in Holland. Natural terrain hills and some really cool technical sections gave the Belgian the chance to really show his full potential and he marked it with domination.

“For me it is a really nice track, with some natural hills and stuff. I like it, and it is small and difficult to pass, but for me the layout is nice. I had ridden there before in some Dutch championship races, so I knew the track already, but I really liked it.”

As for Gajser, despite not winning a race he walked away with the MXGP overall and was happy enough after the day’s action, as he extended his championship points lead.

“I am happy with the day,” Gajser said. “Of course, disappointed Tony passed me with a lap to go. I was trying to pass Prado early, but it was really difficult, because he was blocking all the lines. I lost my rhythm and also used a lot of energy, but that is racing. I am overall happy, and we head to Loket. I don’t remember winning with 3-2 before, but it is still nice to win, but you want to win the races also. It is what it is, and I usually win the overall with a race win. The luck was on my side. The riding was okay, and I didn’t know what to expect coming here. Overall, very happy.”

On the big 450 machines the MXGP boys worked hard to find lines on the white sand of Oss, and Gajser knew that he would have to ride a little more aggressive to get the overall victory.

“It was really hard to pass,” Gajser said. “You had to be really aggressive if you wanted to pass and I didn’t want to be aggressive and touch the other guys, but in the second race, I had to. I was behind Prado, and I was way faster than him, but he was shutting the doors everywhere. We have to ride what we are given to ride, and the track was the same for everyone and we did a good job.”

This week the Slovenian and Belgian will head to the hard pack of Loket in the Czech Republic, a circuit that is the total opposite of the tight sand circuit of Oss, and another challenge. Victory is quickly in the rear-view mirror as the next demanding circuit becomes the goal to achieve.