JAGO GEERTS – THE BIG BOY CLASS

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider Jago Geerts will turn 24 in April, and as one of the youngest in the class, he is also somebody who will grow into the role of one of our championship contenders in time. It might not happen in 2024, but you just know, this talented Belgian will fight for championships in the big boy class in the future.

Amazingly, already with 24 Grand Prix victories to his name, he has an impressive past. His MX2 championship stats are also something special, with five top five finishes in the MX2 title race and four of those at the runner-up spot in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The only problem in the statistics of the Yamaha man, is he spent seven years in the MX2 class and came away without a World championship to his name, still though, the stats I just mentioned show that his career until now is a successful one, not a failure.

I am happy with how my 250 career went,” Geerts said. “More than 20 GP wins,  it was a few good years and I missed out on the title a couple of times, but I have a lot of years and it is still my goal to get a World title and I will try and get it in the MXGP championship. At the moment I don’t have a specific goal (for 2024), I just want to have a few good weeks before the season starts and then for sure, you don’t know where we will be for the first round, but after a few rounds I will know my speed and what I need to work on. I don’t really go to the races with a goal, I just want to do my best.”

In 2024, he goes up against the big boys and with former MX2 champions like Jeffrey Herlings, Tim Gajser, Jorge Prado, Pauls Jonass and Maxime Renaux in the MXGP class, he knows that he has an up-hill battle in 2024. Add names like Jeremy Seewer, Romain Febvre, Ruben Fernandez, Glenn Coldenhoff and many more, and you can see how difficult this class is.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team owner Hans Corvers was quick to point out how difficult racing the MX2 class was for Geerts. Corvers has always believe in his young charger and never doubt their long-standing relationship, it is clear that Corvers thinks his fellow Belgian has the credentials and talent to go all the way in the big bike class.

“You need to understand,” Corvers said. “Jago is so confident on the 450. He knows he has to learn in MXGP, but he said he feels so good on that bike, the 450. He fits a lot better on the 450 than the 250 and he knows that MXGP is more difficult, a tougher class, but on the 250 he had to fight with the bike, because it didn’t fit 100% his riding style. That doesn’t mean he is there for winning yet, but he likes riding the bike more and he feels more confident, and I think with the talent he has, it will come.”

Now, with the winter testing going well and Geerts feeling more than comfortable on the all-new Yamaha, it will, in six weeks or so, be time for the sometimes quiet, but always respectful young rider to show us a little of what his future might be. Some top ten results might be fine at first, but then the fans will expect top five results and maybe even podiums in the sand in 2024. 
 

Photo Credit: Stefan Geukens

Author: 
Geoff Meyer

News

Pages

The first, historic season in the FIM Motocross World Championship - MXGP for the Aruba.it - Ducati Factory MX Team opened on the

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing icon Jeffrey Herlings is working towards a competitive return to motocross action and

In the digital age, MXGP continues to excel at connecting with its fans through a dynamic and ever-growing online presence.

The Royal House of Savoy is pleased to announce a prestigious partnership with the Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP, the leading team in the FIM MXGP Moto

Related news

The first, historic season in the FIM Motocross World Championship - MXGP for the Aruba.i

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing icon Jeffrey Herlings is working to

In the digital age, MXGP continues to excel at connecting with its fans through a dynamic and eve