MX2

PIETRAMURATA (Trentino) 31 October 2021 – The MXGP of Garda provided some more excitement as Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Maxime Renaux clinched his maiden MX2 FIM Motocross World Championship title with an overall victory, while Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Seewer celebrated a career second Grand Prix win after two strong races in MXGP.

For Renaux it will be a hard day to forget as he bounced back for the final race of the triple-header here in Pietramurata, to finish second in race one, while he went on to win the second race and claim that gold plate in style! 

The Yamaha riders' season has been an impressive one that has seen him claim 12 podiums which includes five Grand Prix victories and eight race wins. The Frenchman has led a total of 103 laps and has held the red plate since the fourth round of the season in Oss at the MXGP of the Netherlands.

Meanwhile Seewer was not going to let another podium slip away after missing out on the opportunity during the last two GPs. The Swiss went 1-2 in the races to confirm his spot on the top of the box.

But again, after today’s races we saw another shake up in the MXGP title chase, as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings succumbed to the pressure in race two and had two big crashes which lost him vital positions and points. Team HRC’s Tim Gajser went on to win race two, as Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre rode two consistent races to bag himself the red plate. It is the first time since 2014, when Gautier Paulin won the opening round in Qatar, that we see the red plate on a Kawasaki machine.

In the opening MXGP race of the day, it was Seewer who took the Fox Holeshot as he led his teammate Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Glenn Coldenhoff, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado, MRT Racing Team’s Alessandro Lupino and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli. Meanwhile Gajser, Herlings and Febvre started in sixth, seventh and eighth.

Prado then quickly made a move on Coldenhoff, as Gajser looked to do the same. The Slovenian was not successful in his attempts which allowed Febvre and Herlings to close in.

Gajser and Febvre then went at it for third, with the pair switching positions a few times before Febvre was able to block pass Gajser to move into third. And while the Honda and Kawasaki riders battled each other, Herlings continued to lurk in the background as he searched for an opportunity to get by both.

Seewer stretched out his lead to 3.946 seconds as he was improving upon his lap time almost every lap around. The Swiss was looking in control, up until a slight error put him on the ground. Luckily, he was up quickly and could maintain his position in the lead.

Febvre was eventually able to get past Coldenhoff for third as he set his sights on Prado who was ahead in second position.

Seewer then set another fastest lap time of the race as he stayed ahead of Prado by 4.110 seconds, as Gajser closed in on Coldenhoff again. Herlings kept things close too as both him and Gajser got past the Yamaha rider in the same corner.

Herlings then passed Gajser, as Febvre also took second from Prado. While Febvre safely had hold of his position, Herlings did not as Gajser was looking to fight back immediately. The pair made contact on several occasions, but Herlings was able to assert his position as Cairoli also joined the battle.

Cairoli got ahead of Gajser but not for long as the Slovenian fought back. Cairoli then kept a close distance to Gajser until the end of the race as they both made their way through backmarkers.

Herlings then managed to get by Prado, but the Spaniard didn’t go down without a fight. Gajser was next to catch-up to the KTM rider and after a few tries got past him too as Cairoli did the same to move up to fifth.

With three laps to go, it looked like Febvre was slowly closing in on the leader, but then on the last lap he went down hard which cost him a load of time, but he did however hold on to his position.

In the end Seewer went on to claim his first race win of the season, as Febvre finished second ahead of Herlings in third. Gajser brought it home in fourth ahead of Cairoli who was fifth.

In race two, it was Prado with the second Fox Holeshot, which was his 15^th of the season! He led the way ahead of Cairoli and Gajser. Herlings started in sixth while Febvre was down in 13^th.

Gajser then got around Cairoli for second and not long after made a move on Prado to get into the lead. Meanwhile Herlings was also making moves as he got himself into second.

He then had his teammate, Prado, to deal with who didn’t make things easy but eventually the Dutchman was able to get around the Spaniard and shift his focus onto getting Gajser. Just behind then, Febvre got around Cairoli for fourth and immediately went after Prado, who again was not backing down.

Gajser then led the way by just 1.214 seconds as Herlings remained close. It was looking like Herlings was setting up to make a pass but then the Bullet made a mistake and went flying over the bars. He got going again just behind Coldenhoff in seventh.

While that was going on, Seewer managed to get Cairoli for fifth and then followed that up by getting Febvre too. The Frenchman was not going to let the Swiss have the position easy and immediately fought back. The pair then caught onto Prado too, with the trio exchanging positions several times before Seewer was able to get ahead.

Febvre then had Cairoli on his case who passed him for fourth. The Kawasaki rider was again quick to respond and managed to maintain his spot. This then urged him onto Prado, as he took third from the KTM rider.

Herlings was also making progress as he got by Coldenhoff and then Prado, as the Spaniard came under more fire from Cairoli and the drop down to sixth. It then looked like Cairoli was going after Herlings and that’s when the Bullet crashed again!

Seewer also went down for a brief moment but was able to get going quickly to stay ahead of Febvre. Febvre did close in at one point, but Seewer was showing great pace and it was no match for Febvre who settled for third.

Herlings got going outside the top 10 and then made some passes on the likes of Mathys Boisrame of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team, Benoit Paturel of Honda SR Motoblouz as well as Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Watson, Glenn Coldenhoff and Prado in the next few laps. He eventually came home in fourth place.

Gajser went on to win the race 5.961 seconds ahead of Seewer with Febvre third.

A 1-2 result gave Seewer the overall, while Gajser was second and Febvre third overall. With Febvre added 42 points compared to Herlings’ 38, to his title chase, which means that he now leads the MXGP standings by one point over Gajser, with Herlings a further two points behind.

Once again, the top three are within three points of each other as we head into the final two rounds in Mantova.

Jeremy Seewer: “This MXGP win, I did it myself and I deserved it. I was up front, and no one beat me. It feels amazing, especially where I came from this year. A couple of weeks ago I was far off, and I was struggling with my health and mentally. I started to feel good a few weeks ago. I am really happy to sit here now with a first overall. I was very unlucky in my last two races; I just missed the podium both times. But it was worth the wait for this win”.

Tim Gajser: “It was a good day. We definitely need to work on the first races. I have been struggling with those the last couple of weeks. Anyway, the second one was good. I was feeling good and the start was way better. I made quick passes in the beginning. Then suddenly there was a 10 second gap for me and I was able to control the race from that point on. But anyway, the championship is intense. It’s unbelievable to think that there are just two GPs left and we are all within three points. I will do my best. I am really happy with today. We still have two GPs to go, so game on!”.

Romain Febvre: “It feels good. We still have two rounds to go to keep the red plate and turn it to gold. I can smell the taste of the championship. I am really happy about my weekend. We worked on the start which worked well in the first race. The second one was not good. In the first one, I made a lot of passes and made my way to second place. I tried to catch Jeremy but he was obviously riding really good. Nothing to say. I tried. I saw that I was catching up to him in the last two laps but unfortunately, I made quite a big mistake and crashed. Luckily, I had a big gap which allowed me to recover and finish second after all. The second race, my start was really bad, but I managed to have a good first lap and pass eight riders. I was still able to finish the race in third place. Jeremy made a mistake, and I closed the gap. I was thinking “should I go for the GP victory, or should I settle for the red plate?”. I felt like I did both. Maybe I was thinking a little bit too much and I could not match Jeremy’s pace. I settled for third and took the red plate. I am really happy.”

Main Photo: Jeremy Seewer

Bottom Photos: 1. Tim Gajser 2. Romain Febvre

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), 34:54.904; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:20.318; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:27.360; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:29.230; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:30.180; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:37.870; 7. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:41.135; 8. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), +0:41.686; 9. Dylan Wright (CAN, Honda), +0:43.219; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:47.272;

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:09.036; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:05.961; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:18.063; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:32.493; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:33.320; 6. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:36.170; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:37.186; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:40.688; 9. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Honda), +0:42.504; 10. Dylan Wright (CAN, Honda), +0:43.832;

MXGP - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 47 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 43 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 42 p.; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 29 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Dylan Wright (CAN, HON), 23 p.; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), 21 p.;

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 614 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 613 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 611 p.; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 502 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 498 p.; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 496 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 397 p.; 8. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GAS), 391 p.; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), 287 p.; 10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 284 p.;

MXGP - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 745 points; 2. Honda, 622 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 619 p.; 4. Yamaha, 548 p.; 5. GASGAS, 437 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 311 p.; 7. Beta, 202 p.;

In the first MX2 race, it was again, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle with the Fox Holeshot but his teammate Rene Hofer was quick to act as he dived into the lead. Vialle dropped to third as Bastian Boegh Damm of WZ Racing Team went into second place.

Renaux started the race in around eighth position, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini was 24^th.

Then we saw a big moment between Boegh Damm and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jago Geerts as the pair came together on the downhill and had a huge crash. This allowed Renaux into third and then into second.

Hofer then led Renaux, Vialle, Andrea Adamo of SM Action Racing Team YUASA Battery, as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton got onto the rear wheel of Simon Längenfelder of Diga Procross GasGas Factory Racing for sixth and eventually managed to pass him.

Guadagnini was also making passes as he got himself into 13^th, but the Italian would later crash and pull out of the race.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Thibault Benistant and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf were next to catch onto the rear wheel of Längenfelder, with the German not able to keep the pair behind him as he dropped two more positions.

Honda 114 Motorsports’ Ruben Fernandez was on a charge as he got by Adamo for fourth and then set his sights on Vialle for third.

Hofer was still the race leader as he set the fastest lap time of the race to extend his lead to 5.977 seconds ahead of Renaux. The Austrian pretty much rode a race of his own as he was unchallenged for the entire heat.

Beaton then caught onto Adamo for fifth. He managed to go around the outside of the Italian, but the GasGas rider was quick to fight back. But Beaton managed to stay ahead.

Further ahead, Fernandez was on a mission as he got onto the back of Vialle and went after third place. He was almost a second faster than the Frenchman on that lap and was able to get himself into third.

Benistant was next to catch-up to Adamo. He squeezed past the Italian who responded in the next corner, but Benistant got him back to assert his position in sixth.

In the end, Hofer was victorious as he crossed the finish line 4.966 seconds ahead of Renaux and Fernandez.

In race two, it was Vialle again who got ahead in the start and claimed his 19^thFox Holeshot of the season. Renaux was second ahead of Benistant and Isak Gifting of Diga Procross GasGas Factory Racing, who got a great start in fourth. Geerts was there also in fifth.

Geerts then came under fire from de Wolf for fifth. The Belgian could not hold on as he made a mistake and went down. He did not re-join the race due to a technical problem and that was his title fight over.

Renaux then set the fastest lap of the race as he got within 1.094 seconds of Vialle. He waited a couple of laps before launching an attack, but by lap five was the new race leader.

Gifting then came under immense pressure from de Wolf and Fernandez. Both the Husqvarna and the Honda rider were able to get around him to move up into fourth and fifth. Not long after Wilson Todd of Bike it MTX Kawasaki did the same. F&H Kawasaki Racing’s Mikkel Haarup, who had the second fastest lap time in time practice, caught and passed Längenfelder for eighth and then had Gifting in his sights too.

Meanwhile, the race one winner, Hofer, didn’t have the best start to the race as he ended up going down. He did however make a decent recovery to get back to eighth by the end of the heat.

Längenfelder then crashed out of eighth, as Benistant lost a few positions too. One of the riders to pass Benistant was Haarup, who also got past de Wolf by the end of the race, as the Husqvarna rider dropped to sixth.

Renaux went on to win the race 3.105 seconds ahead of Vialle who crossed the line in second position, while Fernandez finished third.

A 2-1 result gave Renaux the overall victory as he also claimed the gold plate to become this year’s MX2 World Champion, meanwhile Vialle was second on the podium and added some solid championship points as he moved into second position. Fernandez was the last rider to mount the podium, keeping a 100% podium record here in Pietramurata this season.

Maxime Renaux: “It means a lot to me. We made it; we are the 2021 MX2 World Champions. That’s a great achievement. As you said, we had to work a lot for that. The past years and past rounds were really tough for me. Lots of ups and downs, and bad starts. But we were able to have a good race today. I am also so happy to get my first world title with a race and GP win. It means a lot to me because it’s grabbing the title with a win feels a bit better. It was an amazing day for me, one that I will never forget for sure”.

Tom Vialle: “It actually was not really a bad day for me. After the crash on Wednesday, I hurt my ankle a lot. So, I was not sure if I could ride today. Riding in the morning was not so bad, but I could feel the pain after every jump. First race was pretty tough. I had a decent start, but I couldn’t follow the leader also due to arm pump. I just tried to finish it off. I finished in 4th place. It wasn’t too bad. I was feeling better in the second one. I just tried to ride the best I could. I am happy today with the podium”.

Ruben Fernandez: “It feels good to get three podiums out of three. I feel like I’ve been really solid which is normally not one of my strongest points. I could stay calm during the races and not make mistakes. I had to come from the back and work my way to the front most of the times. I am happy with that, because this is something I want to bring with me into next season. I want to be mistake-free let’s say and try to keep it cool on the track”.

Main Photo: Maxime Renaux

Bottom Photos: 1. Tom Vialle 2. Ruben Fernandez

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 33:39.546; 2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:04.966; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:10.001; 4. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:13.972; 5. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:15.149; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.904; 7. Wilson Todd (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:18.099; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:24.633; 9. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:25.344; 10. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GASGAS), +0:29.459;

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), 33:51.075; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:03.105; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:05.221; 4. Wilson Todd (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:08.086; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Kawasaki), +0:09.052; 6. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:09.683; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:11.294; 8. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), +0:28.717; 9. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), +0:31.488; 10. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GASGAS), +0:33.618;

MX2 - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 47 points; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 40 p.; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 40 p.; 4. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Wilson Todd (AUS, KAW), 32 p.; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 28 p.; 8. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KAW), 23 p.; 9. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 23 p.; 10. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GAS), 22 p.;

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 642 points; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 532 p.; 3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 516 p.; 4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 487 p.; 5. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 477 p.; 6. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 474 p.; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 413 p.; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 412 p.; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 404 p.; 10. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GAS), 291 p.;

MX2 - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 723 points; 2. Yamaha, 709 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 541 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 455 p.; 5. Honda, 445 p.; 6. GASGAS, 387 p.; 7. TM, 16 p.;

All the photos from the MXGP of Garda will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF GARDA QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1550m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 16° C

Weather conditions: Cloudy

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP of Garda

Tony Cairoli, fresh winner of the GP of Pietramurata, Mattia Guadagnini, Stefan, Harry and Liam Everts visiting Maser.

You could say it was a world day in terms of the number of world championships won by the welcome guests visiting Sidi today, 24 altogether with 10 of Stefan Everts, 9 of Tony Cairoli, 4 of Harry Everts and 1 of Mattia Guadagnini in the junior category. Amidst autographs, routine photos and a peek at what's new behind the scenes, emotions, memories and many laughs were shared celebrating the motocross champions supported by the Treviso-based company.

While Tony Cairoli was busy signing lots of autographs on photos and boots, also in view of the charity auction that will see him in the spotlight soon, we had a chat with Mattia, a young guy with overwhelming energy and great desire to learn. He knows that he is in a privileged position and is envied by many, as he is aware that racing alongside a champion like Cairoli is absolutely uncommon. "I'm a mega fan of Tony's: if seeing him in person was crazy for me, I can assure you I can't describe what it's like to race together. It's just incredible" says the young rider. "I try to learn as much as I can from this experience. He is exceptional. Training together is a dream, and I will treasure this experience."

Mattia has breathed motocross air since he was following his dad to the circuits. He got his first bike at 4 and, from there, he progressively won the Junior World Championship, the Italian Championship, and the European Championship in 2019. "2021 was my first year in MX2. I didn't have high expectations because everything was new, opponents included. It was supposed to be the year to gain experience, but in the end it went better than I expected" continued Guadagnini. "Now I'm fourth in the standings, the fight for the podium is still open and, although I feel satisfied, I will certainly give it everything I can until the end."

After being swept away by the young talent's enthusiasm, we spent some time with a motocross legend and the family that has made this discipline a tradition, the Everts. "I don't have a lot of expectations at the moment, I just want to have a good winter where I can prepare as well as possible. For sure, joining a team will be a great achievement, I'll have teammates and I'll try to learn as much as I can so I can express myself as soon as possible'" Liam concludes.

"I will continue to help Liam and guide him as much as possible so that he can achieve the results he wants. I will definitely be always by his side", confirms dad Stefan, a multiple world champion, who is immediately backed up by Harry who reiterates his position to stand by his grandson for whatever he needs to achieve his dream.

This year, another champion from the Sidi family concludes his incredible career without having to recriminate anything and briefly recounts the years he spent at the top of the world. "The World championship in 2005, was the most complicated one, because of the lack of experience and the pressure. In 2017, I remember fighting throughout the championship, it was very challenging but it ended in the best possible way," confides Cairoli. "Motocross has given me a lot, I'm happy with how it went with the experience I had, and I'm happy with the opportunity Sidi gave me to work with them. I didn't just wear their boots, I experienced them totally, so much so that I took part in the development of some of them, the Atojo for example, which I am absolutely satisfied with. It was a nice change in style, comfort and efficiency. I consider them an evolution of the boots I used before. We were trying to improve the contact with the motorbike, we wanted to emphasize it even more and we succeeded. I don't think I would change my boots now," he confirms.

And what if Chase wants to be a rider? "I won't stop him, but I won't insist on that either," he concludes, smiling.

Although each of them has a distinct and well-defined personality, they all agree on what their boots have to offer and have no doubt in describing them: comfortable, lightweight and highly protective.

PIETRAMURATA (Italy) 28 October 2021 – There are just three Grand Prix’s left on the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship calendar and the title fight in MXGP could not be any more intense. Just three points separate the top three contenders, as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings leads Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre by just a single point, with Team HRC’s Tim Gajser a further two points behind.

This weekend’s races will be crucial as tension begins to build. With the championship so tight, there is absolutely no room for error, so it will be interesting to see who can stay strong and who will crack under pressure.

Alongside the MXGP and MX2 action, we will also witness round eight of the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing and EMX250 championships. MRT Racing Team KTM’s Valerio Lata will no doubt be looking to add another victory in the 125cc category, while in EMX250 Fantic Factory Racing Maddii rider Nicholas Lapucci will look to bounce back with two solid results after a difficult first outing here in Pietramurata.

The MXGP title chase is heating up and the races on Sunday will be more important than ever as we edge closer to crowning this year’s champion. Herlings suffered a huge blow yesterday after a DNF in race one. This cost him the 24-point advantage that he previously held over Febvre and briefly handed the Frenchman the championship lead after he took victory in the opening race.

For Febvre, his biggest downfall is not putting together two solid races, which was the case yesterday. While he looked strong in race one as he managed to get by Gajser for the win in the closing stages of the race, his second race was much different. He had to work hard to come through the field after another poor start and then was stuck behind Herlings, unable to get around the Bullet who was keen on keeping his closest rival behind him.  

Herlings will need to bounce back at the MXGP of Garda if he wants to maintain the control of the championship lead, while Febvre and Gajser will need to deliver top results to have their chance at stealing the red plate.

There’ll be a lot of pressure on the top three in the final stages of this series and the one who manages to keep clam will be the one to take crown.

One rider who has no pressure on him is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli who made his return to the podium in the most epic fashion. The Italian had struggled in the last few races since his crash in Riola Sardo, but yesterday’s performance just went to show that Cairoli is not finished yet. He grabbed a huge Fox Holeshot in heat two and lead every lap from then on to win the race and claim his 94^th career Grand Prix victory in front of his home fans. Now the focus of Cairoli is to finish on the podium at the next three GPs as he nears the end of his professional racing career in MXGP.

While a veteran like Cairoli had a great race yesterday, the MXGP rookies Thomas Kjer Olsen of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Watson had a solid day as the pair finished 6^th and 7^th overall. Both have finished on the podium during their MX2 days at the track in Pietramurata and it looks like this confidence has carried through into MXGP. Let’s see if they can improve upon their results for the final race here in Trentino.  

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Seewer once again came close to a podium finish, as he ended his day fourth overall yesterday, just one point behind Febvre. Seewer had two solid races to finish fourth and second, but it was not enough to get him on the box this time around. The Swiss has only been on the podium once this season, but let’s see if he can make it twce this weekend.

MXGP of Pietramurata – MXGP Top 3:

1. Antonio Cairoli

2. Tim Gajser

3. Romain Febvre

Main Photo: MXGP Start

Bottom Photos: 1. Antonio Cairoli 2. Romain Febvre

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 573 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 572 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 570 p.; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 473 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 464 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 451 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GAS), 391 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 369 p.; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), 266 p.; 10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 266 p.;

In MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Rene Hofer made history to become the first Austrian to win a Grand Prix since 1987 when the former World Champion Heinz Kinigadner was victorious, not including the round victory of Matthias Walkner in MX3 back in 2013.

It was a big day for Hofer, KTM and Austrian fans, as he was in the perfect spot to take over the lead in race two and go on to win his first race in MX2, which was topped off by a trip to the top step of the podium. No doubt the Austrian will look to repeat his success and end the weekend with another podium.

While Hofer celebrated a strong day, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Maxime Renaux had another tough day. The championship leader ran into several issues which included a poor start, contact with another rider and being taken out by another pilot. But in true champion spirit, the Frenchman fought back in both races to finish 5^th overall and maintain a 87 point lead over his teammate Jago Geerts.

Geerts had two different races yesterday. While he once again challenged Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle for the win in the opening race, race two was a different affair. A bad start made this hard as he had to fight back from the back to sixth place which was enough to get him on the podium for the second time in a row. Now with two visits on the box, there’s no doubt that the Belgian will be pushing to finish the trip here in Pietramurata with an overall victory.

Third on the podium was Honda 114 Motorsports' Ruben Fernandez who once again learned that consistency can really pay off. The Spaniard had some nice battles in both races as he finished third and fifth to end his day third on the box. And just like Geerts, will no doubt aim to be on the podium once again this weekend.

One podium regular that was missing from the podium yesterday, was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle who started his day with a victory in race one and ended with the Frenchman limping back to the paddock in race two. Vialle battled with Renaux in the opening stages of the second heat but then ended up crashing and looked in discomfort as he made his way back to the paddock. The DNF would’ve been costly for him as he was looking to remain close to the silver medal. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see if he can come back this weekend and take back some points.

Home hero Mattia Guadagnini of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had a mixture of a day yesterday which ended with a very positive result of second in race two and a close call from the podium. In the first GP in Pietramurata, the Italian struggled but hopefully the second place yesterday will be the boost he needs to fight for top positions with the support of his home fans.  

Diga Procross GasGas Factory Racing’s Simon Längenfelder and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton were front and centre to some nice battles during the last GP’s. Yesterday the pair finished 6^th and 7^th and it will be interesting what they can deliver this weekend and maybe make a visit to the podium.

MXGP of Pietramurata – MX2 Top 3:

1. Rene Hofer

2. Jago Geerts

3. Ruben Fernandez

Main Photo: MX2 Start

Bottom Photos: 1. Rene Hofer 2. Jago Geerts

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 595 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 508 p.; 3. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 492 p.; 4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 475 p.; 5. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 454 p.; 6. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 436 p.; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 384 p.; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 384 p.; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 364 p.; 10. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 271 p.;

TIMETABLE

SATURDAY: 08:15 EMX125 Group 1 Free Practice, 08:40 EMX125 Group 2 Free Practice, 09:05 EMX250 Group 1 Free Practice, 09:30 EMX250 Group 2 Free Practice, 10:00 EMX125 Group 1 Qualifying Practice, 10:35 EMX125 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 11:10 EMX250 Group 1 Qualifying Practice, 11:45 EMX250 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 13:10 EMX125 Race 1, 14:00 EMX250 Race 1, 15:10 EMX125 Race 2, 16:05 EMX250 Race 2.

SUNDAY: 08:15 MX2 Free/Time Practice, 09:15 MXGP Free/Time Practice, 11:15 MX2 Race 1, 12:15 MXGP Race 1, 14:10 MX2 Race 2, 15:10 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

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MXGP of Garda

PIETRAMURATA (Italy) 28 October 2021 – MXGP is thrilled to continue the Fox Holeshot competition, that is running throughout the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship season, together with MXGP partner Fox.

How does the competition work?

During both MXGP and MX2 races, the rider who crosses the white line painted on the ground at the exit of the first corner will be awarded 1 point. At the end of the season, the 2 riders, one per category, with the most Fox Holeshot points will win the mega prize!

During the MXGP of Pietramurata, once again Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle continued to show just how strong he is in the starts as he took both of the Fox Holeshot. The Frenchman went on to win the first race, while in race two he was unlucky and did not finish the heat.

Meanwhile in MXGP, we saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado secure his 14^thFox Holeshot in the first heat, while in race two, his teammate Antonio Cairoli pulled a huge Fox Holeshot as he led the race from gate drop to chequered flag. The 9-time World Champion went on to win the second heat and secure his 94^th Grand Prix victory in front of his home crowd.

Despite having another tough Grand Prix, Prado still leads the Fox Holeshot classification in MXGP with 14 points, eight points ahead of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings is third with four. And in MX2, it’s Vialle with a huge 17 points, 14 ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Maxime Renaux.

The Fox Holeshot competition will continue this Sunday at the MXGP of Garda!

MXGP Fox Holeshot Classifications

MX2 Fox Holeshot Classifications

Watch the Fox Holeshot Films from the MXGP of Pietramurata below.

PIETRAMURATA (Italy) 27 October 2021 – This season of the FIM Motocross World Championship continues to throw surprises as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Rene Hofer celebrated overall wins at the MXGP of Pietramurata.

Once again, the outcome of the MXGP and MX2 races were near enough impossible to predict as the second Grand Prix of the three in Pietramurata delivered more shockers which have made the title chase even more interesting heading into the final three races of the 2021 season.

In MXGP race one, it was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado who grabbed the Fox Holeshot from Team HRC’s Tim Gajser. Gajser was quick to get into the lead as Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre put on a charge to get around the Spaniard too.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings was unlucky out of the gate as he went down in the first turn. As the Bullet picked himself up to get going, he soon realised that there was a problem with his KTM machine, which meant he could not carry on with the race. This was a huge moment for the championship.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Seewer had a good start too as he was sitting in fourth behind Febvre but had Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli breathing down his neck.

Gajser continued to lead as Febvre brought the gap down to 1.876 seconds after setting the best lap of the race. The Frenchman closed right in on the Slovenian as Gajser’s lead was brought down to less than a second, but Gajser was able to respond, going green in sector one and purple in sectors three and four, which then gave him the fastest lap of the race.

Honda SR Motoblouz rider Benoit Paturel started the race well inside the top 10 but was forced to DNF after what looked like a bike problem.

Meanwhile, Cairoli was able to get close enough to Seewer to get around the Swiss and move into fourth, with his focus then shifting onto his younger teammate Prado. It took a few laps for Cairoli to line-up the perfect pass on the Spaniard but eventually on lap eight he was able to take third.

Back with the leaders though, it looked like Gajser had picked up the pace after being spooked by Febvre, but this quickly changed as Febvre responded with another fast lap. The Kawasaki rider got onto the rear wheel the Slovenian once again but made a mistake and lost a load of time as a result. But the time Gajser crossed the line he was 5.929 seconds ahead.

Seewer then managed to close the gap to Prado as the pair began their combat for fourth. This battle went on for the majority of the race, with Seewer launching several failed attempts on the Spaniard. But with three laps from the end, the Swiss was finally able to get the job done and move into fourth place.

While Seewer had a good race in fourth, his teammates Ben Watson and Glenn Coldenhoff were also riding well in sixth and seventh. That’s where the pair eventually finished the heat.

In the last final few laps of the race, we saw an intense fight between Gajser and Febvre, with the Frenchman taking a load of time out of the Slovenian as he once again caught onto his rear wheel. The pair had a couple of close moments, as Febvre moved briefly into the lead and was passed back by Gajser.

But with just a couple of laps to go, the Frenchman was able to make a pass stick as he got by Gajser and secured the race win. Cairoli was third ahead of Seewer and Prado.

In race two, it was Cairoli with a huge Fox Holeshot as he led Seewer, Prado, Paturel and Coldenhoff. Meanwhile Herlings, Gajser and Febvre were buried in the mid-pack. Herlings and Gajser were quick to move up the order though, as they managed to get by Paturel.

Cairoli continued to control the race with Seewer and Coldenhoff behind him. Prado then came under pressure from Herlings who was keen on getting by the Spaniard, but Prado was not backing down without a fight. Eventually the Bullet was able to make a pass stick as Gajser looked to do the same.

By lap three Gajser was ahead of Prado and started to close back in on Herlings, as Febvre got by Paturel for seventh place.

Seewer then set the fastest lap of the race as he maintained a manageable 1.680 second gap to Cairoli. But further behind them saw Herlings made a mistake and crash, which allowed Gajser to go through. Febvre was able to make the most of this too, as he caught onto the rear wheel of Herlings.

The battle between Herlings and Febvre went on for 15 laps, with some close moments but Herlings was not backing down and Febvre could not find an opportunity as they finished the race fourth and fifth which still gave Herlings the advantage for the championship.

Back in the lead though, Cairoli was impressive. Lap after lap, the 9-time world champion bettered his time and set several fastest laps of the race as he pulled away from Seewer and Coldenhoff.

In the final few laps, Coldenhoff came under pressure from Gajser who was eager to get around the Dutchman for vital championship points. After a few tries he was able to get it done. But Herlings and Febvre followed in his footsteps, as Coldenhoff dropped down to sixth.

Gajser then had a chance to go after Seewer but ran out of time as Cairoli won the race and the Swiss held onto second.

Cairoli’s 3-1 result gave him the overall, with Gajser second on the box with Febvre third. While Herlings failed to make it inside the top three, he does carry the red plate into the next round this Sunday as just one point separates him and Febvre, while Gajser is just another two points behind the Frenchman.

Antonio Cairoli: “It was a struggle since the crash in Sardegna. I was very scared when it happened and for sure it got the best of me during the next GPs. Also, my ribs were really causing me pain until Spain. In Spain I was already feeling better. Of course, coming here I was really looking to bounce back after that bad stretch. Then I really got sick on Saturday night. Nevertheless, I tried to have a good start on Sunday, but I was in the middle pack and I got taken out on the first lap. Damage was done. Then in the second race, I tried to avoid Van Horebeek by changing lines, but somebody took my front off. I had some problems again with my clutch lever. It looked like something was pulling me to the ground that day and I was not happy about it of course. Today I felt a little bit better since this morning. However, I have had really good races on that track in the past and I really wanted to be on the podium. I did everything I could, especially in the first race. I had a good start. I was third. Then I made a mistake and dropped to sixth, then back to third. I was very happy with my riding. In the second race, I got the holeshot then I mostly controlled the race. I was getting a little tired, but with my experience I could save some energy at some parts of the track, and I could manage to keep Jeremy at the back. So, I was very happy about that. I hope from now on I could feel better and be on the podium every weekend because that’s what I try to do every time I ride. Let’s hope for the same results”.

Tim Gajser: “It was a good and consistent day. I had a good start in the first race. I was leading the race quite comfortably then I got a little arm pump. Romain passed me in the last lap, and I finished second. I was a little disappointed about that. I didn’t have the best start in the second race. Jeffrey made a mistake then I was also able to pass Glenn. I finished third. Consistent points. It’s getting really tight in the championship, but we still have three GPs, so I will give my best and try to not to put too much pressure on myself and just try to enjoy as much as possible”.

Romain Febvre: “It’s just as if the championship started again. The top three are three points apart, so it’s pretty cool. I will try my best to be first at the end. I was feeling really good today, better than last Sunday. I made some mistakes in the middle of the first race, but then I caught up with Tim. We had a nice battle during the last five laps. It was very challenging, so it was cool to win it. Second race, I didn’t have a good start which is really crucial to have over here. I made my way through the pack and came back behind Jeffrey. I passed him once then he passed me again. At the end, I could not do much more than that given the circumstances. I am a little bit disappointed because it’s been a while since I have had two really solid race. I will try to do so on Sunday.

Jeffrey Herlings: “It’s pretty devastating. The front wheel washed out and I wanted to pick up my bike right away. Actually, I didn’t even notice that someone rode over my bike. A lot of things broke like my handlebar and so forth. It was a done deal. It hurts, especially when you worked so hard to get those points and be where you are. Then in a blink of an eye it’s done. Then you just watch from the sidelines. That being said, in that second race, I just couldn’t get in my rhythm. I mean it’s been a bad day, what else to say. We went from +24 to +1. But yeah, it’s going to be an interesting next three races, so we will see how things turn out”.

Main Photo: Antonio Cairoli

Bottom Photos: 1. Tim Gajser 2. Romain Febvre

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), 34:48.910; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:01.008; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:25.488; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:34.807; 5. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:44.780; 6. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:45.729; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:54.647; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:56.661; 9. Henry Jacobi (GER, Honda), +0:59.380; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Beta), +1:00.160;

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 35:08.916; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:02.601; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:04.915; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:07.054; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:10.463; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:15.671; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:46.087; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, GASGAS), +0:51.388; 9. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:52.602; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GASGAS), +1:04.312;

MXGP - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 45 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 42 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 41 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 40 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 29 p.; 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 27 p.; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, GAS), 23 p.; 9. Henry Jacobi (GER, HON), 22 p.; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, BET), 20 p.;

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 573 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 572 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 570 p.; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 473 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 464 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 451 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GAS), 391 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 369 p.; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), 266 p.; 10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 266 p.;

MXGP - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 707 points; 2. Honda, 579 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 577 p.; 4. Yamaha, 501 p.; 5. GASGAS, 437 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 293 p.; 7. Beta, 185 p.;

In MX2, race one saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle grab the first Fox Holeshot ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jago Geerts, Diga Procross GasGas Factory Racing’s Simon Längenfelder and Ruben Fernandez of Honda 114 Motorsports.

Team Honda Racing Assomotor’s Stephen Rubini came together with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Thibault Benistant in the first corner, with the Frenchman being stretcher off the track. He did not line-up for race two.

Championship leader Maxime Renaux of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing and local hero Mattia Guadagnini from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing didn’t get off to the best start, as the pair crossed the line in 18^th and 19^th.

Fernandez was quick to get by Längenfelder for third, while Renaux made some very good passes in the opening lap to get himself into 12^th.

There was a moment for Guadagnini who went down together with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton, with a couple of more riders also getting caught up in the chaos, including SM Action Racing Team YUSA Battery’s Andrea Adamo who up until then was having a solid ride.

But it was Vialle who led Geerts by 1.653 seconds, as Geerts was looking to whittle down that lead and go for the win. The Belgian went on to set the fastest lap of the race which allowed him to cut the gap down ever so slightly, but Vialle was able to keep it clam in first place.

Further down the field, Renaux was fighting back as he got by Längenfelder for ninth and focused his attention onto Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf, who was just ahead. The two made contact as Renaux searched for a way through, which resulted in Renaux going down.

Hitachi KTM Fuelled by Milwaukee rider Conrad Mewse was having a great opening race as he was closing in on Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Rene Hofer for fourth. Unfortunately, his race was cut short after a bike issue forced him out of the heat.

De Wolf then crashed and once he got going had Renaux, Gianluca Facchetti and Längenfelder forming a train behind him. Renaux was able to get by to claim eighth place as Facchetti dropped a couple of spots to 13^th and was coming under fire from Guadagnini.

Meanwhile Geerts kept things close to Vialle throughout the opening heat, maintaining a steady gap under two second. On the last lap just 1.341 seconds separated the pair and unfortunately, Geerts was unable to find a way through as Vialle went on to win the race. Fernandez finished third ahead of Diga Procross GasGas Factory Racing’s Isak Gifting.

In race two, the Fox Holeshot went to Vialle as Renaux was just behind him. Hofer and Guadagnini followed the pair. Looking to waste no time, Renaux quickly made a pass on his fellow countryman to take over the lead on the opening lap. Not long after though the pair had a moment which saw Vialle down and Renaux off the track and tangled up in a fence.

Hofer inherited the lead with Guadagnini second and Längenfelder third. Vialle able to get going in fourth while Renaux was down in 10^th.

Having a tough start to the race was Geerts who was in around 17^th place in the first few laps, as well as Mewse who had been doing and making his way up from last.

Vialle was then looking to fight back but made a mistake and went down hard and that was the end of his race as he limped back to pitlane.

Hofer led Guadagnini with a 3.211 second advantage as he set the fastest lap of the race. Beaton then went to better that, while riding around in fourth ahead of Adamo who was riding solid in fifth. The Italian then came under fire from both Renaux and Fernandez as he dropped a few spots.

After passing Adamo, Renaux then caught onto Beaton and Längenfelder, who were fighting for third. Renaux had the perfect opportunity to get by both, but could not find the perfect moment as Beaton was able to make a pass to take the spot.

Meanwhile at the top end of the field, Hofer was riding a steady race as he was 7.649 seconds ahead of Guadagnini with 15 minutes plus 2 laps on the clock.

Renaux then struggled to get by Längenfelder, as Fernandez joined the party, putting a charge on the Yamaha rider. The pair were then side-by-side as the Frenchman was able to keep the Spaniard behind him and focus his attention onto Längenfelder ahead. Eventually he was able to get around the German for fourth. Geerts was also making passes as he got by Adamo for seventh.

In the end, Hofer went on to win the race ahead of Guadagnini and Beaton. The win in race tow put Hofer on the top step of the podium as he became the first Austrian Grand Prix winner since 1987 (or 2013 in MX3). Second overall was Geerts while Fernandez made it two podiums on the bounce with third overall.

Despite failing to make it on the box, Renaux continues to lead the MX2 World Championship standings by 87 points with three Grand Prix’s remaining. His closest rival is Geerts with Vialle still third, despite a DNF in race two.

Rene Hofer: "For sure it’s a day I will never forget. It was just so nice. When I crossed the finish line, I was celebrating with Mattia. It was a really nice feeling, especially in front of the fans. I really hope the Austrian fans at home enjoyed it. As you said, it’s been a while since an Austrian has won a Grand Prix. I am really speechless right now. Actually, I didn’t have the best flow in the first race, but the second one was much better. Obviously, I was a bit lucky that I wasn’t involved in the crash with Maxime and Tom, but anyway, I felt great out there. I was a bit nervous with 10 minutes to go. I made a lot of mistakes but was still able to bring it home somehow. It’s a really good feeling for sure."

“It was quite a big injury I had last year so the winter was really tough for me. But we really put in the work. It got better after the summer break. We used the summer break to train a lot and put in the work. Since Turkey, I feel more confident after each GP and for sure my confidence will grow with a day like today. I’m just going to try to do my best for the last three GPs. But for sure this season is already nice with my first GP win”.

Jago Geerts: “I am pretty happy with second overall today. First race, I had a good start and was second behind Tom during the whole race. I couldn’t make the pass, but I was feeling good on the track. My riding was good. Second race, I messed up my start. I think I was outside of top 20 after the first lap. But I felt good, the riding was good. I came back to 6th place, and it was enough for second overall. I am pretty happy with that”.

Ruben Fernandez: “It’s been a good day. Started off with pole position in practice. This was my second one this year and ever. First race went well. I had a good start for once and was able to finish in third position. But then in the second one, I struggled at the start again and I think I was 19th once I crossed the finish line in the first lap. I had to work a lot to gain as many points as possible. At the end, I could make the podium happen. It’s a shame because I felt like I could have been fighting for more, but I messed up the second one especially with the start. I am still happy with the overall result. It’s now two podiums in a row. The last one before Trentino was in the second round, so it’s been a long way to get here. It’s nice to be able to keep the ball rolling and hopefully I could fight for more in the next one”.

Maxime Renaux: “Actually the day started like last Sunday. I had a bad start and almost crashed in the first corner. Then I came back pretty good. I think I was around 7th after 10 minutes, so it was a good comeback. I felt like I could come back even more but got took out by another rider. I had a big crash and had to fight again and come back. Eventually I came back to 7th place, I think. Then in the second race, I was able to make it happen at the start, so I was really happy. Second on the start was really good. I could then push on the first lap to get the lead. That was just the ideal race, just like how things were planned. Then an incident happened. I have nothing to say about that. Like I said, it was a racing incident. I went out and into the fence. I tried to take it out as quickly as possible. It was just a mess. Then a cable came into my rear wheel so I was really worried during the whole race because I was so afraid that the cable would go into my wheel. I couldn’t control it, but thankfully I was able to make it until the end of that race. I finished fourth. It was much better. A good result too for the championship standings because my two rivals where behind me. Overall, it was not so bad, but I was a little bit disappointed for not being able to get a race win. But, it is what it is”.

Main Photo: Rene Hofer

Bottom Photos: 1. Jago Geerts 2. Ruben Fernandez

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 34:41.767; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:03.130; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:24.303; 4. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), +0:34.007; 5. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +0:47.625; 6. Wilson Todd (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:52.367; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:56.819; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +1:09.296; 9. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +1:13.583; 10. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Kawasaki), +1:14.997;

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 34:01.864; 2. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), +0:03.794; 3. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:06.959; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.281; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:19.676; 6. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:26.530; 7. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:27.819; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GASGAS), +0:37.666; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.146; 10. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Kawasaki), +0:44.194;

MX2 - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 43 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 37 p.; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 36 p.; 4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 32 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 32 p.; 6. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GAS), 26 p.; 7. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 25 p.; 8. Wilson Todd (AUS, KAW), 25 p.; 9. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KAW), 22 p.;

MX2 - World Championship Classification: 1. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 595 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 508 p.; 3. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 492 p.; 4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 475 p.; 5. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 454 p.; 6. Rene Hofer (AUT, KTM), 436 p.; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 384 p.; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 384 p.; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 364 p.; 10. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GAS), 271 p.;

MX2 - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 676 points; 2. Yamaha, 662 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 510 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 423 p.; 5. Honda, 405 p.; 6. GASGAS, 365 p.; 7. TM, 14 p.;

All the photos from the MXGP of Pietramurata will be available HERE.

You can find the complete results HERE.

MXGP OF PIETRAMURATA QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1550m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 17° C

Weather conditions: Clear

LINKS

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MXGP OF PIETRAMURATA