MX2

LOMMEL (Belgium) 14 October 2020 – Following the Spanish GP, the FIM Motocross World Championship is back in the sand, this weekend, for the Monster Energy MXGP of Flanders, the first of three breath-taking races scheduled in Lommel, Belgium.

Lommel, considered to be the heartland of motocross, has played a big part in the motocross world championship for many years, becoming known as one of the toughest sand circuits in the world.

In 1981, the Belgian sand circuit hosted its first Motocross of Nations event, which was a historic day for Team USA who took their very first win at the prestigious event. Though the first motocross world championship race to be held there was not until 1990, that saw Pekka Vehkonen victorious in the 250 class. Other GP winners in the deep sand of Lommel include the likes of Marnciq Bervoets, Stefan Everts, Avo Leok, Ken Roczen, Max Anstie, Jeffrey Herlings, Antonio Cairoli and Tim Gajser, among many others.

Cairoli, Herlings, Max Anstie and Jorge Prado are the four riders who have the most GP wins in Lommel, with each on three Grand Prix victories. Cairoli’s overall victories came in 2010, 2011 and 2014, whereas Herlings won in 2011 (MX2), 2017 (MX2) and 2018 (MXGP) and for Anstie the overall victories came during his MX2 day’s back in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Then comes Jorge Prado who won in MX2 back in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Lommel is a home for many of the GP riders, with the majority of them living in the surrounding areas to the track. Many of the teams are based close by too, so it is fair to say that every one of the riders lining up for the next three races has done plenty of laps around the deep sandy circuit, though this is exactly what will make the racing that much more interesting as the competition will be fierce, as we reach the crucial stages of this year’s FIM Motocross World Championship. This year the track is bound to get an overhaul for the Monster Energy MXGP of Flanders with a modified start layout.

The next rounds in Belgium, will also conclude the EMX250 and EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing championships, that are currently led by Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing’s Thibault Benistant, who has an 18-point advantage to Husqvarna Junior Racing Maddii pilot Mattia Guadagnini in EMX250. Meanwhile in the 125 category, Fantic Racing’s Andrea Bonacorsi leads the way by 42 points.

In MXGP, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser will enter the Monster Energy MXGP of Flanders 24 points clear of his championship rival Antonio Cairoli of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Also having won the MXGP of Belgium last season, with a 2-2 result, Gajser will be among the favourites for this weekend, as he looks to extend his lead even further.

Meanwhile Cairoli, will no doubt aim to continue with his consistent top 5 results. Throughout the entire season we have seen Cairoli battle inside the top 5 which has worked well for him, as he is still in contention of this year’s world title. Though his recurring knee injury has made it hard for him to push further, though despite that he has accumulated 5 podiums, 2 overall victories and 2 race wins so far this season, so it will be interesting to see if he can add anymore over the next three races.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Seewer lost a bit of ground in Spain which has allowed Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado to edge closer to the top 3 in the championship standings. Last season, Seewer was close to a podium finish in Lommel and only missed out by 6 points, after finishing 4^th and 5^th in the races. No doubt coming into this weekend, he will be looking to re-group and get back to the championship chase as he’s now 21 points down on Cairoli, with 6 rounds remining.

Meanwhile, Prado will enter the Monster Energy MXGP of Flanders with a big confidence boost and motivation from his overall victory on home soil a week earlier, as he looks to take third in the championship from Seewer. Prado has had an incredible run so far, with a total of 13 Fox Holeshots and 6 podium finishes, the second highest of the class, bearing in mind this is his rookie season. And the young Spaniard knows what it’s like to win in Lommel as he has done in 3 times before, winning in MX2 in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Romain Febvre of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team is another strong contender for the weekend, as last season he was only 1 point off the overall win in Lommel, after winning race 1 and finishing 4^th on race two. Despite missing two races at the start of the 2020 season due to injury, the Frenchman has been making good progress with his comeback and getting settled with the new bike and team as he has made 3 podium appearances this season so far, including his overall GP win in Mantova.

Standing Construct GasGas Factory MXGP rider Glenn Coldenhoff is another threat for the podium in Lommel. He was third overall last time around and has always been known to be strong in the sand. He is also another one of the 7 riders to win an overall this season, having won in Latvia, so clearly, he has what it takes to win once more.

This will also be the home GP to Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle, Brent Van doninck and Honda SR Motoblouz Jeremy Van Horebeek, with the three no doubt wanting to impress on home soil as well, especially Desalle, who recently announced his retirement at the end of the season.

2019 MXGP of Belgium Top 3:

1.Tim Gajser

2.Romain Febvre

3.Glenn Coldenhoff

MXGP - World Championship Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 441 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 417 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 396 p.; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 391 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 375 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 346 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 311 p.; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 294 p.; 9. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 263 p.; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 248 p.

Main Photo: MXGP Start Lommel 2019

Bottom Photos: 1. Tim Gajser; 2. Clement Desalle

In MX2, there is no doubt that the battle for the win will include the likes of Red Bull KTM Factory Racings’ Tom Vialle, Jago Geerts of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing and Thomas Kjer Olsen, the rider of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.

Vialle will enter the Belgian GP this weekend off the back of his overall victory in Spain, which is his 5^th of the season so far. He is also 52 points clear of Geerts, which gives him a bit more breathing room, though he cannot afford to relax, as Geerts will no doubt want to impress at his home Grand Prix.

For Geerts his biggest boost will be the fact that he is going to be racing very close to his home for the next three GP’s. Last year Geerts finished 2^nd and in race 1 and then DNF’d the second race due a bike issue and this year he will no doubt aim for more consistent results in order to get to the top of the box on home soil.

Meanwhile, Olsen, has been continuing with his positive progress over the last several GP’s as he scored his 4^th consecutive podium in Spain last weekend. Though he is out of the title chase this season, there is no doubt that the Dane will want to finish the year on a high, as he prepares to enter the MXGP class next season. Last year the MXGP of Belgium was an unlucky one for the Husqvarna rider who DNF’d the first race, and the finished 5^th in race two, which of course cost him vital championship points, though this year without the pressure of the title, we could see Olsen at his best, and maybe even see him take a 3^rd overall win of the season.

Following his success last year, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Ben Watson will no doubt be aiming for top results in Lommel, as he looks to get back on the podium. Watson has been one of the few riders who have been extremely close to the podium this season, and maybe his achievement from last season will give him the boost that he needs to get the job done.

Then there’s also Roan Van de Moosdijk of F&H Kawasaki who will want to show his skill in the sand. Last season the Dutchman dominated the EMX250 class in Lommel, with two race wins, which helped him along his way to claim the EMX title at the following round. 

2019 MXGP of Belgium Top 3:

1.Jorge Prado

2.Calvin Vlaanderen

3.Ben Watson

MX2 - World Championship Classification: 1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 525 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 473 p.; 3. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 379 p.; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 372 p.; 5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 347 p.; 6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 326 p.; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 314 p.; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 279 p.; 9. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, KAW), 234 p.; 10. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, YAM), 226 p.;

Main Photo: MX2 Start Lommel 2019

Bottom Photos: 1. Tom Vialle; 2 Jago Geerts

TIMETABLE (Local Timing CET/GMT+2)

SATURDAY: 09:00 EMX125 Group 1 Free Practice, 09:25 EMX125 Group 2 Free Practice, 09:50 EMX250 Group 1 Free Practice, 10:15 EMX250 Group 2 Free Practice, 10:45 EMX125 Group 1 Qualifying Practice, 11:20 EMX125 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 11:55 EMX250 Group 1 Qualifying Practice, 12:30 EMX250 Group 2 Qualifying Practice, 14:00 EMX125 Race 1, 14:50 EMX250 Race 1, 16:00 EMX125 Race 2, 16:50 EMX250 Race 2.

SUNDAY: 09:15 MX2 Free/Time Practice, 10:15 MXGP Free/Time Practice, 12:05 MX2 Race 1, 13:05 MXGP Race 1, 15:00 MX2 Race 2, 16:00 MXGP Race 2.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

FIM Europe

Monster Energy MXGP of Flanders

It has been nearly 40 years that Lommel started its association with the World Motocross scene and despite holding that very famous Motocross des Nations in 1981, where Team USA won their first of 22 MXoN victories, it wasn’t until 1990 that a Grand Prix was held at the circuit.

Lommel held some 250 GPs in the 1990’s, with Pekka Vehkonen winning in 1990, Marnicq Bervoets in 1993 and Stefan Everts in 1994. Lommel held its first 500cc GP in 1997, with Latvian veteran Avo Leok winning in the rain and mud.

Since that 1997 visit Lommel hadn’t really been a regular stop on the Grand Prix calendar, due to the involvement of the legendary Namur circuit, and also stops in places like Neeroteren, Nismes, Genk, and so many others it seemed that Lommel was generally just a training facility for the GP riders.

It wasn’t until five times motocross world champion Eric Geboers got involved and decided to bring the circuit back to the Grand Prix scene, and of course the fact Namur had been closed. When Lommel returned to the Grand Prix schedule in 2008 it was Spanish rider Jonathan Barragan who put his name on the winners list with an MX1 overall, while Gert Krestinov shocked the world to win the MX2 overall.

Names like Marvin Musquin (2009 MX2), Ken Roczen (2010 MX2) and Ken De Dycker (2009 MX1), joined Barragan and Krestinov as GP winners, but it was the performances of Antonio Cairoli in 2010, 2011, 2012 (MXON) and 2014 that stood out. Cairoli also won the MXoN overall with 1-1 results and more or less owned the circuit in that era.

The sandman Jeffrey Herlings took his first win at Lommel in the MX2 class in 2011 and scored 1-2 results at the 2012 MXoN, but injuries ruled Herlings out of Lommel in 2014 and 2015, with Max Anstie making the most of that and won both those years, scoring 1-2-1-1 in the process. Shaun Simpson added his name to the Lommel winners list with 1-1 in MXGP in 2015.

In 2016 Kevin Strijbos pulled off an amazing victory in the MXGP class, with 3-3 results, beating home Max Nagl and Antonio Cairoli. In MX2 it was again Anstie who took victory number three, as Jeffrey Herlings was again out injured. Second in MX2 was Jeremy Seewer and third Petar Petrov.

In 2017 Herlings now in the MXGP class added yet another victory to his long list of sand wins, beating Antonio Cairoli and Glen Coldenhoff, while Jorge Prado won his first Lommel overall from Pauls Jonass and Julien Lieber.

Again in 2018 Herlings won from Cairoli and Anstie and in MX2, it was Prado from Thomas Covington and Thomas Olsen and last year Prado went 1-1 for the win and Tim Gajser scored 2-2 for the win in the MXGP class.

So, as we enter this weekend’s Grand Prix at the famous Belgian sand track, will Cairoli make it five wins at the circuit (including his MXoN overall) and his first victory at Lommel since 2014, or maybe Prado picks up his fourth straight win at the circuit. In MX2 it seems that the fight will be between Tom Vialle, Jago Geerts and Thomas Olsen, and maybe one of the youngsters can get their first win on the dark sand.

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 13 October 2020 - TAG Heuer has been the official timekeeper of the FIM Motocross World Championship since 2014 and together with MXGP are running the fastest lap competition across each season.

The way it works is; at each and every round of the MXGP season, the rider that sets the best lap time in each class, MXGP and MX2, will receive 1 point in the TAG Heuer competition. The rider that has set the fastest lap at the most rounds throughout the year in both classes, and has the most points, will be award with the special prize!

This past weekend, the FIM Motocross World Championship welcomed back the MXGP of Spain for the first time in two years. It was also the first opportunity that the MX2 and MXGP riders had to ride the brand-new hard pack circuit of intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos.

During Sunday’s races, the fastest lap of the day in the MXGP category went to the double race and GP winner, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado, who put on an impressive performance on home soil. Prado clocked the best lap of the day – a 1.54:495 – in the first MXGP race, on lap 11.

Meanwhile in MX2, Jago Geerts of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing, was the fastest rider in the class, setting a 1.56:570 in the opening MX2 race, on lap 4. At the previous Grand Prix in Mantova, Geerts set his best lap of the races on the very same lap of the first race too.

Find the details below:

MXGP: Jorge Prado - 1.54:495 – Race 1 Lap 11

MX2: Jago Geerts – 1.56:570 – Race 1 Lap 4

Check out MXGP.com home page for the Top 3 TAG Heuer Best Lap competition’s rankings.

In less than a month two Motocross World Champions will be crowned and while Team HRC rider Tim Gajser has a 24 point lead over Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Antonio Cairoli  (441 points to 417 points) and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing pilot Tom Vialle with 525 points is 52 points ahead of the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory rider Jago Geerts, who is on 473 points, anything can happen as we head down the final stretch of a very tough season for the riders.

Starting at Lommel this coming Sunday on October 18, then October 21 and October 25, before we head south again to Italy and Trentino on November 1, November 4 and November 8. A six-week haul that will truly test all the riders and make sure that a true champion is crowned.

Gajser has looked very consistent of late with 1-2-3-2 in the last four races and going into Lommel this coming weekend, he is in a perfect position to extend that lead over Cairoli, who is struggling with minor injuries.

Second overall in Spain after his Mantova victory the Slovenian is showing a lot of maturity as the 2020 championship goes down this final month of the title race and he hunts for his fourth world title.

“I really liked the track in Spain,” Gajser said. “I didn’t have a good start in either race, but I was still able to finish third in race one and second in race two. The second race, I was especially happy with the line I chose for the second corner as I swept all the way from seventh into second. I then tried to push, had some nice lines, and briefly passed Jorge before he passed me back. We stayed together for quite a lot of the race but then I saw that Romain wasn’t so close behind me, so I finished second, for second overall. The championship gap has increased but my focus for Lommel is to go out there and have fun.”

The MXGP class is far from a two-horse race with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jeremy Seewer and Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jorge Prado still looking strong as they continue to impress. Prado might be 50 points behind Gajser, but as we saw when Jeffrey Herlings held a 60-point lead, a crash can change the whole complexity of a title race.

Prado might have gone 1-1 last weekend, but unfortunately red plate owner Tim Gajser went 3-2. What we are seeing from Prado though is the massive challenge he is starting to make on Seewer now for third place in the championship.

“My first 1-1 in MXGP,” Prado said. “I felt I was the best out there and I was really excited when I crossed the finish line. The second race was really good. The first laps were intense with Tim and the track was very technical and a lot of ruts. You had to be very precise and smooth, no mistakes. It was an amazing day. I look forward to going to Lommel now.”

So now in October and November, the period the riders are usually resting up from a tough season, they once again go into battle, and you can count on names like Gajser, Cairoli, Seewer and Prado fighting hard to see who will become the 2020 MXGP champion.

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 13 October 2020 – Infront Moto Racing is delighted about the extension of contract for the MXGP of Russia until 2023, which confirms the FIM Motocross World Championship in Russia for the next three years.

The Russian MXGP has been an important part of the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar over the last several years, producing a warm atmosphere and even better racing. The continuity of the partnership is great news, as motocross continues to grow in Russia.

This season, the Russian Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place on the 7^th of June at the Orlyonok circuit, though due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the event was postponed to a later date and then to 2021 instead.

In most recent years, the Russian GP took place in Orlyonok, with the venue hosting the Junior Motocross World Championship back in 2016 which saw Jago Geerts victorious in the 125cc category, while Rene Hofer won in the 85’s and local hero Kirill Vorobyov winning the 65cc category. The following year the venue made its first appearance on the MXGP calendar, as the event was won by Pauls Jonass in MX2 and Clement Desalle in MXGP.

Since then, the Russian GP has been a regular on the racing calendar and will continue to be for the next three years. Infront Moto Racing is excited to return to Russian in 2021 and continue this wonderful partnership with the Organizer of the MXGP of Russia, the Motorcycle Federation of Russia (MFR).

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP is super excited to continue with the FOX Holeshot competition, that is running throughout the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship season, together with MXGP partner FOX.

The way the competition works is; 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 Spain, it was the home hero, Jorge Prado of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing who dominated the starts, as he went on to claim both FOX Holeshots in the category on his way to two epic race wins, as he led both heats from start to finish.

Meanwhile it MX2, the first FOX Holeshot of the day went to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle who rode strong to take the opening race win, while in the second heat it was Jago Geerts of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2 who led the rest of the field into the first corner.

As it stands, Prado now leads the FOX Holeshot Award standings with 13 points, as he holds a 10-point advantage to Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing’s Ivo Monticelli. Team HRC’s Tim Gajser is in third with two points. The MX2 standings are being led by Vialle who has 14 black plates to his name this season, with Geerts in second with four, followed by his teammate Ben Watson, who has 3.

Watch the FOX Holeshot Films from the MXGP of Spain below. 

MXGP FOX Holeshot Film

MX2 FOX Holeshot Film

iNTU XANADU' - ARROYOMOLINOS (Spain) 11 October 2020 – The return of the Spanish Grand Prix was marked in epic fashion, as home hero, Jorge Prado of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing took the all-important overall victory for the very first time in Spain, as he celebrated two race wins on home soil!

Meanwhile in MX2, fellow Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Tom Vialle, had his own success on the hard-pack circuit, as he made his way to the top step of the podium, with two solid results in the races.

Today was the very first time the MXGP and MX2 riders got their chance to test out the hard-pack circuit here in Arroyomolinos, which shaped up well and created some exciting races.

Jorge Prado started the opening MXGP race with a FOX Holeshot, as he led Romain Febvre of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team, Team HRC’s Mitch Evans. JM Honda Racing’s Dylan Walsh and Gautier Paulin of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing also got a good start as they were running fourth and fifth on the opening lap.

Tim Gajser of Team HRC then pushed his way into the top four, while his teammate passed Febvre for second. Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Seewer didn’t have the best start to the race and was down in 9^th after the first few laps.

Febvre then eventually passed Evans back for second, with Gajser managing to get around his teammate as well, before the Australian crashed out of the race, sustaining a left wrist injury.

Prado then continued to lead the way by 2.361 seconds over Febvre, Gajser and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle, while further down the order, Walsh dropped a few more positions and was down in 11^th.

Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff was having a good ride in 6^th as he applied the pressure onto Paulin. This battle carried on for a couple of laps before Coldenhoff forced his way past the Factory Yamaha rider. Meanwhile Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Seewer were also there in 7^th and 8^th having a fight of their own.

A few laps later, Cairoli made a little mistake which allowed Seewer to close in, though as the Swiss pushed for the pass, a small mistake turned into a big crash. He was able to quickly re-join in 10^th just behind Jeremy Van Horebeek of Honda SR Motoblouz.

Walsh then went out of the race with what looked like a broken chain, all while Coldenhoff was looking for another position, as he got onto the rear wheel of Desalle.

After leading every single lap of the race, Jorge Prado went on to take the first race win, with Febvre finishing second and Gajser third.

In race two, Prado repeated his start success from the first race, as he took another FOX Holeshot and led the way with Seewer and Febvre closely behind him. Gajser though was able to quickly move up into second on the opening lap as he started to push for the win.

Walsh had another good start inside the top 10, though had a big crash which saw him pull out of the second race too, which meant that the JM Honda Racing pilot scored no points this time around.

Coldenhoff then started to push Seewer for fourth, though Seewer was able to respond by setting his fastest lap of the race on the fourth lap. By lap 5, the top 10 included Prado, Gajser, Febvre, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Cairoli, Desalle, Brian Bogers of Marchetti Racing Team KTM, Van Horebeek and Henry Jacobi of Yamaha SM Action MC Migliori J1 Racing.

Prado then continued to put in lap after lap as he led the way by just over 5 seconds, as Gajser looked to have settled for P2 in the race, while the battle was heating up between Coldenhoff and Seewer. The factory GasGas rider, eventually took 4^th from the Swiss rider on lap 13.

There were no changes in positions for the next few laps, and in the end, Jorge Prado went to take his first ever 1-1, to end the day in a perfect way, as he took the overall on home soil. Gajser crossed the line in 2^nd, while Febvre finished third.

The podium looked exactly the same as the second race, as Prado took his second GP victory of the season, while Gajser made it his 8^th podium, with Febvre making his 3^rd podium of the year.

As it stands, Tim Gajser will now head to Belgium with a 24-point advantage to Antonio Cairoli, while Jeremy Seewer is a further 21 points behind.

Jorge Prado: “It’s a dream for all of us, Spanish guys. Winning in Spain or winning in your home country is always very special. It’s a pity we didn’t have the spectators but anyway to win on home soil it’s still incredible. After the last race in Mantova, I really did some training again, I’m making progress every week and that you can see in my racing so, I’m heading in a good direction and yeah it was just a perfect day”.

“I’m getting closer [in the championship]. I started the season not that great but now I’m getting in shape and getting faster so hopefully in Lommel we can get some points” Prado added.

Tim Gajser: “It was a good day actually; I was enjoying it and I really liked the track in Spain. I didn’t get a good start in both races. The first one I finished third and then the second one, I was seventh out of the gate and by the second corner I was able to make many passes. I then caught Jorge [Prado] and tried to push, I had some nice lines where I was catching him, and I even passed him at one moment, but he passed me back. Then we were quite close together, but then is saw that Romain [Febvre] was not so close and then I finished second. Second overall so I am happy”.

“I’m really looking forward [to Lommel]. There’s still many races to go and of course Lommel is one of the toughest races, so I will give my best and try to be consistent, take some good starts and enjoy”.

Romain Febvre: “It was a good day for us. We managed to sort the starts now so I had really good starts today. I think in Faenza it was the first GP for me on hard pack and for sure it was tough to come back. But now we are there, so for sure it makes the race easier. First race I finished second, I was behind Prado and he was faster. The second race, I had a good start, but Tim [Gajser] passed me two corners later and then I was just third. But they were faster in the second race. For sure I am happy to go to Lommel, last year I almost won and for sure I will do my best.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:13.277; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:07.125; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:09.513; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:16.409; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:17.950; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:31.813; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:37.419; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:41.385; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:49.693; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:54.604;

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:32.685; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:04.455; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:17.405; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:21.940; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:27.027; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:29.646; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:35.318; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:40.176; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:43.221; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:46.577;

MXGP - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 42 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 42 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 34 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 32 p.; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 29 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 26 p.; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 24 p.

MXGP – Top 10 World Championship Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 441 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 417 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 396 p.; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 391 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 375 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 346 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 311 p.; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 294 p.; 9. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 263 p.; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 248 p.

MXGP - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 539 points; 2. Honda, 478 p.; 3. Yamaha, 449 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 415 p.; 5. GASGAS, 389 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 281 p.;

Main Photo: Jorge Prado

Bottom Photos: 1. Tim Gajser; 2. Romain Febvre

As the gate dropped for the first MX2 race of the day, Tom Vialle put his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine out in front, as he led Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton and Thomas Kjer Olsen, along with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jago Geerts.

F&H Kawasaki Racing’s Mathys Boisrame had a good start followed by a tough moment as he crashed twice and would pull out of the race after the first lap.

Vialle then started to come under pressure from Beaton who was keen to go for the win, while his teammate, Olsen, was right there as well, and getting onto the back wheel of the Aussie. This close battle between the top three would carry on for the entire race.

SDM Corse Yamaha rider Ruben Fernandez had a tough race, as he would not do more than a single lap, after an issue with his bike. This was a tough pill to swallow for the Spaniard, who was hoping for a chance to fight for the podium during his home GP.

Back with the leaders Vialle continued to lead Beaton and Olsen, while Geerts was there in fourth. Maxime Renaux of Yamaha SM Action MC Migliori J1 Racing was in 5^th, just ahead of Roan Van de Moosdijk, rider for F&H Kawasaki Racing, who was starting to push for higher positions.

With 16 minutes on the clock, Beaton was able to briefly find a way past Vialle, who was quick to respond. Geerts then crashed out of 4^th, to re-join in 6^th just behind Hitachi KTM Fuelled by Milwaukee rider Conrad Mewse. Meanwhile, Privateer Ashton Dickinson was having a great rider in the top 10, though he was caught by Husqvarna Junior Racing Maddii’s Alberto Forato, and eventually finished the race in 15^th.

Geerts then put on a charge to pass Mewse, though after several failed attempts, Mewse was able to find a bit of breathing room from the Belgian, as he held on to fourth.

Back at the font there was no big changes until 3 laps to go, when Olsen was able to find a way past Beaton, while Vialle held a steady gap to the pair and would eventually bring home the win in race one. Olsen confirmed his second place, with Beaton third.

In the second race, it was Jago Geerts who grabbed the FOX Holeshot and was followed by his teammate, Watson. Though Vialle wasted no time to make a move for the lead, and at the same time Fernandez took 3^rd from Watson.

Beaton had a problem out of the start and came around the first lap in dead last. Mewse then went down on the opening lap and would fall to last as well, behind Beaton.

While Vialle led the race one again, Fernandez and Renaux were having a great battle for 4^th. It looked like Renaux was giving it his all, though he still couldn’t find a way through.

Beaton though was making a good comeback as he moved into the top 10 with 18 minutes plus 2 laps to go.

As the race progressed, Vialle and Geerts were putting in fast laps, lap after lap, but Geerts still managed to find an extra inch, in order to get on to the back wheel of the Frenchman at one point. But Vialle was able to respond pretty quickly, as he upped his game and set another fastest lap of the race as he extended his lead.

Olsen, keen to make up positions after a tough start to the race, was trying to get around Watson for 6^th. The two had a close battle until the flag dropped, with Watson holding on to the position.

There was drama towards the end of the race, as Vialle led the way by 3.693 seconds with just 3 laps to go, and would stall his bike moments later, which allowed Geerts to steal the win. Luckily, Vialle only lost one position as he got going before Van de Moosdijk got around him.

In the end, it was Geerts who won the race, with Vialle second and Van de Moosdijk finishing third. Meanwhile, Spanish rider, Ruben Fernandez had a great race to finish in fourth. And despite the mistake in the second race, Tom Vialle was the overall GP winner, with Jago Geerts finishing second and Thomas Kjer Olsen taking to the third step of the box – his fourth consecutive podium.

Tom Vialle: “I don’t know, I was very comfortable with the bike but then bike stopped, and I took a little bit of time to start it again. But I was happy with my riding, I was feeling really comfortable in race two and the whole weekend. Actually, it was a really good day for the championship and now I’m only focused on the next races in Lommel in the sand and I’m happy. I feel really good because as you know is two years that I live there in Belgium, and I ride a lot in the sand”.

Jago Geerts: “Yeah it was a good day, I was second and Tom [Vialle] crashed in the corner in front of me so I took the chance and then I was riding pretty good but I made some mistakes; for sure the riding could have been better. In the second race I took the holeshot and after Tom passed me. I tried to chase him, but I made some mistakes; so finally, I’m quite happy with the final results and now I’m focused on Lommel. It’s always a pleasure to go to your home track and especially in Lommel that is really close to my house and we are looking to get the best result there”.

Thomas Kjer Olsen: “About the podium I’m feeling really good but I’m not so happy about the second race because I made many mistakes and it was difficult to find the good speed. I could have done more in the second race but finally I’m happy for the podium for myself and for the team. I feel really good about my results, I’m feeling more and more comfortable, I think that I can lead every round now; I feel that I’m almost back on the top of my fitness now and the feeling to go racing is amazing”.

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 34:50.753; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:01.273; 3. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:03.830; 4. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:14.347; 5. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:18.546; 6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:22.818; 7. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +0:23.369; 8. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:45.316; 9. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:48.114; 10. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:54.709.

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), 35:11.576; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:08.515; 3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:15.395; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:19.349; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:23.613; 6. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:24.625; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:28.744; 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +0:47.004; 9. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +0:56.900; 10. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:58.542.

MX2 - GP Top 10 Classification: 1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 47 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 41 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 36 p.; 4. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 33 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 31 p.; 6. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 31 p.; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 26 p.; 10. Isak Gifting (SWE, GAS), 23 p.

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 525 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 473 p.; 3. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 379 p.; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 372 p.; 5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 347 p.; 6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 326 p.; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 314 p.; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 279 p.; 9. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, KAW), 234 p.; 10. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, YAM), 226 p.

MX2 - Manufacturers Classification: 1. KTM, 541 points; 2. Yamaha, 535 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 437 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 408 p.; 5. Honda, 271 p.; 6. GASGAS, 171 p.

Main Photo: Tom Vialle

Bottom Photos: 1. Jago Geerts; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen

Click here to obtain the complete results

All the photos from the MXGP of Spain will be available HERE

MXGP of Spain – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1720m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 19°

Weather conditions: sunny

NEXT STOP

The next stop of the FIM Motocross World Championship is taking place in Lommel in a week time as the Monster Energy MXGP of Flanders.

LINKS

Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP of Spain