In the most gruelling of racing environments, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP's newest recruit, Andrea Bonacorsi, made a splash at the fifth round of the MXGP World Championship in Agueda, Portugal, powering his YZ450FM through the mire to start his MXGP career on the cusp of the top-five!
A damp and drizzly week leading into the Portuguese Grand Prix turned torrential just two laps into the opening MXGP race on Sunday afternoon, transforming Agueda's distinctive orange soil into an unforgiving quagmire of mud and muck. The combination of deep ruts and slippery sections tested the skills of even the most seasoned MXGP riders in the world. For 'Bona', as a newcomer to the MXGP class, his 450cc debut could not have been under more challenging circumstances.
{Go inside the MXGP of Portugal raw and unfiltered with Bona during his MXGP debut and the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 team as they storm to a season-best double podium finish with Rick Elzinga and Thibault Benistant finishing second and third, respectively.}
"Moving up to the MXGP class was the biggest decision of my life," Bonacorsi explained. "The Hutten crew were like a family to me, and after Race Two in Arco where I showed that I can run up front, it was difficult to move to MXGP. But when I thought about it, I love riding a 450. The bike! I love it. It suits me much better because of my physique and how big I am, so I can enjoy riding a lot more on the YZ450FM, and I know I can show what I am capable of in the MXGP class on this bike for sure!" he flexed.
Following a strong showing of speed and potential in practice and qualifying, the heavens opened during MXGP Race One, with rain continuing to fall heavily on and off throughout the day, turning the spectacular Agueda circuit into an ugly brown mud bath. With each lap, the track changed, becoming more unpredictable and demanding. The deep ruts turned into tyre traps, threatening to swallow the bikes with every attempt to navigate them. Maintaining balance and finding the perfect line became an unavoidable risk, where a single wrong move could result in a mistake or loss of valuable time. Many riders did not survive; however, the rookie, Bonacorsi, handled it like a veteran, finishing his first-ever MXGP race in sixth.
Race Two required not only physical strength but also mental fortitude. The brutal conditions had the potential to shake the confidence of even the most experienced riders. Remaining focused despite reduced visibility, Bonacorsi showed he could adapt quickly; although he made a few mistakes, as did most of MXGP's elite, he charged home in eighth to secure sixth overall.
"I have to be happy with what I achieved in my first GP as an MXGP rider," Bonacorsi smiled. "I mean, to make the switch from MX2 to MXGP here, with not the easiest track conditions and I still managed sixth overall, I'm very happy with that."
"Andrea's first MXGP race with the team and on the YZ450FM was impressive," Yamaha Motor Europe's Off-Road Racing Manager Alexandre Kowalski applauded. "It was quite impressive that he was this strong and consistent in such challenging conditions. I am looking forward to seeing him confirm his place in, hopefully, drier conditions in races to come. But this was a good debut for him, a good start to his MXGP career, and good for the team as they build their relationship together."
LUGO (Galicia, Spain) 9 May 2024 – In the second of three straight weekends of incredible action, the MXGPMotocross World Championship comes to you from a brand-new venue in north-western Spain, the home town of one of the brightest stars in the series, near the city of Lugo for the MXGP of Galicia!
The last time we were on Spanish soil, reigning MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado enjoyed a perfect weekend of pure domination for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing and he will be happy with nothing less than a repeat of that event, when he won all three races at intu Xanadu Arroyomolinos in March and never saw a competitor ahead of him!
Since then, Team HRC’s Tim Gajser has taken over the lead of the MXGP World Championship, while Romain Febvre for Kawasaki Racing Team and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing talisman Jeffrey Herlings all took advantage of the mud in Portugal to further their causes. The Slovenian sits just 12 points ahead of the Spaniard heading to the Circuito Municipal Jorge Prado. Yes, the track is even named after the Champ and his home town fans will surely make the atmosphere red hot at Lugo!
The MX2 World Championship is being led by teenage Dutch star Kay de Wolf for Nestaan Husqvarna Fartory Racing, but Liam Everts has charged up to 3rd in the standings for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with his perfect weekend in Portugal and will be looking to continue his surge towards the top! Title chasers and hard-pack lovers Thibault Benistant and reigning Champion Andrea Adamo will also be relishing the chance to get stuck into some Spanish soil!
Local station TV Galicia, who is broadcasting the series all year, will be LIVE and onsite to follow their local heroes, and our regular television partners worldwide will continue their outstanding coverage of the incredible action from this series.
Below you can find a list of TV channels that will air LIVE and delayed action of the MXGP of Galicia, as well as the 26-minute Behind The Gate magazine show featuring the best moments from the races, exclusive interviews and more. All of this footage will be available on MXGP-TV.com and via our TV magazine partners following the Grand Prix.
As always, MXGP fans can follow the races LIVE throughout the weekend. All you need to do is log onto www.MXGP-TV.com Saturday and Sunday, from wherever you are in the world. Come and join us for what is building up to be an incredible 2024!
USA CANADA
CBS Sports Network
Sunday May 12 th 2024 – WMX Race 2 – 20:00 ET – Delayed
Sunday May 12 th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 21:00 ET – Delayed
Sunday May 12 th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 22:00 ET – Delayed
LATIN AMERICA
Direct TV
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
BRAZIL
Bandsports
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
MEXICO
FOX SPORTS Mexico
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
EUROPE
EUROSPORT 2
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
BELGIUM
PLAY SPORTS OPEN
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
ESTONIA
Go3
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
FINLAND
MAX
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 18:00 – Finnish timing - LIVE
FRANCE
AUTOMOTO TV LA CHAINE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
LA CHAINE L’EQUIPE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 16:20 CET – Delayed
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:10 CET - LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1&2– 18:00 CET – Delayed
EUROSPORT 2
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
ITALY
RAI SPORT
Monday May 13th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 00:50 CET – Delayed
Monday May 13th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 01:50 CET - Delayed
RAI SPORT Play
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE Stream
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream
EUROSPORT 2
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
LATVIA
TV3 Sport Open
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
LITHUANIA
Go3
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
NETHERLAND
NOS
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 18:00 CET – LIVE`
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE Stream
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET – LIVE Stream
SLOVENIA
Sport TV1
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
SPAIN
TV Galicia
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
ASIA
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
EUROSPORT ASIA
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
INDIA and Subcontinent (Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives)
VIACOM - Jio Cinema
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 17:30 IST – Streaming
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 18:30 IST – Streaming
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 20:30 IST – Streaming
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 21:30 IST – Streaming
INDONESIA
CHAMPIONS TV
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
VIDIO
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 13:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 14:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 16:00 CET – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 17:00 CET - LIVE
PACIFIC / AUSTRALIA
STAN SPORTS
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 1 – 21:00 AEST – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MXGP Race 1 – 22:00 AEST – LIVE
Sunday May 12th 2024 – MX2 Race 2 – 00:00 AEST – LIVE
Monday May 13th 2024 – MXGP Race 2 – 01:00 AEST - LIVE
26min Behind-the-Gate Magazine Partners:
AMERICA
Latin America Direct TV Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm
Mexico FOX Sports Thursday after each MXGP 8:30pm
USA BEiN USA TBA
EUROPE
Albania GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Austria GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Baltics TV3 Sport Open Thursday after each MXGP
Belgium Play sports tba
Belgium SPORT TEN tba
Bosnia GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Croatia GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Finland MTV During the week after the event
Hungary GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Kosovo GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Montenegro GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Northern Macedonia GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Portugal SPORT TV Tuesday after the event
Romania Look Sport Wednesday after each event
Serbia GP1 Thursday after each event at 20:15
Slovenia Sport TV Tuesday after the event
INDIA and Subcontinent (Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives)
VIACOM 18 Wednesday after the event
INDONESIA Champions TV
Moji
Vidio
AUSTRALIA
Australia Stan Sport Wednesday after each event
WORLDWIDE
Worldwide Motorvision During the week after the event
Worldwide Redbull TV Race Craft and Vlog
Worldwide YouTube – MXGP TV 16 days after the event
MXGP of Galicia LIVE MXGP-TV.COM Timetable
Local Time/CEST
Start
Finish
Saturday
Studio Show
12.00
12.30
WMX Race 1
14.50
15:35
EMX125 Race 1
15:40
16:20
MX2 RAM Qualifying
16:25
17:10
MXGP RAM Qualifying
17:15
17:50
Sunday
EMX125 Race 2
09:35
10:30
WMX Race 2
11:20
12:00
MX2 Race 1
13:00
14:00
MXGP Race 1
14:00
15:00
MX2 race 2
16:00
17:00
MXGP Race 2
17:00
18:00
TIMETABLE
SATURDAY: 08:20 WMX Free practice, 08:50 EMX125 Free practice Group 1, 09:20 EMX125 Free practice Group 2, 09:50 WMX Qualifying practice, 10:30 MX2 Time Practice, 11:00 MXGP Free Practice, 12:30 EMX125 Qualifying practice Group 1, 13:05 EMX125 Qualifying practice Group 2, 13:40 MX2 Time Practice, 14:15 MXGP Time Practice, 15:00 WMX Race 1, 15:45 EMX125 Race 1, 16:35 MX2 RAM Qualifying Race, 17:25 MXGP RAM Qualifying Race.
MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 8 May 2024 – It’s just a short drive for the teams this week from the MXGP of Portugal, as the FIM Motocross World Championship explores the new venue of the Circuito Municipal Jorge Prado near the city of Lugo in the north-west corner of Spain for the MXGP of Galicia. And yes, you read that correctly, the circuit is named after the reigning MXGP World Champion, and that’s because it is located in the area where he grew up and first threw his leg over a motorcycle!
Lugo will become the 18th circuit in Spain to host a Motocross Grand Prix, but the first in the historic Galicia region. The nearest previous MXGP circuit was La Baneza, where Antonio Cairoli and Ken Roczen won back in 2011. The five most recent events in Spain have all been at Intu Xanadu Arroyomolinos, including the second round of the 2024 series which was a perfect weekend for Jorge Prado and Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing in MXGP, with Kay De Wolf taking the victory there in MX2 for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing.
The WMX Women’s World Motocross Championship will rejoin the tour for its third round, and the series has been a brilliant one so far with victory on home ground for RFME GASGAS Juniors MX Team’s Daniela Guillen in round one, followed by a stunning win in Sardegna for the De Baets Yamaha Team rider Lotte van Drunen. The pair are locked together in a tie for the Championship lead, and once more the Spanish rider will have a home crowd to cheer her on! Van Drunen, as the most recent race winner, will carry the red plate, and she also loves the atmosphere when she is racing against the home hero! Lynn Valk will also be trying to break the deadlock of the top two after finishing behind them in third at each of the first two rounds.
The EMX125 Championship Presented by FMF series continues with its fourth round of the season, with Fantic Factory Racing EMX125 rider Noel Zanocz from Hungary holding a slender 8-point Championship lead over Racestore KTM Factory Rookies star Gyan Doensen. Spain’s Salvador Perez holds third for the RFME GASGAS MX Junior Team.
The reigning MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado heads to his home town with a white plate fitted to his Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing machine, for the first time since the opening round, after losing the series lead to Team HRC’s Tim Gajser in Portugal. A tough day in the mud for all concerned, but especially Prado, sees the Slovenian with a 14-point gap that the local hero will urgently be looking to hack down and reassert his authority. Kawasaki Racing Team leader Romain Febvre now lies just 18 points further back in third, with Jeffrey Herlings in fourth, another 22 behind the Frenchman. The worrying thing about Portugal for the rest of the pack was that the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing legend seems to be back in a winning mood after taking the chequered flag in race two, and he is starting to get his season together.
After taking his first Grand Prix victory for six years in Portugal, Pauls Jonass lies in fifth place in the series for Standing Construct Honda MXGP, just six behind The Bullet and intent on his mission to stay consistent.
Overall the top contenders have had varied success in Spain, as Herlings has the most among them with 4 victories, two in each class, whereas Prado has two wins, both at Xanadu. Tim Gajser has to look back to his first MXGP title year in 2016 for his only win on Spanish soil, at Talavera de la Reina, but Febvre has yet to win a GP on the entire Iberian Peninsula! The two other winners in Spain that line up for MXGP this weekend include Jonass at Red Sand in 2018, and Valentin Guillod of Team Ship-to-Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR, who won the MX2 class at Talavera in 2015!
As the MXGP of Portugal has proven, Motocross is massively unpredictable and as we move into the second quarter of the season, the anticipated battle between the giants of the sport in MXGP is well and truly still on!
Although Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing pilot Kay de Wolf has faced adversity in the previous two rounds of the MX2 World Championship, after winning the first three, he still carries the red plate heading to Galicia. The big question at the top of MX2 is how soon we will see the return of second-placed Simon Laengenfelder of the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing team, as the unfortunate German broke his collarbone in race two at Agueda. The gap at the top is now 30 points, with another 28 going back to the dominant Portugal winner Liam Everts, who has rocketed up the order for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing after missing the opening round due to a pre-season thumb injury. That’s what two GP wins on the bounce will do for you!
Everts lies just three points ahead of Thibault Benistant, in fourth for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, then it’s only 14 more back to De Wolf’s teammate Lucas Coenen. Reigning MX2 World Champion Andrea Adamo has been shuffled back to sixth place, and now lies 78 behind the leader. After a fine 2nd overall in Portugal, Benistant’s teammate Rick Elzinga has jumped up from 9th to 7th in the standings.
If Laengenfelder, who won at Xanadu in 2023, doesn’t line up this weekend, then De Wolf would be the only one to race in MX2 at Lugo with a previous win in Spain on his record. That was, of course, the second round of this year’s series.
Whilst the title contenders are more spread out in MX2 than in MXGP, the action on track has been hectic and action-packed all year, and it would take bravery from anybody to predict a winner at this brand new circuit!
MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 246 Points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 216 Points; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 188 Pts; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 185 Pts; 5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 171 Pts;. 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 168 Pts; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 159 Pts; 8. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 154 Pts; 9. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI). 126 Pts; 10. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 104 Pts;
Top Photo: MX2 Start 2024
Bottom Photos: 1. Liam Everts; 2. Rick Elzinga
Don’t miss your chance to watch the MXGP action from Galicia this weekend. Get your tickets HERE! and VIP HERE!
All the photos from the MXGP of Galicia will be available HERE.
Infront Moto Racing has confirmed last week that the FIM Motocross World Championship will fly to Darwin in Australia in 2025 as part of the season calendar. It’s now official, 24 years on from its last visit, that MXGP will rip it up down under!
With the Northern Territory Government backing and supporting the event, it was the perfect opportunity for Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo to officialise the new addition to the MXGP calendar with a trip to Australia to meet the organizers, NT Major Events and Northern Territory officials in an historic and exciting moment for MXGP in Australia as well as the Motocross World Championship. Mr Luongo also had the chance to meet with young Australian talents during the official meeting.
Australia has a long history with Motocross having organised its first major international Motocross event in 1992 for the Motocross des Nations at Manjimup near Perth, Western Australia. The USA won with Billy Liles, Mike LaRocco, and Jeff Emig, and it was the famous last world-class motocross races of Jean-Michel Bayle.
It was then in 2001 that the last Australian Grand Prix took place, and will all three classes (125cc, 250cc, 500cc), near Melbourne in Broadford with great winners by the names of James Dobb, Mickael Pichon, and Stefan Everts, who were the Champions of that year. The World Junior Championships also came to Australia in 2018 at Horsham.
Many Aussie riders passed through the ranks in Europe and the FIM Motocross World Championship throughout the years including, the most successful, the late Andrew McFarlane with 4 GP wins across 2004 and 2005 in MX2. There were also the current stars in the US, Jett and Hunter Lawrence, who competed in EMX for Jett and EMX and MX2 for Hunter while Chad Reed, Dean Ferris and Jeff Leisk all won Grands Prix in the FIM Motocross World Championship.
With this history, the comeback of Australia in the Championship calendar, is excellent news, with many Australian fans finally being able to see the best riders in the world and show their passion for this sport.
Main Photo: (Left to Right) Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Suzana Bishop, Northern Territory Major Events Company Board Member Penny Priest, Northern Territory Minister for Sport Kate Worden, Territory rider Liam Walsh, Northern Territory Minister for Major Events Brent Potter, Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo.
Bottom Photo: Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo with young Australian talents
MONACO (Principailty of Monaco) 6 May 2024 – The 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship is coming back from a rainy Grand Prix to go straight into the first MXGP of Galicia in Lugo on the 11th and 12th of May.
Checkout the Timetable and Entry Lists for the MXGP of Galicia below:
AGUEDA (Portugal) 05 May 2024 – The MXGP of Portugal saw the most challenging weather of the 2024 season yet, even more than it did for Saturday’s RAM Qualifying Races. The distinctive red dirt of the Crossodromo Internacional de Agueda continued to take a battering from the weather, and it put a chaotic spin on the established order of the series so far!
MXGP saw a monumental battle between the two five-time World Champions, Team HRC’sTim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing man Jeffrey Herlings, and the pair shared the two race wins. However, the jubilant overall victor was Pauls Jonass, who took second in both races to top the podium for Standing Construct Honda MXGP!
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrated a stunning win for Liam Everts in a mud masterclass that begun from the first drop of the gate, and apart from a few yards of race two the Belgian led the racing throughout the day as he completed his first maximum point haul for his fifth Grand Prix win. He has now climbed the standings up to an amazing third place after missing the opening round of the season!
HIGHLIGHTS - MXGP OF PORTUGAL
Reigning MXGP World Champion and red plate holder Jorge Prado suffered his worst start of the season yet for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing in race one,as Gajser claimed his first Fox Holeshot Award of the campaignso far. Romain Febvre started in second for the Kawasaki Racing Team, but Jeffrey Herlings fought hard to advance to the lead, and took it with a stunning first lap move on Gajser!
The Slovenian was not letting it go, however, and as the rain lashed down on the best fight of the season so far, two of the most successful Motocross riders of all-time swapped the lead back and forth! At the end of lap four, series leader Prado hit the soaking wet ground before the finish line jump to drop out of fourth place! After stopping to change both goggles and gloves, the reigning Champion came home in an eventual 15th position.
All eyes, however, were on the battle for the lead, and on lap six it was the Honda man that made the move, firing around the outside of Herlings in decisive fashion! Jeffrey wasn’t done however, and started to get close to Gajser again, until suddenly his machine came to a stop and the frustrated Dutchman had to walk back to the pits with no points to show for his best performance of the year so far.
Febvre was lurking for the entire race but a mistake before the finish line jump, within sight of the chequered flag, cost him second place to a consistent Jonass right at the end of race one! Fantic Factory Racing duo Glenn Coldenhoff and Brian Bogers completed the top five in a great race for the team. Gajser’s win and Prado’s 15th meant that the Slovenian had taken the lead in the points table and was ahead by 12!
By race two, after extensive track work from the hard-working crew, the rain had eased slightly, but that only served to thicken up the mud and make it stick to the bikes! Gajser looked like he had grabbed the holeshot, but the Honda slid out from under him through the first corner, and he was clipped by Febvre on the way down! This meant he had to stop a few laps in to tear off a flapping front mudguard. Ultimately, he worked forward from 15th to 10th place at the flag.
Just as the fortune swung Prado’s way as he collected his seventh Fox Holeshot Award of the year, the Spaniard then hit the ground himself heading down the hill to the third corner! Looking in pain and not enjoying the conditions, the red plate was gone, and a recovery to 12th leaves him 14 points behind Gajser as they head to his home race at Lugo next weekend!
Meanwhile, Herlings had taken command and settled into a dominant rhythm that meant he couldn’t be caught. He won the 195th Grand Prix race of his career by 23.5 seconds from a thrilled Jonass, who had held onto second throughout. Febvre was a solid third, but got cross-rutted and fell on lap nine, losing the position to privateer Cornelius Toendel on the Schmicker Racing KTM! Febvre did briefly make a pass on the Norwegian, but Toendel didn’t let it go and passed the Frenchman back immediately, bringing it home for a wildly-celebrated third place finish!
Jonass’ victory was his 12th in Grand Prix racing, but his first in the MXGP class. His last victory had come nearly six whole years ago in MX2, and it was also the first MXGP victory for an independent team since Standing Construct won with Bogers back in July 2022! He moves to within six points of 4th-placed Herlings, with Febvre third, 18 behind Prado and 32 behind new leader Gajser.
The fight is still on!
Pauls Jonass: “This year, our main goal was to be consistent, enjoy my riding, enjoy racing. We work very hard in the winter time with the team and we improved a lot from last year and it’s paying off as, you can see the results! Now, it’s staying consistent! I really enjoyed the mud today. I have to give a massive shout out to all the team, the sponsors and the supporters, my wife at home and I look forward to go home!
Romain Febvre:“I wouldn’t say that I stayed out of trouble this weekend but you know it was really tough condition, tough to ride for everybody. I took two good starts and in race 1 I was behind Tim (Gajser) and battled with him but with one lap to go, I passed the finish line and crashed, full of mud …crashed again before the finish line and lost the second place there. Then in the second race I hope Tim is okay after the start as he slid in front of me and I couldn’t avoid him entirely but in the end, I got third so I’m a bit disappointed as I feel I could have made it but overall picture it is very good for the championship“
Main Photo: Pauls Jonass on the Podium
Top Photo: Pauls Jonass
Bottom Photos: 1. Romain Febvre; 2. Tim Gajser
MXGP - Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 36:39.323; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:43.860; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:13.584; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +2:31.670; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +2:34.973; 6. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +3:40.726; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), -1 lap(s); 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 9. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), -1 lap(s)
MXGP - Race 2 - Top 10 Classification 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 38:10.525; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:23.566; 3. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), +0:26.802; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:41.415; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +1:27.318; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:36.669; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:59.540; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +2:09.959; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +2:14.879; 10. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +2:37.624;
MXGP Overall - Top 10 Classification: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 44 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 38 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 36 p.; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 30 p.; 5. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 28 p.; 7. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 26 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 26 p.; 9. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Alvin Östlund (SWE, HON), 20 p
MXGP World Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 252 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 238 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 220 p.; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 198 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 192 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 157 p.; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 151 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 149 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 108 p.; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 92 p
The conditions caused some serious problems for the MX2 pack and their hard-working smaller engines, but for Liam Everts it was just another day of Trials bike training as he spent most of the race up on the footpegs and picking his way through the morass in a stunning display of controlled riding.
Taking his first Fox Holeshot of the season in race one, Everts was tailed by Rick Elzinga, the Dutchman relishing the soft going for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2, and championship chaser Simon Laengenfelder for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing. Lucas Coenen tried a move on the German but the front wheel of the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing machine dug in and he crashed for the first time, but certainly not the last!
His teammate Kay de Wolf was in a better position than on Saturday and picked his way steadily forward in the race. By lap nine, the series leader had got past his countryman Elzinga, and only lost two points to Laengenfelder by finishing third behind the GASGAS man. Behind Elzinga came his teammate Thibault Benistant, after a thrilling late battle with Andrea Adamo, who dropped his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing bike on the last lap after tangling with a lapped rider, but still finished sixth!
In race two, Everts was just beaten to the Fox Holeshot Award by Elzinga, but it didn’t last long as the Belgian eased into the lead through the second corner. JM Honda Racing man Hakon Osterhagen started well, but Adamo was down in a quagmire early on and could only recover to 7th.
Laengenfelder had advanced to second, looking like the only rider with a chance of matching Everts, but hit the ground hard on the first lap and immediately clutched his collarbone as he got back up. His race was over, and we await further news from the team about his participation at Lugo.
Osterhagen was in a strong second despite some ragged moments, but on lap eight the Norwegian fell down the order, finishing 19th for 14th overall. Elzinga brought the Yamaha home in a solid second, good enough for second overall, again just ahead of his teammate Benistant. The Frenchman had battled with Lucas Coenen and surprise package Jens Walvoort on the SB Racing KTM, but would finish fourth at the close. Third would go to Monster Energy Triumph Racing’s sole campaigner Mikkel Haarup, who lost his teammate Camden McLellan to injury on Saturday.
Walvoort was the last rider to not be lapped by Everts at the close, and his 10-5 finishes would be enough for 6th overall behind Adamo! De Wolf had struggled all race and would come home in 9th, but Laengenfelder’s DNF leaves him with a 30-point lead in the standings, while Everts has incredibly risen to third, 58 points behind the Dutchman!
With the first quarter of the Championships already completed, the series heads around 400 km north to the new venue of Lugo, where Jorge Prado’s army of fans will look to cheer him back to the ownership of the red plate, whilst MX2 remains as wild and unpredictable as ever!
Liam Everts:“It’s a real dream come true to get a double race win, and maximum points with the RAM Qualifying also. It’s something really special. It’s an iconic venue again where my dad won many times. It’s cool, you know, I’m stoked and I couldn’t do that alone. Thanks to my family, the group around me and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing”
Rick Elzinga:“It is amazing and I’m very happy to get my first podium. I feel great right now! These conditions were tough but I grew up riding in the forest in conditions sometimes similar to trial so I feel that is a skill that helped today for sure!
Thibault Benistant:“To be on the podium for the second time in a row is a great achievement. Mainly as I still don’t feel entirely free n the bike. It’s positive to see that I can still get good results and important as the season is long and consistency is vital but I really hope I can ride exactly as I want very soon.”
Main Photo: Liam Everts
Bottom Photos: 1. Rick Elzinga; 2. Thibault Benistant
MX2 - Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 35:04.844; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:05.880; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:33.021; 4. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:43.476; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:48.204; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:02.909; 7. Hakon Osterhagen (NOR, Honda), +1:44.217; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +2:26.182; 9. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 10. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s)
MX2 – Race 2 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 38:19.181; 2. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +1:21.173; 3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +2:25.313; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +2:28.797; 5. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), +2:50.885; 6. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 8. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 9. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 10. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), -1 lap(s)
MX2 Overall - Top 10 Classification: 1. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 50 points; 2. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 40 p.; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 34 p.; 4. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 32 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), 27 p.; 7. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 27 p.; 8. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 23 p.; 9. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 22 p.; 10. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 18 p.
MX2 World Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 246 points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 216 p.; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 188 p.; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 185 p.; 5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 171 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 168 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 159 p.; 8. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 154 p.; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 126 p.; 10. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 104 p
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