Motocross

2020 FIM Motocross World Championship concludes with the MXGP of Garda Trentino

Posted:

Monday, November 9th, 2020

5:49 AM

The newly introduced trophy signifies a brand-new tradition in the world championship, paying homage to all the past, present and future world champions of the premier MXGP class.

2020 FIM Motocross World Championship concludes with the MXGP of Garda Trentino Tim Gajser and Ben Watson have concluded the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championships in the perfect way with both finishing the season on the top step of the podium with a class wins at the MXGP of Garda Trentino.

The MXGP races today saw some very nice battles, especially between Gajser and Romain Febvre, who challenged the 4-time world Champions in both of the heats, one of which he won.

Gajser finished the 2020 season with his 5th Grand Prix victory, with a 2-1 result. The race win in the second heat, his 15th race win of the season, gave him the advantage over Febvre, for the top step of the podium.

Febvre was forced to settled for second, after a race win in the opening heat, that saw him chase down Gajser, before passing him on lap 6 and the leading the race until the end, to take his second race win of the year. Then in race two, the Kawasaki rider worked hard to get around a couple of riders before catching up to Gajser once again, though this time he could not make a pass stick and eventually dropped the gap, to finish the race in second.

It was also a special day for Gautier Paulin who lined up for his last MXGP race of his professional racing career. The Frenchman battled well inside the top 5 in both heats and finished race one in 4th and race two in 3rd position, after a battle with his teammates Jeremy Seewer and Arnaud Tonus. He also claimed the third step on the podium, his second podium this season, on his final GP.

Additionally, Clement Desalle and Tanel Leok also took part in their final MXGP of their careers, with Desalle narrowly missing out on a podium spot, as he was tied on points with Seewer in 5th, and Leok finishing 21st overall.

Tim Gajser once again delivered yet another Grand Prix overall win ‰ÛÒ repaying his team of dedicated professional crew as the 2020 season closed its doors for the final time.

With Gajser crowned as world champion at the previous round, this left the door open for second and third in the championship standings, which was to be decided between Seewer and Antonio Cairoli.

Seewer had a strong first race, starting well inside the top 5 and then worked hard to get past his teammate, Tonus, for third. While Seewer finished third, Cairoli placed 6th in the race, which gave Seewer a one-point advantage heading into race two. As the gate dropped for the second heat, Seewer was able to get another good start and squeeze into the lead, before being passed by Gajser, Febvre and then eventually Paulin.

Cairoli had a dramatic start to the second race, which saw him pushed out wide in the first corner, as he hit the bank, which as a result caused unrepairable damage to his bike and forced him out of the race, meaning he could not fight for the silver medal. All while Seewer had another strong race to finish 4th and cement himself as this year‰Ûªs vice world champion, for the second season in a row.

Frenchman Gautier Paulin celebrated the end of an incredible career on the third step of the MXGP podium.

So, in terms of the podium it was Gajser who was victorious at the final round here at the MXGP of Garda Trentino, while Febvre finished second and Paulin third. While in the championship standings, it‰Ûªs Gajser who claimed this year‰Ûªs title, over Seewer who finished second for the second year in a row, and Cairoli third in the standings.

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm super happy to win my fourth title on Wednesday. Today the goal was to just go out there and have fun and we did that; we won the last overall of the year," Gajser said. "So, couldn‰Ûªt end better. I am so thankful. I want to say a huge thanks to everyone, to all my team, we were really working hard, and everybody was putting so much effort into preparing the bike, getting better and better. The beginning of the season, in March when we did the two GPs in Valkenswaard and in Matterley Basin, it was good but then we had the long break and then when we returned, I wasn‰Ûªt feeling so good, I was struggling. But now, the last couple of GPs I started to find good speed and started to put consistent races together and win the title, so I‰Ûªm super happy and I want to say congratulations to all the guys here, but also to Gautier [Paulin] for an amazing career, wishing you all the best in the next chapter‰Û

MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle scored his fourteenth podium from 18 rounds.

The MX2 action today was just as exciting as Tom Vialle and Ben Watson shared a race win each in the category.

Watson had the perfect end to his MX2 career with a second overall win of the 2020 season, and his career so far. Watson finished the first race third, behind Vialle and Maxime Renaux, after some close battles with the pair and his teammate Jago Geerts. In the second race, the Brit got another good start and wasted no time to get into the lead, to then dominate every lap after that. He did however come under immense pressure from Geerts, before the Belgian crashed out of the race. A third and a race win was enough to hand Watson the round victory.

Finishing second on the podium was this year‰Ûªs MX2 World Champion, Vialle, who dominated the opening race of the day, as he took the race win by a 6.133 second margin, over Renaux and Watson. While in the second race, the KTM rider struggled out of the start and then had a few small crashes to eventually finish the heat in 5th, which was still good enough for 2nd on the box.

Renaux was the final rider to get himself onto the podium and he did it for the 5th time this season. The Frenchman finished 2nd and 4th in today‰Ûªs race which was exactly what he needed to claim yet another podium, as well as the bronze medal this season.

In terms of the championship, Vialle claimed his maiden title a round early during the MXGP of Pietramurata and entered today‰Ûªs action with the job done. While the title was decided early, as well as Geerts confirming himself as the silver medallist this season too, all that was left was the third spot in the standings, which went down to today‰Ûªs races between Renaux and Jed Beaton.

For Geerts the day didn‰Ûªt end so well. He started good in the opening race and was battling hard with Renaux and Watson, though could not charge through and had to settle for 4th. In the second race Geerts got another strong start and was chasing down his teammate for the win, before making a mistake and crashing out of the race, as a result picking up 0 points.

Nonetheless, Geerts finishes the season as vice world champion, with 14 race wins, 12 podiums and 6 overall victories to his name.

Ben Watson closed the book on an inspiring MX2 career with a thrilling race win and Grand Prix victory.

And of course, with a strong 2-4 result, Renaux held on to the bronze medal position after today‰Ûªs race, as he finished the championship 17 points ahead of Beaton. And for Beaton, it was a mixture of a day. He finished the opening race in 7th position, behind the likes of Stephen Rubini and Isak Gifting. The Australian then had a much stronger second race, as he was able to find a way past Renaux and Gifting to get himself into third, before inheriting second, as Geerts crashed out. Despite a good second race, it was not enough for the Husqvarna rider to get back into 3rd.

In MX2, it was Watson who took the final overall victory of the 2020 season, with this year‰Ûªs MX2 Champion, Vialle, finishing second overall and Renaux taking to the third step of the podium. And what a year it has been for Vialle who has secured his first world title in the category, with Geerts finishing as vice world champion in 2020 and Renaux securing a medal scoring position in the standings, for third overall this season.

‰ÛÏIt was an incredible day for me," Vialle said. "To take my first world title was just amazing. The last two days were really good, I enjoyed them a lot. In the second race, I crashed in the start and I came back from last to fifth. I crashed again two times I think, so I was a little bit angry, I was hoping for better starts and better positions but I‰Ûªm happy to finish second overall‰Û

Maxime Renaux celebrated his ‰Û÷third in the world‰Ûª ranking from the third step of the podium.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 ‰ÛÒ Top 10 Classification:

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), 33:44.705
2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:01.946
3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:27.592
4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:29.763
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:36.843
6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:47.636
7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:00.457
8. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Honda), +1:08.856
9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Husqvarna), +1:11.092
10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:12.032

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 ‰ÛÒ Top 10 Classification:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 33:53.636
2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:15.977
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.364
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:23.276
5. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:27.880
6. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +0:31.674
7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:39.182
8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:47.984
9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:58.086
10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Husqvarna), +1:00.226

MXGP - GP Top 10 Classification:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 47 Points
2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 47 Points
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 38 Points
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 38 Points
5. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 28 Points
6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 28 Points
7. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 23 Points
8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HUS), 23 Points
9. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 16 Points
10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 15 Points

MXGP - World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 720 Points
2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 618 Points
3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 599 Points
4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 572 Points
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 505 Points
6. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 476 Points
7. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 466 Points
8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 375 Points
9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 316 Points
10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 298 Points

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 ‰ÛÒ Top 10 Classification:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 34:05.231
2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:06.133
3. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:07.118
4. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:11.295
5. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +0:13.465
6. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +0:14.807
7. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:15.700
8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:27.320
9. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:36.297
10. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Yamaha), +0:40.397

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 ‰ÛÒ Top 10 Classification:
1. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), 34:17.030
2. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:00.888
3. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +0:14.966
4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:16.839
5. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:22.542
6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:25.178
7. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:32.737
8. Alvin ÌÐstlund (SWE, Honda), +0:38.692
9. Bailey Malkiewicz (AUS, Honda), +0:52.482
10. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, Honda), +0:52.753

MX2 - GP Top 10 Classification:
1. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 45 Points
2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 41 Points
3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 40 Points
4. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 36 Points
5. Isak Gifting (SWE, GAS), 35 Points
6. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 27 Points
7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 23 Points
8. Alvin ÌÐstlund (SWE, HON), 22 Points
9. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, HON), 21 Points
10. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 20 Points

MX2 - World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 759 Points
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 679 Points
3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 581 Points
4. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 564 Points
5. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 551 Points
6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 540 Points
7. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 466 Points
8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 365 Points
9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, YAM), 343 Points
10. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 279 Points