Motocross

Gasjer and Prado extend World Championship lead’s with MXGP of Latvia wins

Posted:

Monday, June 17th, 2019

9:54 AM

Gasjer and Prado extend World Championship lead’s with MXGP of Latvia wins

After a sighting lap crash, Jeffery Herlings (84) went on to win the first MXGP moto but withdrew from moto two with an ankle fracture suffered in the moto one sighting lap crash!

Round 9th of the FIM Motocross World Championship provided unpredictable racing actions combined with electric crowd attendance and incredible weather conditions that was a cherry on the cake of an epic MXGP of Latvia.

The MXGP of Latvia proved a tough round of the MXGP and MX2 championships though. It was Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser and young gun Jorge Prado who walked away from the white sand of Kegums in Latvia with the Grand Prix victories. Gajser coming out best in the MXGP class after three way tie on 40 points with Romain Febvre and Arnaud Tonus.

The two red plate owners continue to build their GP win list, Gajser scoring his 20th and Prado his 24th GP victory. They also extended their lead in the MXGP and MX2 championship points race respectively.

With a mix of sunshine and overcast skies, a large crowd and the always beautiful Kegums circuit made sure there was more than enough positives to leave the circuit satisfied with the racing and results.

Amazingly the winner of the MXGP qualification race on Saturday, Jeffrey Herlings crashed in the warm-up lap and his injured foot was run over by Arminas Jasikonis, causing the Dutchman a lot of pain prior and during the opening MXGP race. It was later learnt that Herlings had broken his ankle, that injury obviously saw him pull out of the second MXGP race.

Herlings took the FOX Holeshot in the opening MXGP race but got past straight away from Antonio Cairoli. The pair of were followed by Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP‰Ûªs Arnaud Tonus, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing‰Ûªs Romain Febvre and Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser who got past by Febvre at lap 2.

HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser who once again topped the podium, overcoming a tough qualifying race on Saturday to take the overall win and a 30-point advantage in the championship.

Tonus moves past both Herlings and Cairoli and Herlings then also went past Cairoli for second and was looking stronger as the race moved into the second half.

Tonus had extended his lead to more than three seconds over Herlings, but then Herlings started closing ground on Tonus for the lead and it was clear the Dutchman wanted to take the win. Cairoli had also pushed harder to get away from Febvre.

It was a brilliant battle the one Tonus and Herlings put on a show for the Latvian crowd, then he swept up the inside of Tonus and then around the outside for the race lead. Herlings won Race 1 from Tonus and Cairoli.

As the gate dropped at the second MXGP Race Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer led the second MXGP race from Tonus and Gajser, but then the race lost yet another rider with Cairoli crashing out hard and injured his shoulder, he could not continue the race, luckily no major issues are reported for the moment and more details on his injury conditions will be communicated shortly.

Frenchman Romain Febvre was declared second after the top three in MXGP all finished with 40 points. After missing four rounds due to injury, Febvre has moved up to 12th in the MXGP Championship Standings.

Seewer continued to lead with Tonus and Gajser battling for second just behind and close enough to the leader, the three of them think about the race win. Gajser managed to move into second place and started to push Seewer and look for a way into the lead. It seemed just a matter of time before the HRC rider would take the lead and on lap 12 he did just that. Seewer though was not about to hand the race win to the red plate owner.

Febvre moved past Tonus and the chance for a GP victory for the time being was gone for the Swiss rider. Gajser, Seewer and Febvre were all close together in the final lap of the race, Febvre blasted past Seewer for second, but it was Gajser who won the race and the overall followed by Febvre and Tonus, all of them with 40 points

The fairytale continued for Arnaud Tonus at the Latvian Grand Prix with the Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha star challenging for victory once again and ending the day in third overall.

Local hero Pauls Jonass experienced a though Latvian GP as did his teammate Arminas Jasikonis. Jonass fell down in race 1 dropping to 28th but managing to finish 17th while Jasikonis was forced to finish the race earlier due to a technical issue.

‰ÛÏI am so happy about today. First race I was struggling, but the second one I found a good rhythm and I had a good battle with Jeremy. I am so happy for the team," Gajser said after the races. "Yesterday I had good speed but at the qualification race I had a big crash and I was a little sore today with some pain in my neck, but I got enough for sixth in the first race. Second race I tried to ride my race and I didn‰Ûªt know I had won the overall. This is everything we work for and I am happy for the team.‰Û

From eight rounds of MX2 prior to Latvia, Jorge Prado has claimed seven wins (all seven he has contested in 2019). That streak continued in Kegums as the eighteen year old Spaniard started from first place and after his fifth Qualification Heat victory on Saturday.

In the opening MX2 race of the day it was pole setter Jorge Prado who led from Thomas Kjer Olsen and Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Ben Watson.

Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Jago Geerts who was looking for a way to past his teammate did it for third place and after five laps the lead was three seconds between Prado and Olsen, and

Prado held a four second lead on lap seven, and Honda 114 Motorsports‰Ûª Mitch Evans moved past Australian Jed Beaton for ninth spot on the same lap. Soon after Bas Vaessen also went past Beaton, but Beaton wasn‰Ûªt about to give up and passed the Dutchman back. Eventually Vaessen did pass for 10th.

Geerts was all over Olsen on lap 12 and looked for a way into second place, but Prado was long gone, nearly eight seconds ahead of the two fighting for second.

Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2's Jago Geerts strengthen his third position in the championship as the runner-up in both races for second overall.

On the 17th lap Prado was five seconds ahead of Geerts, who had passed Olsen, then Watson and Maxime Renaux filled out the top five. While Vaessen made charge when he passed Evans, Tom Vialle and Michele Cervellin to move into sixth position Prado won his 14th MX2 heat in 2019.

Prado crossed the white line of Race 2 for first taking the second FOX Holeshot of the day with Olsen and Vialle in second and third. Well back in the pack were Evans in 19th place, Henry Jacobi 26th and Darian Sanayei in 28th.

Great riding by Mitchell Harrison as he moved into 12th place, but not so good from Evans as he crashed and dropped out of the top 20. After five laps Prado held a five second lead from Olsen, with Vialle third.

Thomas Kjer Olsen showed impressive pace in both MX2 class races. Starting well, he held the runner-up position behind championship leader Jorge Prado for many laps in both motos before rounding out the round in third overall.

A massive lead after 11 laps and Prado was as smooth as silk in first place, while Olsen fought hard to keep Geerts off his back wheel, the Belgian looking quicker.

Geerts passed Olsen with two laps to go and Vaessen again moved up to seventh place. Prado eventually won from Geerts and Olsen.

‰ÛÏIt is my first time to win here, I was fourth two times here. I won the qualification race and two races today, so that makes me happy. Another great weekend going 1-1 and making the gap bigger in the points. I felt comfortable and I want to thank the team, my family and my girlfriend. It is making me stay in the top level like I am doing now," Prado said.

Despite a few mistakes, Jago Geerts was happy to be on the podium, ‰ÛÏPretty good start, but the first three corners I messed up a little, I tried everything I could do to pass Thomas and I am really happy with the weekend," Geerts reflected.

It was a mixed day for the Australians with Jed Beaton finishing 10th overall after being hit with the flu through the week, while Mitch Evans had a good first moto with a ninth place but crashed out of the second.

‰ÛÏIt‰Ûªs been a really tough GP for me, but I‰Ûªm pleased I came away with points in both motos," Beaton said. "I got sick with the flu on Thursday before the race and I really struggled with a fever and low energy. I worked hard during the qualification race and did all that I could during today‰Ûªs motos.‰Û

Jed Beaton's day was made all the more difficult when the Australian went down with the flu just days before the event. Despite suffering with a fever, he gave his all to finish 10th in the opening MX2 class moto and then 13th in the second race. Photo: Ray Archer

MXGP of Latvia Results

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:02.925
2. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:01.599
3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:12.059
4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:14.205
5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:15.980
6. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:17.943
7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:24.661
8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:26.842
9. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), +0:27.942
10. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +0:34.864

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:56.037
2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:02.189
3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:02.738
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:15.871
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:22.078
6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:26.723
7. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:30.127
8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:32.947
9. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:39.120
10. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +0:46.611

MXGP Overall Classification Top 10:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 40 points
2. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 40 points
3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 40 points
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 36 points
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 30 points
6. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 25 points
7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 23 points
8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 22 points
9. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 22 points
10. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), 20 points

MXGP - World Championship Classification Top 10:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 391 points
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 358 points
3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 256 points
4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 254 points
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 246 points
6. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 226 points
7. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 208 points
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 200 points
9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 190 points
10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 186 points

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:06.293
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.953
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:09.229
4. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:28.798
5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:01.552
6. Bas Vaessen (NED, KTM), +1:02.074
7. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +1:05.903
8. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:09.602
9. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +1:11.443
10. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +1:12.339

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 35:45.289
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:16.407
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:17.948
4. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:34.377
5. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:51.633
6. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:55.760
7. Bas Vaessen (NED, KTM), +1:00.908
8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:03.748
9. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +1:04.762
10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:06.145

MX2 Overall Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 44 points
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 40 points
4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 36 points
5. Bas Vaessen (NED, KTM), 29 points
6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 29 points
7. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 26 points
8. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 24 points
9. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 22 points
10. Jed Beaton (AUS, HUS), 19 points

MX2 Championship Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 397 points
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 367 points
3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 301 points
4. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 251 points
5. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 246 points
6. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 242 points
7. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 226 points
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 191 points
9. Davy Pootjes (NED, HUS), 157 points
10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 156 points