Motocross

Herlings and Prado rule the roost at MXGP of Turkey

Posted:

Monday, September 9th, 2019

7:10 AM

Jeffrey Herlings came to Turkey with further mileage under his belt after a domestic race appearance in Germany the previous weekend, he went 1-1 for a perfect round.

Jorge Prado ran to his fifteenth victory of the season in MX2 and Jeffrey Herlings took his first MXGP win of the season at the The penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of Turkey in Afyon.

The last flurry of MXGP in 2019 began with the second Grand Prix of Turkey to take place at the new, wide and impressive circuit of Afyon in Afyonkarahisar. Warm and sunny conditions greeted the seventeenth round of eighteen this year and just a week before the campaign closes with a trip to Asia. The hard-pack track was inviting and quick but also rutty in corners and permitted decent line choice.

In the first MXGP race, it was Pauls Jonass who took his first FOX Holeshot of the season and led from Standing Construct team rider Glenn Coldenhoff, Herlings, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer and Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser. Further back was Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Arnaud Tonus, Team HRC‰Ûªs Brian Bogers, Alessandro Lupino, JWR Yamaha Racing team‰Ûªs Kevin Strijbos and Honda SR Motoblouz rider Jeremy Van Horebeek.

Herlings quickly moved into second place, and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP‰Ûªs Gautier Paulin entered the top ten in ninth position. Herlings took the lead as the riders entered the second lap while Gajser moved into fourth place, then went down hard and dropped well back in 14th position.

Three laps in and the lead by Herlings was two seconds from Jonass, followed by Coldenhoff. Seewer was fourth and Bogers in fifth place. While Herlings led, Jonass, Coldenhoff and Seewer were not letting the KTM rider get too far ahead with just three seconds separating the top four.

After seven laps Herlings had opened the lead up to two seconds over Jonass, and Gajser moved back into the top ten as he rounded in 10th place while Tonus moved past Bogers for fifth, and Gajser did the same to move into ninth position. Paulin and Van Horebeek also both passed Bogers.

Glenn Coldenhoff‰Ûªs 3-2 allowed the Dutchman to be part of the MXGP podium ceremony for the fourth GP in a row as he classified as runner-up.

After 10 laps the lead by Herlings was three seconds over Jonass but Herlings made a mistake and slipped over while Jonass caught right up to his back wheel.

Gajser back into seventh place as he passed both Bogers and Van Horebeek and he managed to finish in 6thposition while Paulin moved into fifth place. Jeffrey Herlings wins his second race of the season from Jonass and Coldenhoff.

The second MXGP gate dropped and Coldenhoff led from Seewer and Herlings, with Gajser in fourth and Bogers in fifth place. Herlings was quickly past Seewer, who dropped to sixth place, and Gajser moved to third on the first lap.

Seewer crashed hard and dropped to 16th position and after three laps it was Coldenhoff, Herlings, Gajser, Monticelli, and Bogers rounding up the top five. Standing Construct‰Ûªs Ivo Monticelli passed Gajser for third place, as the World MXGP champion crashed again and dropped to fifth position.

Herlings was all over the leader Coldenhoff for the lead on lap seven, as the two Dutch riders showed they are in great form for the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in three-week‰Ûªs time. Bogers and Jonass had battled with Jonass moving into fifth and Bogers dropped back to sixth.

Herlings started reeling in Coldenhoff for the lead and on lap 10 they were locked together while Gajser moved into third place followed by Monticelli and Jonass. Coldenhoff continued to lead, but Herlings was hounding him, and Gajser was 23 seconds further back in third place. A few seconds before the end of the race a sensational pass was made by Herlings as he took the lead on the final lap and took the third race win of the season and the GP overall for the first time in 2019.

Pauls Jonass claimed a second consecutive MXGP podium result having finished third overall.

‰ÛÏIt is getting better and better, in Sweden I wasn‰Ûªt that prepared, but now just after three weeks on the bike, it is amazing what I can do," Herlings said. "It has been a crazy weekend and I am super happy with my win. I had that line and I knew I had to make it perfect. I want to thank my mum the team and everyone who supported me and I wish to congratulate Glenn, he rode amazingly.‰Û

Jorge Prado took his twenty-first holeshot of the year (from 31 starts) led into a comprehensive twenty-eighth moto success. The eighteen year old provided an exact replay in the second race and eased to his fifteenth GP triumph (from sixteen) and thirteenth 1-1 double from that haul.

Prado led the opening MX2 race, with Team SM Action Yamaha team‰Ûªs Maxime Renaux in second, then Tom Vialle, Richard Sikyna, Adam Sterry and Roan Van De Moosdijk. Van De Moosdijk quickly dropped to eight position, and Team HRC‰Ûªs Calvin Vlaanderen moved into seventh place.

After a lap the lead by Prado was two seconds, with Renaux second, Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2‰Ûªs Jago Geerts third, Vialle fourth and Honda Redmoto Assomotor‰Ûªs Mathys Boisrame fifth. Thomas Kjer Olsen, who struggled with a virus, was holding down ninth position and Vlaanderen and Van De Moosdijk were in a battle for sixth. Van De Moosdijk then went after Sterry, passed him, but crashed to lose some positions again.

After eight laps Prado held a 10 second lead over Geerts, with Vialle third, Renaux fourth and Boisrame in fifth. After 12 laps Prado lead over Geerts was 15 seconds, followed by Renaux and Boisrame who got passed and Vialle. Olsen pulled out of the race with his sickness finally catching up.

Vlaanderen was on another charge when he moved into fourth place, putting Boisrame in fifth. Renaux was showing an amazing speed as he started pushing Geerts for second place, he then went down, but only lost one spot as he picked himself up in third place, but soon after Vlaanderen passed him. Prado won MX2 Race 1 from Geerts and Vlaanderen.

Belgian Jago Geerts rfinished second in MX2.

Prado led the second MX2 race, this time from Vialle, Australian Mitch Evans, Geerts, Van De Moodsijk, Boisrame, Renaux, Vlaanderen, Sterry and Pichon. After a lap it was Prado, Vialle, Geerts, Renaux, Van De Moosdijk, Evans, Vlaanderen, Pichon and Sterry.

Three laps in and Prado held four seconds over Vialle and Van De Moosdijk moved into third place while Geerts was back in fourth, and Renaux fifth. Vlaanderen was on the gas as he battled with Geerts and Renaux for fourth.

The lead was six seconds on lap six and the top ten was Prado, Vialle, Van De Moosdijk, Renaux, Vlaanderen, Geerts, Evans, Sterry, Forato, and Guadagini in 10th. Sterry worked his way past Evans for seventh place, and on lap nine the lead was 10 seconds.

Vlaanderen made a mistake and lost ground on Van De Moosdijk and Renaux and then he lost a place to Geerts who pushed past the South African. Prado continued to pull away from the field, and he managed to win race 1 and the MXGP of Turkey with a perfect 1-1 with Geerts and a surprising Van De Moosdijk, who claimed his first MX2 Podium rounding up the Top three.

Australian Mitch Evans finished just outside the top ten with eleventh overall via a 14-9 result

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm enjoying it, and the first race was very fun while the second race was rougher but I got the start, which is the key and I want to go to the next round and get another one. I love winning GPs and hopefully we can do it again next weekend," Prado said.

Runner up was a good result for Jargo Geerts, ‰ÛÏIt was a pretty good weekend, a first good race for second place and the second race I got another good start, but I wasn‰Ûªt very comfortable, I finished fifth for second overall. I am happy with that," Geerts said.

Roan Van De Moosdijk was stoked with landing on the podium. ‰ÛÏIt is unbelievable, I had a strong qualifying race but the first race was tough then I battled with Adam Sterry and then crashed and finished in fifth. The second race was better and I worked my way to third, it was a long race for me, the longest in my career. I want to thank the team, my family, and Marc De Reuver.

The next and Final Stop pf the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship is taking place in Shanghai, China in 1-week time.

Roan van de Moosdijk made a stunning start to his full-time GP career with a podium finish

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 Top Ten
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:00.462
2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:05.289
3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:14.900
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:16.700
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.149
6. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:20.070
7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:21.909
8. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +0:23.649
9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:25.023
10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:26.621

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 Top Ten
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:07.079
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:02.297
3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:33.532
4. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +0:37.616
5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:39.820
6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:41.352
7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:43.332
8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:49.145
9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), +0:53.575
10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:03.479

MXGP - GP Top Ten
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 42 points
3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 38 points
4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 35 points
5. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 31 points
6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 31 points
7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 31 points
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 26 points
9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, YAM), 22 points
10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 20 points

MXGP - World Championship Top Ten
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 744 points
2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 542 points
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 499 points
4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 488 points
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 463 points
6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 428 points
7. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 416 points
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 403 points
9. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 384 points
10. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 358 points

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:20.136
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:21.779
3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:27.688
4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.059
5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:31.774
6. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, Honda), +0:34.932
7. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:35.481
8. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:38.662
9. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:50.122
10. Richard Sikyna (SVK, KTM), +0:55.122

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:09.237
2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:10.178
3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:11.960
4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:13.700
5. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:16.381
6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:22.481
7. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:30.865
8. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:35.089
9. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:45.322
10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:58.889

MX2 - GP Overall Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 38 points
3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 36 points
4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 36 points
5. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 35 points
6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 35 points
7. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 28 points
8. Alberto Forato (ITA, HUS), 25 points
9. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 25 points
10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 21 points

MX2 - World Championship Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 787 points
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 592 points
3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 505 points
4. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 495 points
5. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 442 points
6. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 384 points
7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 376 points
8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 359 points
9. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 303 points
10. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 282 points