Motocross

Herlings and Prado take the final victories of the 2019 MXGP season

Posted:

Monday, September 16th, 2019

3:43 AM

Jeffrey Herlings went back-to-back after winning in Turkey and now China.

In front of a packed crowd and beautiful weather conditions the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship season has concluded with Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado victors in MXGP and MX2 wins respectively at the Fengxian-Shanghai in China. .

In the opening MXGP race it was Standing Construct's Glenn Coldenhoff who led from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer, Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser, Herlings and Pauls Jonass. Herlings was quickly into third place and relegating the MXGP champion to fourth. After a lap the battle for first place between Coldenhoff and Seewer was intense, with Herlings three seconds back in third.

Seewer had passed Coldenhoff but was repassed and then crashed in a corner as Herlings moved into second place. Seewer again crashed as he dropped to seventh place. Coldenhoff continued to control the race, although after five laps the lead was down to just over two seconds and Gajser was five seconds back in third place while Arminas Jasikonis and Pauls Jonass filled the remaining top five positions. Seewer was sixth, Standing Construct‰Ûªs Ivo Monticelli seventh, Honda Motoblouz‰Ûª Jeremy Van Horebeek eight, Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP‰Ûªs Gautier Paulin ninth and Team VRT‰Ûªs Jordi Tixier in 10th.

After nine laps Herlings was just over two seconds behind Coldenhoff and made a move for the lead. 11 laps in and Paulin dropped back to eight while Tixier moved into ninth place.

Glenn Coldenhoff made sure of his fifth consecutive podium and outpointed Gautier Paulin to rise to 3rd place in the final standings.

Herlings was suddenly all over Coldenhoff as the race heated up and to make it even more exciting, Gajser joined the party. For a couple of laps the big three battled for the top spot, and the pace clearly went to another gear.

MXGP came alive again as Coldenhoff tried to fight off Herlings and Gajser. Coldenhoff hung in there to win it from Herlings and Gajser.

The second MXGP gate dropped and Seewer took the FOX Holeshot, but got passed by Coldenhoff who lead again, Gajser was in third, then was Van Horebeek, Herlings, Bogers, Jonass, Paulin, Monticelli and Jasikonis who rounded up the top 10. Herlings quickly passed Van Horebeek and was onto Gajser for third.

After a lap Coldenhoff was a second and a half ahead of Seewer who was fighting off Gajser, with Herlings fourth and Van Horebeek fifth. Tixier had worked his way into 10th place as Jasikonis dropped to 12th.

After three laps the lead remained a little over a minute while Gajser miscalculating a jump ran off the track, having to pull the board from his machine and lost places to Herlings, Van Horebeek and Jonass as he dropped to sixth position. On lap nine Gajser passed Jonass for fifth, and Seewer was still a second and a half behind Coldenhoff.

Herlings was all over Seewer for second place as he tried to get an overall victory while Coldenhoff continued to ride in cruise control and at the pace he was comfortable. Herlings made a move to take second place from Seewer and the race of the Dutchman would continue.

Coldenhoff remained calm and continued to lead Herlings, with Seewer third, Van Horebeek fourth and Gajser fifth. After 14 laps Coldenhoff was nearly three-second lead over Herlings and seemingly did enough to win the race and the Grand Prix while Gajser passed Van Horebeek for fourth position. Herlings turned it up in the final three laps and caught Coldenhoff, then he pulled into the lead on the last lap as he won the Grand Prix with 2-1 results. Coldenhoff who scored 1-2 results was second and third overall was Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer.

While Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser climbed again the MXGP Podium to be awarded with the Gold Medal, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer celebrated the 18th round of the Championship with a silver media ensured just after race one and Coldenhoff clinched the bronze medal after an unpredictable season.

Jeremy Seewer was third in China but went one better in the final overall standings.

‰ÛÏI am very happy to win my third World championship title," Gajser said. "We had a great off-season, the beginning was just amazing and then I won seven rounds in a row which was so special. Now at the end of the season I am struggling and not finding the flow unfortunately. Coming to this weekend I felt good, yesterday I was fast on the track and enjoyed it. In the qualifying race I had the holeshot and then made a mistake and hit my neck and I was sore. From 11th gate pick today I took two solid starts and we were close to Jeffrey and Glenn. Second race I was feeling good but jumped off the track and unfortunately I just missed the podium‰Û

After 17 Grands Prix and 34 motos Jorge Prado claimed 16 (13 of those with 1-1s) and 31 wins and completes the year with a 113 point margin over Thomas Kjer Olsen.

Tom Vialle took thr FOX Holeshot in the opening MX2 race with Prado second and Calvin Vlaanderen third, then came Team SM Action Yamaha team‰Ûªs Maxime Renaux and F&H Kawasaki Racing‰Ûªs Roan Van De Moosdijk. Vialle slipped over in a corner and handed the lead to Prado but was able to remount in third place. Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Jago Geerts passed Renaux to move into fifth place.

On lap two Geerts passed Van De Moosdijk and set out after Vialle, around the same time Olsen also passed Renaux. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing‰Ûªs Thomas Kjer Olsen moved up to third place, followed by Vialle and then Vialle passed Olsen for third place, Geerts was also pushing the Danish rider, with Van De Moosdijk not that far back in sixth place. Geerts passed Olsen on lap 11, and the top five was Prado, Vlaanderen, Vialle, Geerts and Olsen.

Tom Vialle secured six podium results in his maiden term and just missed out on the season overall top three by 6 points.

After 13 laps Prado led Vlaanderen by four seconds, with Vialle third, Geerts fourth and Olsen fifth. Van De Moosdijk exchanged positions for a few laps, with the Dutchman finally making a mistake and dropping back outside the top ten, in fact way back in 16th place and seemingly out of the race. Prado won the first race in Shanghai from Vlaanderen and Vialle.

Prado led the second MX2 race taking the FOX Holeshot with Vialle second and Geerts third. Just behind Geerts was Olsen and Moreau, while Vlaanderen was back in sixth place. After a lap Prado was one and a half seconds ahead of Vialle, then Geerts held third, Olsen fourth and Vlaanderen fifth.

Four laps in and Prado wasn‰Ûªt pushing too hard as the lead was still just over a second, with Vialle second, Geerts third, Olsen fourth and Renaux moved into fifth. After seven laps it was Prado leading by two seconds, and Vialle a further three seconds ahead of third placed man Geerts. Olsen was fourth and Vlaanderen in fifth.

Vialle started closing up on Prado as the two KTM riders controlled the race up front while Geerts was in third. Vlaanderen passed Renaux, as Van De Moosdijk did. On lap four Vlaanderen passed Olsen but was seven seconds behind third placed Geerts with three or four laps remaining.

Suddenly Vialle was all over Prado for the lead and the GP wins, as the two teenagers fought for the victory. Once again it was Jorge Prado who has won the MX2 class with another perfect day and 1-1 results. It was Prado‰Ûªs 31st Grand Prix win in his MX2 career as he now starts to prepare for the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations and his MXGP debut at Assen, The Netherlands in two-week‰Ûªs time. Second overall was Tom Vialle with 3-2 results and third Team HRC‰Ûªs Calvin Vlaanderen with 2-4.

Team HRC‰Ûªs Calvin Vlaanderen signed off his MX2 career with an impressive podium performance at the 2019 season finale

Prado made a statement at his last race in MX2 going on the Podium not only as GP winner but to collect his Gold Medal, while Rockstar Thomas Kjer Olsen stood in the second position of the podium after a consistent 2019 season and Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Factory Racing‰Ûªs Jago Geerts managed to collect the bronze medal.

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm happy to finish my MX2 career this way," Prado said. "I want to thank everybody from my team and everyone who helps me. It was an incredible season, many race wins and Grand Prix wins, and it is exciting to move to the MXGP class, we will work hard for that.‰Û

Aussie Mitch Evans had a DNF and a 13th for 18th overall and concluded his rookie season 11th in the final standings.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 Top Ten
1. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 35:20.563
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:00.841
3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:02.268
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:23.103
5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:25.636
6. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:28.101
7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:31.951
8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:40.088
9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:59.916
10. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:15.332

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 Top Ten
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:24.258
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:08.514
3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:25.810
4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:33.249
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:40.121
6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:45.179
7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:49.883
8. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:01.483
9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:12.717
10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +1:17.759

MXGP - GP Top Ten
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 47 points
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 47 points
3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 38 points
4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 38 points
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 30 points
6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 30 points
7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 28 points
8. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 26 points
9. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 24 points
10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 24 points

MXGP - World Championship Top Ten
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 782 points
2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 580 points
3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 535 points
4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 527 points
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 462 points
6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 458 points
7. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 442 points
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 433 points
9. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 384 points
10. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 358 points

MXGP - Manufacturers Classification
1. Honda, 791 points
2. KTM, 769 points
3. Yamaha, 729 points
4. Husqvarna, 559 points
5. Kawasaki, 367 points

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:18.828
2. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:01.736
3. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:04.084
4. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:19.028
5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:23.844
6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:28.357
7. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, KTM), +0:48.900
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:51.886
9. Brian Strubhart Moreau (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:54.000
10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:55.032

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:08.720
2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:00.650
3. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:16.159
4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:20.472
5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:23.718
6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:44.878
7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:50.508
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:51.687
9. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, KTM), +0:54.312
10. Alberto Forato (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:54.662

MX2 - GP Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points
2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 42 points
3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 40 points
4. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 38 points
5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 32 points
6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 29 points
7. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 26 points
8. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, KTM), 26 points
9. Alberto Forato (ITA, HUS), 20 points
10. Mitchell Harrison (USA, KAW), 20 points

MX2 - World Championship Top Ten
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 837 points
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 624 points
3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 543 points
4. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 537 points
5. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 442 points
6. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 410 points
7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 405 points
8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 399 points
9. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 303 points
10. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 282 points