Motocross

Prado takes second MX2 title as Coldenhoff and Vialle top the podiums at MXGP of Sweden

Posted:

Monday, August 26th, 2019

8:19 AM

Prado takes second MX2 title as Coldenhoff and Vialle top the podiums at MXGP of Sweden

With a lead of 145 points and just 100 left to win this season, Prado has been confirmed as only the third double-winning champion in the history of the MX2 division.

The MXGP of Sweden saw Jorge Prado take the title in MX2 class and two surprising winners went on top of the Podium in the MXGP and MX2 classes as Glenn Coldenhoff won his second GP of the season in MXGP and Tom Vialle combined his 2-2 results for an overall win in MX2.

Jeffrey Herlings marked his return not only with a pole position from Saturday‰Ûªs qualifying, but also the FOX Holeshot and led the opening MXGP race from Standing Construct's Coldenhoff, Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser, Pauls Jonass and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team‰Ûªs Romain Febvre. Gajser was quickly into second place after passing Coldenhoff while Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer slipped over in the first lap.

Gajser was all over Herlings, but the Dutchman remained calm and in the lead at this debut after a few weeks off the bike. Gajser went down in a corner and dropped back to fourth place giving Herlings a major lead. After two laps the lead was more than two seconds as Coldenhoff and Febvre battled for second place.

Herlings held the control of the race, but wasn‰Ûªt getting far away from Coldenhoff while Febvre and Gajser closed in on the Dutch riders while Jonass remained in fifth place. Coldenhoff moved into the lead on lap 10 after Herlings‰Ûª mistake and Febvre was also all over Herlings. Febvre and Gajser both went past Herlings, who started to really struggle with arm-pump.

After twelve laps Coldenhoff continued to lead followed by Febvre, Gajser, Jonass, and Herlings in fifth place found himself fighting with Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha‰Ûªs Arnaud Tonus for 5th when suddenly Herlings crashed and Tonus ran into him and both went down. Herlings got going again, although Tonus was done for the race as his bike started blowing smoke. Herlings decided to retire from the race.

Standing Construct's Glenn Coldenhoff continued his scorching run of form by going 1-2 in the motos, It meant a third consecutive podium ‰ÛÒ and second victory ‰ÛÒ for the Dutchman.

Coldenhoff and Febvre battled side by side in the last laps but Coldenhoff managed to hang on and he won his third race of the season ahead of Febvre and Gajser.

The second MXGP gate dropped and Febvre took the FOX holeshot followed by Gajser, Tonus, Seewer, Jonass, Monster Energy KRT‰Ûªs Tommy Searle, Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha‰Ûªs Gautier Paulin, Herlings and Coldenhoff. Febvre and Gajser were pushing hard to ensure the lead as the French held only a bunch of seconds lead over the Slovenian after five laps while back in the leading pack Seewer and Coldenhoff battled for fifth place. Finally, on lap nine Coldenhoff moved past Seewer while Gajser was still looking for a way past Febvre.

Fresh from his MXGP World Championship win last weekend in Imola, HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser finished second overall in Sweden.

Gajser went for a wild pass on Febvre, but the Frenchman managed to remain in the lead. In the meantime Herlings managed to reach the sixth position after a start in 8th as Tonus dropped back in the field in 7th. On lap 13 Gajser eventually moved into the lead followed by Jonass, Coldenhoff and Seewer.

JWR Yamaha rider Kevin Strijbos moved into 10th place in the late stages of the race and Herlings was closing up on Seewer for fifth position. Febvre crashed down hard and was forced to a DNF; Febvre has been taken to the hospital for further examinations.

Coldenhoff was all over Jonass in the last lap and was fighting hard for the overall victory. Coldenhoff went through Jonass ensuring a second GP win of the season while Gajser won his 16th race of the season from Coldenhoff and Jonass.

Coldenhoff won the MXGP of Sweden ahead of Gajser and Jonass.

Pauls Jonass enjoyed a well-deserved trip to the podium in the MXGP class with third.

‰ÛÏIt was a tough weekend but I‰Ûªm very satisfied," Coldenhoff said. "Jeffrey was in front of me in the beginning of the first race, and it is really difficult and Febvre was close at the end and I got a little nervous, but I kept it on for the win. I‰Ûªm very happy about my riding now‰Û

Uddevalla presented Tom Vialle with a career milestone. His 2-2 results not only permitted his sixth visit to the rostrum in his rookie season but also allowed him to savour his very first GP triumph.

Spaniard Jorge Prado led the field into the first lap of the opening MX2 race but it was Frenchman Tom Vialle who took the FOX Holeshot. F&H Racing Kawasaki‰Ûªs Henry Jacobi followed with Team HRC‰Ûªs Calvin Vlaanderen, and Dylan Walsh in fifth place. Prado quickly pulled away from the pack and Vialle made a gap between himself and Jacobi.

Sanayei nearly crashed and let Vlaanderen go past after the South African rider had lost a few places. Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Jago Geerts and Thomas Kjer Olsen did not have fantastic starts as they were in 13th and 14th respectively.

Two laps in and the lead was just a second and a half as Vialle tried to keep his team-mate in sight. Third was Jacobi, then Walsh and Vlaanderen while Sterry was riding comfortable and moved into sixth place and Vlaanderen was back into fourth spot after passing Walsh.

Team HRC rider Calvin Vlaanderen won his first MX2 moto of the season to make it three podium overalls in six GPs .

After six laps Prado continued to lead Vialle by a little less than two seconds, as Sterry and SM Action Yamaha‰Ûªs Maxime Renaux passed Walsh, dropping the New Zealander to seventh place. Geerts went down and dropped back to 16thplace.

Jorge Prado won the first race at the MXGP of Sweden ahead of Vialle and Jacobi and it was enough to ensure his back-to-back title in MX2 with other two rounds left. The eighteen-year-old had his greatest career season in 2019 as the Spaniard has in his pocket 12 pole positions, 470 laps led, 27 race win and 14 GP win out of 16 rounds at only 18 years old.

After a long celebration on Prado‰Ûªs second title, the gate dropped for MX2 race 2 and Vialle took the second FOX Holeshot of the day while the American Bike It DRT Kawasaki rider Darian Sanayei led the race from Sterry, Vialle, Prado, and Jacobi. Vialle then moved into the lead in the opening lap, and Prado was just as quickly into third place. After a lap Vialle lead the top five followed by, Sterry, Prado, Sanayei and Vlaanderen but Prado made a mistake and fell in a corner and dropped back to sixth position.

Two laps in and Vialle held a two-second lead over Sterry, with Prado dropping back to eight position as he struggled with the clutch. Vlaanderen moved into third place and Jacobi seemingly picked up an injury out of the race twisting his knee.

After four laps Vialle led by two seconds from Sterry, then came Vlaanderen, Sanayei, Walsh, Geerts, Prado, Renaux, Olsen and Evans into the top ten.

Geerts crashed and dropped a bunch of places on lap five and found himself in 11th place while Prado moved up to sixth. On lap nine Sterry and Vlaanderen moved closer to Vialle and the top three battled hard for the race win. Prado moved into fourth place and was 20 seconds off Vialle.

Third in the MX2 class was enough to see Jorge Prado crowned MX2 champions for the second year in a row.

Vlaanderen moved past Sterry and Vialle turned up the heat and moved to five seconds away from the South African. Vlaanderen moved into the lead as Vialle made a mistake and dropped to second. Vlaanderen won his first MX2 race of the season from Vialle and Sterry while Vialle ensured his first GP win in MX2 with his 2-2 results, Vlaanderen was second overall with 4-1 and third and 2019 MX2 Champion Jorge Prado with 1-4.

‰ÛÏIt is a fantastic weekend I took two holeshots and I got the round win. For sure it is fantastic the first race I pushed and lost a lot of energy and in the second race I took the holeshot and finished second and I won the overall. I did not expect that but it is a great feeling," Vialle said of his win.

Jorge Prado was ecstatic with his second title in a row: ‰ÛÏI have no words to explain this," Prado said. "This year has been a great season, winning every single round I rode except this one (laugh). Thanks to everyone who is there everyday with me and supporting me. Two World titles, if you think of it, it is incredible. The second race was one of the best races of the year for me, I came from the back to fourth place and I couldn‰Ûªt use the clutch because the level was bent.‰Û

Australian Mitch Evans finished 14th on his return from injury. Photo: Bavo

MXGP ‰ÛÒ Grand Prix Race 1 ‰ÛÒ Top Ten:
1. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 34:53.626
2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:01.070
3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:07.239
4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:17.369
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:36.305
6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:45.441
7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:49.112
8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:53.522
9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), +0:55.459
10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:58.189

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:44.502
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:04.820
3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:06.741
4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:16.320
5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:18.793
6. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:29.379
7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:33.891
8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:36.572
9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), +0:38.461
10. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:42.154

MXGP - GP Top Ten:
1. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 47 points
2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 45 points
3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 38 points
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 30 points
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 30 points
6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 28 points
7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 24 points
8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, YAM), 24 points
9. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 24 points
10. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 22 points

MXGP - World Championship Top Ten:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 709 points
2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 511 points
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 468 points
4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 446 points
5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 443 points
6. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 397 points
7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 390 points
8. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 384 points
9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 377 points
10. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 358 points

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 35:11.359
2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:01.186
3. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:23.385
4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:24.875
5. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:29.699
6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:33.210
7. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, Honda), +0:52.064
8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:54.003
9. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), +0:55.838
10. Dylan Walsh (NZL, Husqvarna), +0:57.109

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), 35:22.115
2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:07.499
3. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:14.043
4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:14.377
5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:22.345
6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:25.838
7. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:28.000
8. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:29.524
9. Dylan Walsh (NZL, Husqvarna), +0:39.088
10. Mitchell Harrison (USA, Kawasaki), +0:39.938

MX2 - GP Top Ten:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 44 points
2. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 43 points
3. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 43 points
4. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 36 points
5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 31 points
6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 28 points
7. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 24 points
8. Dylan Walsh (NZL, HUS), 23 points
9. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 23 points
10. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 22 points

MX2 - World Championship Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 737 points
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 592 points
3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 467 points
4. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 460 points
5. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 442 points
6. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 356 points
7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 340 points
8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 324 points
9. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 282 points
10. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 278 points