TWhile Lucas Coenen blew away the competition, title contender Romain Febvre struggled in the first moto of the Finnish GP. Coenen crossed the finish line almost 14 seconds ahead of Glenn Coldenhoff. Febvre was just inside the top 10 at the start. He ultimately finished 5th.
Coldenhoff piloted his Fantic to holeshot number 3 this season. A few corners later, he had to make way for an eager Lucas Coenen. Coenen took his chance, as rival Febvre was far back in the starting line. Despite a warning, "LC96" kept pushing, only easing off in the closing stages.
Coldenhoff (pictured above) impressed with his consistency as the "best of the rest." The same could be said of teammate Andrea Bonacorsi, who held 3rd place from start to finish. Calvin Vlaanderen finished a respectable 4th, leading the Yamaha. Ruben Fernandez, who had started well, was completely exhausted at the end on the heavy sand of the KymiRing. Febvre had already passed for P5 without any problems. However, the HRC Honda rider still had a strong final push up his sleeve. He almost caught Febvre. At the finish, the difference between Febvre and Fernandez was less than 3 tenths!
Brian Bogers (8th) and Brent Van Doninck (9th) also scored easily in the first heat. Jago Geerts had to settle for 15th. The decisive second heat starts at 2:16 PM.
After yesterday's qualifying round win and his triumph just now, Coenen has already reduced his deficit to Febvre from 32 to 18 points.
MXGP Race 1
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 35:16.114; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:13.879; 3. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +0:20.853; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:34.179; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:43.453; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:43.700; 7. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +1:01.324; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:10.359; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +1:19.544; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:24.184; 11. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +1:28.426; 12. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:37.327; 13. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 14. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 15. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 16. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), -1 lap(s); 17. Mairis Pumpurs (LAT, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 18. Pekka Nissinen (FIN, GASGAS), -2 lap(s); 19. Kasper Kangasniemi (FIN, KTM), -2 lap(s); 20. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -15 lap(s); 21. Miro Varjonen (FIN, KTM), -17 lap(s);
Photos: JP Acevedo
