MX2 comments after Bellpuig
Marvin Musquin (7+1, winner) “The rain made qualifying difficult and I didn't drive very well, so I was only 7th. But today was another day. I felt a lot better and set good lap times in the warm-up this morning. However, in the first heat I had a bad start and crashed again with Osborne. I got back to seventh place and then I was behind Shaun, but overtaking was difficult. I therefore fully focused on the second series in which I immediately managed to take the holeshot. After that it went a bit like in Portugal: I led for Ken until he dropped out. The track was very slippery but it got better and better as the laps went by. My win is a boost and a good thing for the championship.”
Team manager Jacky Martens comments about Joël Roelants' 2nd place ;” What a beautiful weekend and what a fantastic result for Joël! In the run-up to the race things didn't look so good as Joel and Dennis struggled to get a good result during the qualifier. Afterwards I called the drivers and technical staff into a meeting after which we had an intensive discussion about how to tackle this problem. The summary of this meeting was that we need to adapt to the new generation style of motocross. The first results were already visible during the warmup when a super motivated Joel already recorded very fast lap times. All in all, the victory in EMX125 and 2nd place overall in MX2 is a fantastic result, for which we also received warm congratulations from the entire Paddock.”
Shaun Simpson (6+4, 3rd overall): “In the first heat I didn't get away from the starting gate well. I just had too much grip. Then I hung behind Paulin. My arms started to hurt a bit and I didn't have a good rhythm. In the second series I had a good start. I hung behind Marvin and Ken and felt good. I drove around smoothly and relaxed, but they had sprayed the circuit too hard for the second series. My front wheel slipped, I fell and left in twelfth or tenth. Fortunately I was able to work my way to the front and still finish fourth. I felt very strong and satisfied with the second series. Being on stage always feels good.”
Steven Frossard (2+11, 4th overall) : “I had a really good chance to win my first GP this weekend, but it wasn't to be. After I won the qualifications on Saturday, I started the series from a good starting position. I made a good start in series 1 and was second behind Herlings for a while. With Roczen behind us in third place, we rode at a very high pace. So we started doubling slower riders early on. One of them didn't want to leave the fast line when entering a corner. I had to go outside to avoid him, so Roczen dived in and passed us. However, I had no problem following him and so we were soon first and second. I started to make up ground on him again when I had another incident with a doubled rider. As a result, I lost so much time that victory was no longer possible. With the fastest lap of the first series in my pocket and a good rhythm, I started series 2 with confidence. However, in the first corner it was so slippery that my front wheel simply broke away and I crashed into the ground. Other riders also crashed and my Kawasaki was buried under three other bikes. By the time I could leave I was hanging dead last. I set good lap times again, but it was extremely difficult to overtake other riders. There was no more than an 11th place. It bothers me a bit that I missed a good opportunity to win a GP today. But I was also very satisfied with my rhythm and I know that with a good start I can fight at the front every week with Musquin, Roczen and Herlings.”
Gautier Paulin, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team (4+10, 5th overall):
“I am quite satisfied. This was my first GP for Rinaldi and they have supported me very hard over the past few weeks. So I was happy to be here and race for them. I felt good both physically and mentally and the engine also ran well. But the speed to run at the front was not there yet. I started well in the second heat but then Frossard's rear wheel broke on the wet part of the first corner and I had to avoid him. I was almost the last to leave and rode almost an entire series together with Frossard. I was able to work my way back up to tenth place and felt that my riding was improving. After that series, I believe that I can do something good in the GPs within a few weeks. I started to get tired in the second heat. My foot was a little sore and my hands were covered in blisters because it was such an intense day. In the end I fell four points short of being on the podium, so that skirmish during the start of the second series cost me dearly. But I just have to be happy with this and slowly but surely continue to work my way forward.”
Jeremy Van Horebeek (8+7, 7th overall):“I'm very frustrated with my results today. I won the GP here last year, I'm riding well, the speed is there, but I'm just not having any luck at the moment. I just know that I have the potential to be on the podium and with my speed in the second heat I should be able to fight for the win. But I have to be able to put everything together and stay out of trouble. I'm really looking forward to racing in the United States in two weeks. If there's one place I want to be on stage, it's there. I will therefore work extra hard in the run-up to that match.”
Harri Kullas, Yamaha Monster Energy Gariboldi (10+6, 8th overall):“With a fifth place in the qualifying race, it was a lot easier to choose a good starting position. I started the first series with a place in the top ten . After that I just rode my own race to finish tenth. OK in itself, but nothing special. At the start of heat two, my starting gate bounced back up, which immediately put me behind the starting area. However, I was able to steer inside and make up a lot of positions because there was a mass crash. I passed many riders and also had some luck with others dropping out. Towards the end of the series Van Horebeek passed me, but I didn't give in and gave it my all. I beat him in the battle for 6th place. Immediately my best result. Things are starting to get better and better for me.”
Ken Roczen, Teka Suzuki (1-DNF, 10th overall):“This should have been a great day, but on the other hand I'm going home without any injuries. I rode well and was fast. Both my starts were pretty good. In the second heat I was second but I just waited to make my move. I could just go faster and I was certainly not at 100%. I just felt I could pass Marvin. However, then I started having problems with the engine. Let me especially remember the first series. It was great to reduce the difference with Marvin to just one point. Afterwards we lost ground again. But nothing has been played yet.”
Arnaud Tonus (13-15, 14th overall):“I had a lot of crashes today and it was very tough. In the first round of the first heat I linked up with Larrieu. Then I gave everything to get back from last place to thirteenth. I had a nice, fair duel with Osborne and that was fun. My lap times were good but he (Osborne) passed me on the last lap which was a shame. In the second heat I crashed through the mess in the first corner. This time it was more difficult to get back to the front. I was too excited and would crash two more times. Afterwards the spirit had waned a bit. It wasn't a good series. My speed was there, but unfortunately it didn't yield much today.”
Zach Osborne, Bike it Cosworth Yamaha (12-DNF, 18th overall):“Bummer, that's the only word I can use to describe this day. In the first heat I made two mistakes that cost me the podium. At least if I could have just stuck in third place in the second heat and finished. In the first series I lost control of the front wheel on a descent. Musquin ended up underneath me. I couldn't push the bike off him straight away because we were standing in the mud. The front wheel also broke off in the second crash. I know I have the speed and the fitness and the results will come. But sometimes things are out of your control.”
Jeffrey Herlings (3-DNF, 12th overall): “The qualifying race on Saturday went well. I came second and therefore had a good starting place for Sunday. I got the holeshot in the first heat, led for half of it and eventually finished third. I also had a good start in the second series, but then I got into trouble in the first corner together with other riders. I fell and damaged the front brake. Two laps later I crashed again and had to give up. I hope to fight back hard in the next GP.”
Photos credit: CDS & Ray Archer
Also to read
Phil Nicoletti is quitting
Phil Nicoletti has decided to end his career after this season. The American (35) will finish this season with Team Club MX-Yamaha-Muc Off and then after…Tiny van Erp passed away
Earlier this week, Tiny van Erp passed away. De Brabander made a name for himself in the motocross world for decades with TvE Sport and he was also closely involved in the Grand Prix...VIDEO: Inside MXGP and the Yamaha riders' race in Trentino
Inside MXGP is at round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Trentino, Italy. And in Yamaha's white and pink anniversary colors in honor of 50 years of YZ! “You thought that…McAdoo will no longer be in action in the Supercross series
McAdoo no longer in action in Supercross series Earlier, Team Pro Circuit-Kawasaki-Monster Energy announced that both riders would be in action next weekend. However, the plans do not go...
Your reactions