MX2 comments after Glen Helen
Positive or negative, everyone had something to say after the USGP in Glen Helen. What did the MX2 tenors think of their GP?
Marvin Musquin, Red Bull KTM (1-1, GP winner):
“It was great to come to the States. I was always in the lead in both series. I was able to stay focused on my lines and take care of my driving at the same time. I rode fast and fluidly and proved that my KTM is extremely strong in the starts.”
Zach Osbourne, Bike It Cosworth Yamaha (4-2, 2e overalls):
“Being here on stage is an incredibly good feeling. In the run-up to this GP I spent very little time in California, so I could have used the extra training on Saturday, but in the end everything went well. I am clearly back on track and am able to run with those guys at the front. It's hard to ride against Marvin when you're behind someone as hard to pass as Shaun. If Marvin has a ten second lead after just two laps, you know it will be extremely difficult to bridge that distance. I saw the fans going crazy for me next to the circuit and that was a special experience.”
Steven Frossard, Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki (2-4, 3e overalls):
“During the qualifying race on Saturday I dislocated my thumb when I crashed in a duel with Anstie. I knew it was going to be difficult to race twice for 40 minutes on this circuit with those long and fast descents. During the warm-up I felt pain, but in the first heat it went a lot better. I had a good start and found a good rhythm when I was behind Musquin. However, a small mistake cost me three seconds, so I just concentrated on keeping Roczen behind me. In the second series I didn't have such a good start. It was difficult to overtake but I managed to get to third place when the red flag was shown and the race was stopped. Unfortunately, the classification of the series was based on that of the penultimate round. That cost me second place in the GP. It was a great track and fun to drive. But still, I'm a little frustrated because it could have been better. I'm already looking forward to Saint-Jean D'Angely next weekend. That is a circuit that I really like.”
Ken Roczen, Teka Suzuki Europe (3-5, 4e overalls):
“I don't know why I have so little luck, but it has to stop! In the first series I had a very good start but then I had that little problem with Jeffrey. During the rest of the series I did my utmost. In the second heat it happened again: Anstie crashed right in front of me and I couldn't move. However, I will not hang my head. The circuit was something completely different from what we are used to and it was fun to drive here. The team did a good job and now we are going to France.”
Shaun Simpson, Red Bull KTM (9-3, 5e overalls):
“Driving here was very different. It was hot, the circuit was very fast and the long gullies in the starting field made it difficult to get a good start here. I already felt tired after the first fifteen minutes of the first series. In the second series it went better and I also had a better rhythm.”
Jeremy Van Horebeek, Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki (5-8, 6e overalls):
“Saturday was a fantastic day. I was second fastest all day long and had my best qualifying ever. My first start today wasn't that good. It took me twenty minutes to get into a good rhythm. But once I got there I was able to drive from 12th to fifth place with good lap times. That obviously gave us confidence for the second series. However, in the second corner things went wrong and I had to drive around it. I fought my way to sixth place, then made a mistake and lost a few places. When I was back in sixth place the race was stopped. Unfortunately I was only eighth the previous lap and that lap was considered the last lap. In recent weeks I have always been one of the fastest riders, but unfortunately that has never been reflected in my results.”
Jake Nicholls, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK (10-7, 7e overalls)
“I'm happy that I can return home with a 10-6 in the series. But what's more important is that I beat the guys who are just ahead of me in the World Cup in both series. So it was a good thing to catch up on them a few points. It took me a while to get used to the speed of the track, but that was true for all European riders. I would also like to thank KTM USA for providing me with a very good running bike. It was a good trip with encouraging results.”
Arnaud Tonus, Teka Suzuki Europe (7-11, 8e overalls):
“In the first moto I had a very bad start. I still don't know what happened there because the second one wasn't very good either. So that is clearly an aspect that we need to work on and improve. I pulled out all the stops on the first lap of the first moto and was about thirteenth. I then kept going and eventually finished seventh. A pretty good race and my rhythm was OK too. I was just regular. On the third lap of the second moto I crashed hard and then I had to work hard again to make it into the top eleven. Then the red flag was shown. I'm disappointed with that crash and my starts because I just know I can do much better. I did enjoy the circuit. Tomorrow I fly home. We have a house near Bordeaux and I am going to rest there for a few days before we go to St. Jean.”
Gautier Paulin, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team (11-9, 10e overalls):
“Today it wasn't exactly easy. I had a bad start in the first moto and Herlings crashed right in front of me on the first slope. As a result I lost a lot of places and since this circuit is very fast, getting back to the front was not easy. My speed is still not what it should be. I ended up being eleventh but I rode around nervous and tense. In the second heat I had a good start but crashed when I lost control of the front wheel on the slippery part of a descent. I also felt a little sick today. This was just a bad weekend for me. I have to hope more from my home GP.”
Jeffrey Herlings (8-DNF, 14e overalls):
“This circuit was a huge difference and much faster than what we are used to in Europe. I really didn't have much luck with it, but I still thought it was a cool experience.”
Harri Kullas, Yamaha Monster Energy Gariboldi MX Team (DNF-10, 15e overalls):
“I had a very good start in the first series. I was fourth and after the second corner even second. However, after two laps I had a problem with the engine and the series was already over. Just bad luck that you can't do anything about. We changed the block and then went all out again in the second series. In the second corner I made up a few places. Driving went well until the bridge (The Red Bull arch) fell on my head. I was lucky that I suffered nothing and was still classified 10th. Glen Helen was a bit of a mix of everything and I enjoyed it.”
Photo Credits: CDS Images
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