MX2 reactions after Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Marvin Musquin, Red Bull KTM (GP winner):
“This was my best weekend so far. Just like in Glen Helen I had two very good starts. Overtaking was difficult here and so a good start was vital here. I had a lot of confidence in myself and the KTM. Winning here in front of my own fans and the French public was perfect for me. I owe my good starts to my engine. I did a good job again this weekend for the World Cup.”
Zach Osborne, Bike it Cosworth Yamaha (3rd overall):
“By crashing on the first lap, I made it very difficult for myself. I was therefore surprised that I was still on the podium. If the circuit had been completed as quickly as yesterday, this would not have been the case. Everything is going well at the moment: the speed is there, I am in good shape and the bike is running fantastic. If everything clicks as it does now, you will also achieve good results. On the last lap of the first moto I couldn't jump the triple on the slope because I was afraid of landing on a doubled rider. I also didn't know Herlings was so close. Normally I am a fairly aggressive rider and am now in excellent shape which allowed me to ride constantly aggressively in the second moto. I just did what I could.”
Shaun Simpson, Red Bull KTM (4th overall):
“On Saturday the track was hard, fast and dusty and I finished fifth in qualifying. With a view to today's heats, that was a good starting position. After the rain last night the circuit was difficult and there was only one line. I had a big crash together with Ken Roczen. It took me a lot of time and energy to get back into the game. It was difficult, but in the end I finished twelfth. I rode well, the speed was there and my lap times were at the level of the leaders. After the start of series two I was in the lead for a while, but Marvin quickly passed me. I had a pretty easy race in moto two. Like many others, I had a good and a bad run today. So I didn't lose too much in the World Cup standings, because I'm still fifth.
Arnaud Tonus, Teka Suzukii (6th overall):
"It was a good day. I had a good rhythm and was able to get close to the top 5 again, which is a good result for me. In the first moto it was hectic again in the first corner. I finished about 12th but after that it was difficult to overtake other riders. Once I crashed together with Paulin, when we were involved in an intense duel. But I was still able to finish eighth. In the second series I had a better start and was quickly in the front ranks, so everything went a bit easier. It was a good series, although I got a bit tired towards the end and Paulin was able to pass me.”
Jeffrey Herlings, Red Bull KTM (5th overall):
“My first moto was very good. I hung second behind Marvin after the start and stayed there for most of the moto. Towards the end I was overtaken by Osborne. But in the last corner I caught him and ended up second. In the second moto I didn't have such a good start. I was tenth but was able to come back to third place. Then I had a huge crash. I was immediately back in the suit and had to fight my way to the front. In the end I was just one point short of being on the podium. Bad luck, but things still look good for the championship. I am strong and the engine runs well. My speed is there, we just have to keep working hard.”
Gautier Paulin, Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team (8th overall):
“I had a bad start in the first heat, but that was entirely my own fault. The circuit was very muddy. The mud stuck to my boots and upon landing, started to weigh on the leg I broke earlier in the season. I didn't trust that thing too much. As a result, I started making mistakes and would crash twice. Once with Tonus and later when I wanted to catch him back on the last lap but crashed into a bank too quickly and went over it. had a bad start in the first moto which was totally my fault. Too bad because I wanted to be on the podium here, but that result made that not possible. The result wasn't good for me today, but I rode like in training and can just play with the bike. So that's all right. Two laps before the end of series two I set the fastest MX2 lap time. If you can do that after two months of injuries, your fitness is pretty good. In the coming weeks I'm really going to go for it. I want to be on the podium as soon as possible and win GPs.”
Christophe Charlier, Yamaha Monster Gariboldi (9th overall):
“I'm happy that I can come back in this way after my hand injury. I was fifth for a long time during the first heat, but then I crashed briefly and Roelants passed me. I had a good start in the second heat, but I crashed on the first lap, leaving me far behind. I concentrated on passing as many riders as possible and was very pleased that I eventually crossed the finish line in 11th place. My first home GP was fun, the crowd encouraged me every lap and that is a special experience.”
Steven Frossard, Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki (10th overall):
“It was a difficult weekend for me because I had a bad start in both heats. Sand had been placed behind the starting gate and that was not ideal for us. Overtaking was difficult today because after the storm this morning there was actually only one line in most places. I quickly moved up to fourth place but couldn't find a suitable place to overtake Herlings. Eventually I started riding his rhythm. The second start was a lot worse and then I crashed while getting through the first lap. So I finished 27th, I had injured my thumb again, but I was still able to finish 14th.”
Harri Kullas, Yamaha Monster Energy Gariboldi (11th overall):
“I'm very happy with this weekend because I left America with a mild concussion after that bridge (referring to the Red Bull arch) fell on me. I was tired for a whole week and could barely concentrate on Saturday, but today everything turned out fine. After a good night's sleep I also had a better feeling on the bike today. I had two good starts, each time in the top ten and rode intelligent races. In the end I came 11th overall, which I'm happy with. Now I'm going to rest for a week and prepare to be 100% in Germany.”
Ken Roczen, Teka Suzuki (12th overall):
“I'm disappointed because I had bad luck again. In the second heat I collided with a doubled rider who I thought would let me through. But then he changed track and crashed into me. In the first series I wanted to pass Shaun Simpson and opted for the outside track at the top of the slope, unfortunately the two tracks came together in a gully and we ran into each other there. I had to stretch my back a bit but I was lucky it wasn't anything worse. Next weekend we have a match for the German championship and then it's off to Teutschenthal.”
Jeremy Van Horebeek, Monster Energy CLS Kawasaki (14th overall):
“My results frustrate me enormously. I am not where I would like to be and we will have to work hard on my starts. They simply have to improve and we have to concentrate on that before we start the next GPs. I've already dropped way too many points this season. I crashed in both heats and coming back was not easy because the circuit actually only had one line.”
Jake Nicholls, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK (15th overall):
“Today was something of a nightmare. It actually started on Saturday when I had problems with my settings and crashed in the qualifying race. During the warm-up things suddenly seemed to go a lot better. The circuit looked completely different after the rain. I was 11th and on my way to making up places when my front wheel broke off in the same corner where I crashed on Saturday. It was quite a hard fall and I hurt my leg. The bike was a bit bent, but I was still able to finish fifteenth. In the second series I had a terribly bad start, but I was still able to fight my way to ninth place. With five minutes to go I was crashed by Maddii. I had been shouting at him for two loops to let me through, but he wouldn't get out of the way. For a moment it looked like he was veering to the side in a bend. I passed him but then he cut back inside and hit my front wheel. I still finished thirteenth and rode my fastest lap towards the end. My riding was good, but it wasn't going well for me today.”
Photos credit: CDS, Ray Archer, Massimo Zanzani
Also to read
Gajser narrowly takes pole ahead of Herlings, Prado P7
Tim Gajser took pole position during the fifth race of the FIM MXGP World Championship. The Honda rider (photo) wins the qualifying race ahead of Jeffrey Herlings and Romain Febvre. Brian Bogers and…Everts takes pole in Agueda ahead of Elzinga
The fifth “RAM Qualifying Race” of the season was won by Liam Everts. The Belgian rider wins pole for the Portuguese Grand Prix by a wide margin. Rick…Valk the best mud master in Agueda
Under very wet conditions, Cas Valk won the first round of the third race of the European 250cc Championship. The KTM rider managed to…Zanocz wins the first heat ahead of Doensen
In a rainy Agueda, Noel Zanocz won the first round of the third race of the European 125cc Championship Presented by FMF Racing! The Fantic rider won ahead of KTM rider…
Your reactions