MX2 World Championship: reactions after Saint-Jean d'Angély
After the French MX2 GP there was no shortage of talking points in the paddock. Tommy Searle won his first GP at the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki and both Red Bull Teka KTM factory riders failed to reach the podium for the first time this season.
GP winner: Tommy Searle, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (4-1)
“The team is doing everything they can to give me a bike that you can win with. This morning we changed the suspension settings and it paid off. In the beginning of the first moto I made a few mistakes but by the end of the race I was the fastest. When I saw Roczen rolling on the ground in the opening stages of the first moto I felt compassion for him. Nevertheless, I had to take full advantage of his crash. I told myself this moto was for me. I passed Osborne and took the lead but then Herlings came charging up. He made mistakes and I knew I could pass him again before the end of the moto. It fanned out wide in a corner and I put the bike inside and then went for it. So far I have been mostly regular, but I have the feeling that I am also getting faster now. I am very happy to give Jean-Jacques, Gael and the rest of the team victory in their home GP. We are getting stronger week by week, but I will have to win more GPs if I want to take the title.”
Second: Zach Osborne, Bike It Cosworth Yamaha (3-3)
“The speed had been there for a whole season, but the results were not yet there. It feels good to finally be able to convert that into a podium today. I didn't feel too comfortable leading in the second moto, but I was able to put it right again. Halfway through the moto I passed Gautier. After a few difficult laps in the beginning I got through again. But by the time I got to Gautier Tommy Herlings had already passed him by. I haven't trained with the bike since the American GP, but I knew my fitness was good. Now I want to score a series of podiums again and next week there will be a good circuit for me with Agueda.”
Third: Gautier Paulin, Monster Energy Yamaha (2-4)
“I felt a lot better than in Brazil. I now enjoy driving more and can play with the bike again. It was a shame that Ken crashed, but that meant that the cards were thoroughly reshuffled. I was fast today, but in the second moto I made a number of mistakes. I couldn't pass when I wanted to. I was always close, but never close enough. The circuit was slippery and in some places very hard. The slopes were especially difficult on a 250 because if you made a mistake at the foot, you immediately ruined the rest of the section. But things are going better for me now anyway. I was on the podium of a French GP for the very first time and I am very happy with that. This result gives courage to keep going and, above all, to be regular.”
Fourth: Jeffrey Herlings, Red Bull Teka KTM (7-2)
“I led the second moto until three laps before the end, but then I got passed (by Searle, ed.) and so I wasn't on the podium. I did make up a point on Ken in the championship. Even if I didn't win today, I didn't lose either."
Fifth: Ken Roczen, Red Bull Teka KTM (1-11)
“I had two incredible starts, each time two lengths ahead. However, in the second moto I made a mistake on the first lap and hit the ground hard. I kept riding but then I had a small crash and ended up finishing eleventh. I now have a 13 point lead. I had to concede a point but it's not that bad. I'm not too badly injured, although I do feel a bit of pain. Tomorrow it will probably be worse and I will feel stiff.”
Seventh: Arnaud Tonus, Bike It Cosworth Yamaha (5-7)
“Today started well with a good rhythm and a fast lap in the warm-up. However, in the first moto my start wasn't that good and I finished fifth. Actually not much happened, I rode the entire heat alone. In the second moto I got out of the starting blocks quickly, but then something went wrong. I still don't know what but I must have missed a gear or something. Then I rode well and was waiting to pass Charlier. Just when I was about to attack I had a heavy crash and I was really disappointed because I had made another mistake. If you fall, you immediately lose that good rhythm you have built up. Anyway, things were already going a lot better here than in Brazil and I hope for more improvement in Agueda.”
Eighth: Joël Roelants, Negaan JM Racing KTM (8-10)
Team manager Jacky Martens: “Saint-Jean d'Angély was not an easy GP for us this year. The course is rock hard and very technical, and with its gigantic jumps, not entirely without danger, as Jordi found out today. In addition, it was warm and very oppressive due to the high humidity. Considering the podium place that Joël managed to achieve here last year, he is obviously not satisfied with his result today. However, Joël gave everything today, he is not 100% in form at the moment and that is also taking its toll conditionally. In addition, at times Harri Kullas seems to be a tease for Joël. We have seen before that, although Joël is faster, he has problems overtaking Kullas, and this really slowed him down, especially during the second heat.”
Ninth: Harri Kullas, Monster Energy Yamaha (10-9)
“This is probably one of the worst tracks of the season for me. When it started to rain yesterday everyone was displeased, but I was actually happy. In the first heat the ground was a little softer, but I lost a lot of places in the first lap. Nevertheless, the result was OK. I didn't have such a good start in the second moto and hung close to Roelants. We are close in the World Cup standings so I knew it was important to pass him. I overtook a number of riders and ended up back in the top 10. I am quite satisfied with my weekend and with my points harvest.”
Tenth: Max Anstie, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (17-6)
“I learn something new every GP I ride. This weekend was a completely new experience because I had never driven in Saint-Jean d'Angély before. I was unlucky in the first moto. I had a bad start and then immediately crashed. Afterwards I made up some ground but I crashed again. I can't explain why my starts weren't so good this weekend. In the second moto I was in 6th or thereabouts but I managed to move through and eventually finished XNUMXthe after a strong heat. I had a duel with Roczen until he went down and that was good for my confidence. Now there will be a number of circuits that I don't know, so it won't be easy. But I am sure that with a team like this behind me I will continue to achieve good results.”
Twenty-fifth: Mike Kras, Beursfoon Suzuki (22-22)
“It was a difficult start on the technically hard circuit in Saint-Jean d'Angély. As the day progressed, my riding improved and my confidence grew. I learned a lot last weekend because I'm not familiar with these types of technical GP circuits. Still, I can look forward to Portugal with a good feeling. A circuit with more grip, which suits me better.”
Photo Credits: Kawasaki Racing/Sarah Guttierez, Yamaha Racing, KTM Images/Ray Archer,
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