Successful MXGP opener for Damon Graulus!
24MX Honda rider Damon Graulus and his fellow 'European MXGP' riders were looking forward to their first MXGP race of the season. This took place last weekend in Trentino, Italy, the fifth round of the World Cup. The 22-year-old Belgian once again proved his form and showed that his podium finishes in international competitions were no fluke. Graulus finished 16th in the fiercely fought heatsde in 19. de.
In the preparatory races, Damon had been able to compete with strong competitors, but nowhere did the field come close to what awaited him on the Pietramurata circuit. Yet Graulus quickly managed to claim his place in the select company of overseas and factory riders. Like an experienced professional, the 24MX Honda started its weekend in a controlled and motivated manner. That resulted in an excellent 17de place in the time training. He followed this at just 0,8 seconds out of 11de Tanel Leok. After a strong start in the top 10, the former Coupe de L'avenir winner suffered from pumped up arms. Nevertheless, he competed as 16 on Saturdayde .
The differences on the compact and smooth track were also very small the next day. For most of the first race, Graulus was in a duel with Glenn Coldenhoff. For 30 minutes plus two laps he battled for the 17de place even though his lap times kept pace with those of the top 10! Unfortunately the 18 slippedde gave him the thumbs up when he made a slide in round 14. A final attack allowed him to reach home rider Alessandro Lupino, but a successful overtake was no longer possible.
In the opening lap of the second moto Damon was 14de. Because he lost valuable time behind Ander Valentin in the initial phase, Graulus lost a lot of energy. He kept up with Shaun Simpson for laps, but at the very end he lost one position to Maxime Desprey.
Damon Graulus: “As everyone knows, my winter preparation was anything but ideal due to the uncertainty surrounding the team. I am convinced that we have made our point this weekend. Taking into account those difficult circumstances, I am satisfied with where we are after the first MXGP of the season. I also know that the results are not a reflection of all the work we put in nor the way I rode, but that's MXGP! You are riding against the best riders in the world and it almost sounds absurd to have to compete against Jeffrey Herlings and Glenn Coldenhoff in a duel for 16th place! However, the level is so high that the slightest hiccup or one slower lap is immediately punished. We can now continue to build from here and I look forward to Valkenswaard with confidence.”
MXGP Race 1
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 33:35.084; 2. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:02.278; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:06.158; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:07.369; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:09.722; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:11.423; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (US, Honda), +0:40.550; 8. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.972; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:44.773; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:47.504; 11. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:49.381; 12. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +0:58.602; 13. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:02.382; 14. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +1:02.581; 15. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), +1:07.778; 16. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:09.130; 17. Glenn Coldenhoff (NW, KTM), +1:10.992; 18. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +1:17.343; 19. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), +1:20.352; 20. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:37.124; 21. Ander Valentin (ESP, Honda), +1:41.847; 22. Stefano Pezzuto (ITA, Yamaha), +1:43.212; 23. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:43.761; 24. Valentine Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:47.156; 25. Harry Kullas (EST, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 26. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 27. Lucas Imbert (FRA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 28. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 29. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 30. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 31. Matthew Bonini (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 32. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 33. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 34. Johannes Klein (AUT, KTM), -2 lap(s); 35. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -7 lap(s); 36. Lukas Neurauter (AUT, KTM), -10 lap(s); 37. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), -14 lap(s); 38. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -14 lap(s); 39. Pier Filippo Bertuzzo (ITA, Honda), -19 lap(s);
MXGP Race 2
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 33:36.300; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:04.165; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:06.147; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:06.881; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:08.830; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:10.714; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:12.642; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:15.933; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:23.945; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:31.173; 11. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +0:37.583; 12. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +0:44.322; 13. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +0:45.852; 14. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:46.994; 15. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:57.022; 16. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), +0:58.256; 17. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:58.922; 18. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:03.511; 19. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:07.353; 20. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), +1:11.677; 21. Harri Kullas (EST, Husqvarna), +1:22.275; 22. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +1:37.173; 23. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:40.965; 24. Lukas Neurauter (AUT, KTM), +1:42.234; 25. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), +1:46.880; 26. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 27. Clamps Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 28. Lucas Imbert (FRA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 29. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 30. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 31. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 32. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 33. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 34. Matteo Bonini (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 35. Johannes Klein (AUT, KTM), -1 lap(s); 36. Ander Valentin (ESP, Honda), -7 lap(s); 37. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), -12 lap(s); 38. Stefano Pezzuto (ITA, Yamaha), -15 lap(s);
MXGP of Trentino final standings
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 47 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 45 p.; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 36 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 34 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 33 p.; 6. Clement Desalle (BELL, COWS), 32 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 22 p.; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), 19 p.; 11. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 18 p.; 12. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 17 p.; 13. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 17 p.; 14. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 15 p.; 15. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 12 p.; 16. Alessandro Lupin (STONE, HON), 11 p.; 17. Tunnel Leok (EST, HUS), 8 p.; 18. Maxime Desprey (FRA, CAW), 7 p.; 19. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 7 p.; 20. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 7 p.; 21. Valentine Guillod (SUI, HON), 2 p.; 22. Harry Kullas (EAST, HUS), 0 p.; 23. Ken de Dycker (BEL, SUZ), 0 p.; 24. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 25. Luke Neurauter (AUT, KTM), 0 p.; 26. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), 0 p.; 27. Clemen Gercar (SLO, HUS), 0 p.; 28. Lucas Imbert (FRA, KTM), 0 p.; 29. Peter Irt (SLO, YAM), 0 p.; 30. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), 0 p.; 31. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 0 p.; 32. Bryan Boulard (BEL, YAM), 0 p.; 33. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), 0 p.; 34. Matteo Bonini (NOW, CAW), 0 p.; 35. Johannes Klein (AUT, KTM), 0 p.; 36. Ander Valentine (ESP, HON), 0 p.; 37. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 0 p.; 38. Stephen Pezzuto (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 39. Pier Philip Bertuzzo (NOW, HON), 0 p.;
Photos: CDS, shotbyBavo
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