PR: Damon Graulus remains hungry in Latvia
After a strong qualifying race on Saturday, in which he finished 14th, Damon Graulus showed his speed again on Sunday. Graulus rode his 24MX Honda to 15th place in the opening race but a poor start and several crashes prevented a strong result in race two.
The former French, Dutch and Belgian MX2 champion started his Latvian MXGP well. In the free practice Damon set the 14th time, followed by an 18th time in the timed practice. Graulus started the qualifying race with confidence. Despite the tough track conditions, he remained fast and steady throughout the race. On the first lap the 24MX Honda rider took over Butron. After that he rode consistently in 14th. He finished just 0,7 seconds behind Romain Febvre.
In the first race, Damon started around twentieth place. Once again the young Belgian showed what he has to offer. He managed to climb strongly to 14th place, but in the final phase he could no longer hold off the upcoming MXGP world champion Tim Gajser.
The second series became a frustrating experience for Graulus. Twice he came back irresistibly on a very treacherous and difficult sand track. He managed to climb from 31st position to 19th. However, during a late offensive for 18th position, Damon made a mistake on the whoops. He had to settle for a disappointing 21st place, just outside the World Championship points. Although the end result does not at all reflect what had been going on, the 24MX Honda rider is increasingly establishing himself as a permanent fixture for the top 15 in his third MXGP of the season.
Damon Graulus: “The circuit in Kegums was very treacherous. I don't know if I ever knew the job there was that hard. That in itself doesn't matter to me because I like it when things are difficult! The weekend started positively on Saturday and I was able to continue the trend during the first heat. I am very disappointed with the second heat. What's more, I'm mostly angry with myself. The speed was good again and I felt strong. This allowed me to come back every time. In the first lap I was hit by someone. The other two falls were my own fault. The third crash in particular, a few corners before the end, leaves a bitter aftertaste. Stupid, but it's no different and I have learned from it. We'll keep fighting and I'm looking forward to what we can show in Teutschenthal!”
MXGP Latvia, Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:09.136; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:13.921; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:16.063; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:16.389; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:35.413; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:40.139; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:44.288; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:45.039; 9. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:51.342; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:54.345; 11. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:56.183; 12. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:07.025; 13. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:22.982; 14. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +1:26.181; 15. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), +1:31.681; 16. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +1:37.101; 17. Harry Kullas (EST, Husqvarna), +1:37.653; 18. Valentine Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:41.622; 19. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +1:43.784; 20. Philip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), +1:45.643; 21. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:45.660; 22. Priet Ratsep (EST, Honda), +1:53.213; 23. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 24. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 25. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 26. Ander Valentine (ESP, Honda), -1 lap(s); 27. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 28. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 29. Ryan Houghton (GBR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 30. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 31. Eddie Deermarker (SWE, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 32. Viacheslav Golovkin (RUS, KTM), -1 lap(s); 33. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 34. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), -3 lap(s); 35. Iron Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), -7 lap(s); 36. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -13 lap(s); 37. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), -14 lap(s)
MXGP Latvia, Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:23.826; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:17.846; 3. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +0:23.847; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:35.475; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:43.502; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:47.908; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:49.886; 8. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:53.082; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:55.160; 10. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:59.601; 11. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:17.811; 12. Harry Kullas (EST, Husqvarna), +1:27.262; 13. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:35.697; 14. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +1:39.977; 15. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:41.414; 16. Priet Ratsep (EST, Honda), +1:42.593; 17. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), +1:44.116; 18. Ken De Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +1:54.689; 19. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), +1:57.135; 20. Philip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), +2:04.307; 21. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), -1 lap(s); 22. Ander Valentin (ESP, Honda), -1 lap(s); 23. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 24. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 25. Eddie Hjortmarker (SWE, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 26. Ryan Houghton (GBR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 27. Viacheslav Golovkin (RUS, KTM), -1 lap(s); 28. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 29. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), -2 lap(s); 30. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -6 lap(s); 31. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), -7 lap(s); 32. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), -7 lap(s); 33. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), -11 lap(s); 34. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -17 lap(s); 35. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), -17 lap(s);
Final score MXGP Kegums, Latvia
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 38 p.; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 38 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BELL, COW), 38 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 28 p.; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 27 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 23 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 23 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 22 p.; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), 20 p.; 11. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 19 p.; 12. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 18 p.; 13. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 16 p.; 14. Jordi Tixier (FRA, CAW), 16 p.; 15. Harry Kullas (EAST, HUS), 13 p.; 16. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 13 p.; 17. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 7 p.; 18. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 6 p.; 19. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 6 p.; 20. Prith Ratsep (EST, HON), 5 p.; 21. Ken de Dycker (BEL, SUZ), 5 p.; 22. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 4 p.; 23. Valentine Guillod (SUI, HON), 3 p.; 24. Peter Irt (SLO, YAM), 2 p.; 25. Philip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 2 p.; 26. Ander Valentine (ESP, HON), 0 p.; 27. Maxime Desprey (FRA, CAW), 0 p.; 28. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), 0 p.; 29. Eddie Deermarker (SWE, SUZ), 0 p.; 30. Ryan Houghton (GBR, YAM), 0 p.; 31. Viacheslav Golovkin (RUS, KTM), 0 p.; 32. Bryan Boulard (BEL, YAM), 0 p.; 33. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), 0 p.; 34. Iron Wheat (SLO, HOUSE), 0 p.; 35. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 0 p.; 36. Clemen Gercar (SLO, HUS), 0 p.; 37. Alexander Lupin (STONE, HON), 0 p
MXGP standings after 7 laps
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 258 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 241 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 220 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 214 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BELL, COWS), 210 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 204 p.; 7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 174 p.; 8. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 147 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 139 p.; 10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 133 p.; 11. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 124 p.; 12. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 123 p.; 13. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), 106 p.; 14. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 96 p.; 15. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 90 p.; 16. Leok Tunnel (EST, HUS), 73 p.; 17. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 55 p.; 18. Jordi Tixier (FRA, CAW), 52 p.; 19. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 49 p.; 20. Valentine Guillod (SUI, HON), 34 p.; 21. Alessandro Lupin (STONE, HON), 30 p.; 22. Harry Kullas (EAST, HUS), 21 p.; 23. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 15 p.; 24. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 13 p.; 25. Philip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 8 p.; 26. Maxime Desprey (FRA, CAW), 7 p.; 27. Jeffrey DeWolf (BEL, KTM), 7 p.; 29. Prith Ratsep (EST, HON), 5 p.; 30. Ken de Dycker (BEL, SUZ), 5 p.; 31. Jethro Salazar (ECU, HON), 4 p.; 32. Gert Kristinov (EST, HON), 3 p.; 33. Steven Lenoir (FRA, COW), 3 p.; 34. Peter Irt (SLO, YAM), 2 p.; 35. Joaquin Poly (ARG, HON), 1 p.; 36. Farhan Hendro Fahrodjie (MOTHER, COW), 1 p.;
Photos: ShotbyBavo
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