De Dycker and Graulus about MXGP Ottobiano
The very first MXGP in Ottobiano was a true test for riders and bikes. Due to the large amount of sand that was brought in especially for this race and the extreme heat, the riders had to go very deep again, just like in Russia. Ken De Dycker was the best scoring 24MX Honda rider, scoring 6 World Championship points. As a result, Ken climbs to 22nd place in the standings, Damon Graulus is now 23rd.
The qualifying match also took place on Saturday in sweltering conditions. De Dycker and Graulus were 22nd and 23rd respectively at the starting gate. Although day one offered the riders quite a challenge, this was nothing compared to Sunday when the circuit was even tougher and twice thirty minutes plus two laps had to be completed.
Damon Graulus was around 18th in the first race. The former Belgian and Dutch MX2 champion
had some good lines and was able to climb to 16th place. Yet it also quickly became clear that Graulus was not his usual combative self. He finished the round with character and still managed to score 2 points. De Dycker was slightly faster than his teammate on the compact Italian circuit. Just starting in the top 20, he fought his way to 17th place.
The last race of the weekend was a matter of who could have recovered best between heats and who could tolerate the heat one more time. So a war of attrition. At first, De Dycker seemed to have a good starting position. When he went through a berm in the opening lap - he was 16th at the time - he was suddenly faced with a tough task. Ken made the best of a bad situation by moving up from 31st to 19th. Graulus did everything he could to score points again, but despite his efforts he had to settle for 21st position. With that he just missed the last World Cup point.
Ken Dycker: “I had little time on the bike in the run-up to Ottobiano. I had to wait for the motorcycle to come back from Russia. Then I had a small crash during training, which meant I could only ride once after Orlyonok, which was far from ideal. Both on Saturday and in the first series I had a nice start around 14th place, but I couldn't find my way. As a result, I fell back, but luckily I was able to make up a few places towards the end. In the second moto I was initially around 16th place when I went off. It took me a long time before I could move on. Coming back was quite successful, but at the end I was completely exhausted. It was a difficult weekend, I also had some problems with my suspension setup. But I know there is more to it if I can train properly again for the next GPs.”
Damon Graulus: "I have done everything to prepare as best as possible for a race like the one in Ottobiano. But it seems that in extremely hot conditions like last weekend I have to lose some of my capabilities. In the first moto I still felt pretty good. Still, I had to go quite deep to finish 19th, just after Bobryshev. In the second heat I was 19 for the first 10 minutes, then I met the man with the hammer. To get some air I threw away my glasses but it was one long struggle to cross the finish line. It was disappointing not to score any points, but I really couldn't do it anymore! The big jumps and tough track were also far from ideal for my injured thumb. Still, I will have to grit my teeth for a while because we have decided not to go under the knife yet.”
The 24MX Honda team travels to Agueda, Portugal this weekend for the 12th round of the FIM MXGP World Championship.
MXGP Race 1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 35:16.580; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:18.376; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:35.788; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:40.227; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:42.471; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:43.912; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:50.960; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:52.229; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:52.620; 10. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:57.487; 11. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:15.317; 12. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:25.142; 13. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +1:25.968; 14. Milko Potisek (FRA, Yamaha), +1:42.331; 15. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 16. Priit Ratsep (EST, Honda), -1 lap(s); 17. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX Honda), -1 lap(s); 18. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), -1 lap(s); 19. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 21. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 23. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 24. Matthew Bonini (ITA, Kawasaki), -2 lap(s); 25. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -2 lap(s); 26. Ryan Houghton (GBR, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 27. Luke Neurauter (AUT, KTM), -2 lap(s); 28. Nicolas Bender (SUI, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 29. Giovanni Bertuccelli (ITA, Honda), -3 lap(s); 30. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 31. Iron Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), -5 lap(s); 32. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), -7 lap(s); 33. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), -16 lap(s)
MXGP Race 2: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 35:31.111; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:32.821; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:37.107; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:46.221; 5. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +0:47.845; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:54.255; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:56.107; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:10.955; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +1:16.702; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +1:34.478; 11. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +1:54.756; 12. Evgeny Bobryshev (US, Honda), +2:21.678; 13. Glenn Coldenhoff (NOW, KTM), -1 lap(s); 14. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 15. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 16. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 17. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Priit Ratsep (EST, Honda), -1 lap(s); 19. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Matteo Bonini (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 21. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), -2 lap(s); 22. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -2 lap(s); 23. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 24. Ryan Houghton (GBR, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 25. Nicolas Bender (SUI, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 26. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 27. Luke Neurauter (AUT, KTM), -2 lap(s); 28. Milko Potisek (FRA, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 29. Giovanni Bertuccelli (ITA, Honda), -4 lap(s); 30. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), -7 lap(s); 31. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), -11 lap(s);
MXGP Lombardy final standings: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 36 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 33 p.; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 32 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 31 p.; 7. Clement Desalle (BELL, COWS), 27 p.; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 23 p.; 10. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 21 p.; 11. Alessandro Lupin (STONE, HON), 20 p.; 12. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), 16 p.; 13. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 13 p.; 14. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 13 p.; 15. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 12 p.; 16. Jordi Tixier (FRA, CAW), 10 p.; 17. Prith Ratsep (EST, HON), 8 p.; 18. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 7 p.; 19. Milko Potisek (FRA, YAM), 7 p.; 20. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 6 p.; 21. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), 5 p.; 22. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 2 p.; 23. Matteo Bonini (NOW, COW), 1 p.; 24. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 0 p.; 25. Peter Irt (SLO, YAM), 0 p.; 26. Ryan Houghton (GBR, YAM), 0 p.; 27. Nicholas Bender (SUI, HUS), 0 p.; 28. Bryan Boulard (BEL, YAM), 0 p.; 29. Luke Neurauter (AUT, KTM), 0 p.; 30. Giovanni Bertuccelli (ITA, HON), 0 p.; 31. Maxime Desprey (FRA, CAW), 0 p.; 32. Iron Irrit (SLO, HOUSE), 0 p.; 33. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), 0 p.;
FIM MXGP World Championship standings after 11 rounds: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 431 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 364 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BELL, COW), 361 p.; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 335 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 282 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 275 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 261 p.; 8. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 255 p.; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 245 p.; 10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 227 p.; 11. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 223 p.; 12. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 216 p.; 13. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), 187 p.; 14. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 123 p.; 15. Leok Tunnel (EST, HUS), 123 p.; 16. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 104 p.; 17. Alexander Lupin (STONE, HON), 94 p.; 18. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 90 p.; 19. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 75 p.; 20. Jordi Tixier (FRA, CAW), 71 p.; 21. Valentine Guillod (SUI, HON), 61 p.; 22. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 37 p.; 23. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 35 p.; 24. Harri Kullas (EST, HUS), 21 p.; 25. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 16 p.; 26. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 15 p.; 27. Priit Ratsep (EST, HON), 13 p.; 28. Milko Potisek (FRA, YAM), 12 p.; 29. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), 12 p.; 30. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), 11 p.; 31. Evgeny Mikhaylov (RUS, HUS), 10 p.; 32. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 8 p.; 33. Xavier Boog (FRA, HON), 8 p.; 34. Yentel Martens (BEL, HUS), 6 p.; 35. Viacheslav Golovkin (RUS, KTM), 6 p.; 36. Jetro Salazar (ECU, HON), 4 p.; 37. Vladislav Leonov (RUS, KTM), 4 p.; 38. Jens Getteman (BEL, KAW), 4 p.; 39. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), 3 p.; 40. Gert Krestinov (EST, HON), 3 p.; 41. Steven Lenoir (FRA, KAW), 3 p.; 42. Ander Valentin (ESP, HON), 2 p.; 43. Peter Irt (SLO, YAM), 2 p.; 44. Joaquin Poli (ARG, HON), 1 p.; 45. Matteo Bonini (ITA, KAW), 1 p.; 46. Farhan Hendro Fahrodjie (INA, KAW), 1 p.
Photos: shotbyBavo & CDS
Also to read
The final of the MXGP Championship will be held in Spain
Infront Moto Racing today announced that the Spanish venue Cózar will host the exciting final round of the 2024 MXGP Championship. It is the third Spanish GP…Team HRC Honda to Portugal with Tim Gajser as the only rider
The 2024 MXGP World Championship kicks off the first of three straight races this weekend in Agueda, Portugal for the fifth round in this exciting battle. The next weekend it will…VIDEO: Roger De Coster about communication with the riders
In a video interview with Roger De Coster, the difficult start of the KTM boys in the US is discussed. It's about the set-up of the engines and how everyone...An update on Tyla van de Poel's injury
Tyla van de Poel crashed during the EMX125 in Arco di Trento and broke his tibia and fibula. Another pilot hit his front wheel on a ski jump, causing him to...
Your reactions