PR: Damon Graulus breaks the pain barrier in Switzerland
Home riders Arnaud Tonus and Jeremy Seewer turned things upside down in Frauenfeld, where the 15th round of the Motocross World Championship took place. Under normal circumstances, Ken De Dycker and Damon Graulus both aimed for top-15 finishes, but due to physical ailments the goals had to be adjusted. Ultimately, Graulus, who finished 20th and 16th in the heats, achieved the best end result with an 18th place.
Last year the Swiss GP already had its baptism of fire under a favorable star, but the 2017 edition lifted the event to an even hover level. The results of the home riders created a thrilling atmosphere, but for the 24MX Honda riders it was a weekend of mixed feelings.
Graulus had worked hard on the recovery of his injured shoulder in the week prior to Frauenfeld. Before the weekend, however, it was absolutely unclear whether Damon would actually be able to complete both heats. Although his right shoulder caused excruciating pain, the multiple national MX2 champion completed an excellent qualifying race. Graulus started well and managed to move up to 12th place after three laps. Although he had to give up some places, Damon finished 15th. De Dycker had a difficult Saturday. After all, the former MXoN winner crashed twice. The first time he hurt his hand, the second time he hurt his neck and back.
On Sunday the arena setting of the Frauenfeld circuit was completely full. The weather conditions were now much better so that all matches were played in the summer sun. Keeno performed very regularly in his first moto. He was 17th after the opening lap and would hold that position for the remainder of the race. Teammate Graulus was 18th and followed De Dycker for almost 30 minutes. When Damon hurt his thumb again on a big jump, he had to slow down for a moment, causing Rui Gonçalves and Tanel Leok to come over in extremis. The 23-year-old 24MX Honda rider ultimately finished 20th.
After a better start in the second heat, Graulus moved up to 15th. Damon remained consistent even though he was alone for most of the match. In the end he still managed to score five points. The end of the weekend was too much for 'Keeno'. Even more than in the first moto, De Dycker felt the consequences of his two falls on Saturday. Ken felt dizzy and could not continue safely, forcing him to leave the race after three rounds.
Damon Graulus: “It has been a very, very tough weekend. Beforehand I had no idea whether I would be able to finish at all. To be honest, I have never suffered as much as this GP weekend... That's why I'm proud of myself and glad that I managed to complete the GP weekend successfully! In the past it was sometimes said that I lacked character for the absolute top. I can say that I have made great progress in that area this year. My pace is improving again, but going all out was not an option due to my injuries. Each time I had a good start, which was an important advantage. Riding hurt at this level and still being able to compete is extremely difficult. Under normal circumstances there would certainly have been more, but now I was happy that I could finish and score points.”
Ken Dycker: “This is not the Swiss GP as I had hoped it would go. In the free practice and timed practice I did quite well, but I was unlucky in the qualifying race with two crashes. My seventeenth place in the first race was still okay, but I just lacked energy. After 10 minutes the fat was already off the soup as if I had already ridden two heats! Too bad, because just ahead of me were Searle, Nagl and Strijbos. If I had been able to join that group, there would have been more people. In the second moto I didn't feel good at all. I had a headache and felt dizzy probably from the fall on Saturday, it also seemed like my back was blocked. Hopefully I will feel better for the Keiheuvel tomorrow.”
After a one-year absence, the MXGP championship returns next weekend to Uddevalla, Sweden, where the 16th round will be completed. First, however, De Dycker and Graulus will be at the start of the International Motocross of the Boulder Hill in Balen on August 15.
MXGP Race 1: 1. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 34:40.671; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:00.882; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.419; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:08.563; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:23.095; 6. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:31.501; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:33.556; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:38.368; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (US, Honda), +0:40.735; 10. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:41.371; 11. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +0:44.815; 12. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +0:45.070; 13. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:47.019; 14. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:48.146; 15. Glenn Coldenhoff (NW, KTM), +0:50.090; 16. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:29.163; 17. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX Honda), +1:31.505; 18. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), +1:32.908; 19. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:35.758; 20. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), +1:57.023; 21. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), +2:00.195; 22. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +2:07.481; 23. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), +2:45.041; 24. Stefano Pezzuto (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 25. Stefan Ekerold (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 26. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 27. Jason Clermont (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 28. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 29. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 30. Yves Furlato (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s); 31. Nicolas Bender (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 32. Alain Schafer (SUI, Honda), -1 lap(s); 33. Andy Baumgartner (SUI, KTM), -8 lap(s); 34. Ander Valentin (ESP, Honda), -9 lap(s); 35. Johannes Klein (AUT, KTM), -10 lap(s);
MXGP Race 2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:26.611; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:04.557; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:07.625; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:11.381; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:23.231; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:31.183; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:44.703; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (US, Honda), +0:52.004; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:53.997; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +0:55.213; 11. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:58.258; 12. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +1:01.150; 13. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +1:05.585; 14. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), +1:08.399; 15. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:34.575; 16. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX Honda), +2:01.401; 17. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), +2:03.480; 18. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), +2:05.525; 19. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Andy Baumgartner (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Stefano Pezzuto (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. Stefan Ekerold (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 23. Alain Schafer (SUI, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Jason Clermont (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 25. Yves Furlato (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s); 26. Nicolas Bender (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 27. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 28. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), -6 lap(s); 29. Ander Valentin (ESP, Honda), -6 lap(s); 30. Johannes Klein (AUT, KTM), -8 lap(s); 31. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), -8 lap(s); 32. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), -12 lap(s); 33. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX Honda), -13 lap(s); 34. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), -14 sheet(s); 35. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -15 sheet(s);
MXGP Frauenfeld final standings: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 40 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 40 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 31 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 30 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 25 p.; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 25 p.; 10. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 22 p.; 11. Alessandro Lupin (STONE, HON), 21 p.; 12. Clement Desalle (BELL, COWS), 21 p.; 13. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 18 p.; 14. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 15 p.; 15. Tommy Searle (GBR, CAW), 11 p.; 16. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 10 p.; 17. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), 9 p.; 18. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 6 p.; 19. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), 4 p.; 20. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 4 p.; 21. Iron Irrit (SLO, HOUSE), 3 p.; 22. Peter Irt (SLO, YAM), 2 p.; 23. Tunnel Leok (EST, HUS), 2 p.; 24. Andy Baumgartner (SUI, KTM), 1 p.; 25. Stephen Pezzuto (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 26. Stefan Ekerold (GER, SUZ), 0 p.; 27. Alain Schafer (SUI, HON), 0 p.; 28. Jason Clermont (FRA, COW), 0 p.; 29. Yves Furlato (SUI, KTM), 0 p.; 30. Nicholas Bender (SUI, HUS), 0 p.; 31. Bryan Boulard (BEL, YAM), 0 p.; 32. Ander Valentine (ESP, HON), 0 p.; 33. Johannes Klein (AUT, KTM), 0 p.; 34. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), 0 p.; 35. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), 0 p.
FIM MXGP World Championship standings after 15 rounds: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 605 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 508 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 486 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 483 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 406 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 401 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 358 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 348 p.; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 328 p.; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 320 p.; 11. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 320 p.; 12. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 307 p.; 13. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), 260 p.; 14. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 167 p.; 15. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, HON), 155 p.; 16. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 141 p.; 17. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 123 p.; 18. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 122 p.; 19. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 105 p.; 20. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 79 p.; 21. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 61 p.; 22. Ken de Dycker (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 55 p.; 23. Damon Graulus (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 42 p.; 24. Harri Kullas (EST, HUS), 35 p.; 25. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 28 p.; 26. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 15 p.; 27. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), 14 p.; 28. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), 14 p.; 29. Priit Ratsep (EST, HON), 13 p.; 30. Milko Potisek (FRA, YAM), 12 p.; 31. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 12 p.; 32. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 11 p.; 33. Evgeny Mikhaylov (RUS, HUS), 10 p.; 34. Xavier Boog (FRA, HON), 8 p.; 35. Yentel Martens (BEL, HUS), 6 p.; 36. Viacheslav Golovkin (RUS, KTM), 6 p.; 37. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), 4 p.; 38. Gert Krestinov (EST, HON), 4 p.; 39. Jetro Salazar (ECU, HON), 4 p.; 40. Jens Getteman (BEL, KAW), 4 p.; 41. Peter Irt (SLO, YAM), 4 p.; 42. Vladislav Leonov (RUS, KTM), 4 p.; 43. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), 3 p.; 44. Jernej Irt (SLO, HUS), 3 p.; 45. Steven Lenoir (FRA, KAW), 3 p.; 46. Lukas Neurauter (AUT, KTM), 3 p.; 47. Ander Valentin (ESP, HON), 2 p.; 48. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, HUS), 2 p.; 49. Joaquin Poli (ARG, HON), 1 p.; 50. Andy Baumgartner (SUI, KTM), 1 p.; 51. Matteo Bonini (ITA, KAW), 1 p.; 52. Sandro Peixe (POR, HON), 1 p.; 53. Farhan Hendro Fahrodjie (INA, KAW), 1 p.;
Photos: shotbyBavo
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