Five minutes with MX2 world champion Pauls Jonass
Next year, Pauls Jonass will become the first FIM motocross world champion to ride with the number one number plate since Marvin Musquin in 2011. The number 41 will therefore be put aside for the time being.
In honor of his first MX2 world title and to honor his own country, Jonass will start next season with a different number. “I've thought about it for a long time,” Pauls said. “even about how the 41 could be incorporated into the 1. You don't get the opportunity to drive the number one very often, so why not?” The lightning-fast Latvian previously won the junior world titles in the 85cc and 125cc.
Jonass also becomes the first MX2 world champion to defend his title after Jordi Tixier in 2015. Both Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings switched to MXGP in the past two years. Pauls also becomes the first to defend his title with the same team. That was already the case with Musquin, who first became MX2009 world champion in 2 and extended his title in 2010 before moving to the AMA.
Next year the MX2 title battle will certainly look very different. Both Jeremy Seewer and Benoit Paturel have to change categories due to the MX2 age limit. Yet the Red Bull-KTM rider is clear about who he expects to be his strongest rival, besides Jorge Prado.
“I was at the Nations and saw how good Hunter Lawrence was. I think he will be strong next year too.” Lawrence reached the podium twice in the last three GPs. And next year he can count on HRC Honda support. “Then of course you also have the (Rockstar Energy) Husky guys with [Thomas] Covington and [Thomas Kjer] Olsen. I think it will be a good season and it depends on who works the hardest this winter. Some people saw that with the departure of Seewer the MX2 would no longer be as strong, but there is always a new man who steps up.”
Tekst: Adam Wheeler/OTOR, Translation: Tom Jacobs
Photos: Ray Archer, Bavo Swijgers
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