Who will keep Pauls Jonass from MX2 world title?
Red Bull KTM rider Pauls Jonass already has the full confidence of teammate and MX2 'king' Jeffrey Herlings. The Bullet therefore firmly believes that “PJ41” will lead KTM to the third double MX2 crown after its own double victory (2012 & 2013) and that of Marvin Musquin (2009 & 2010).
The 21-year-old Jonass still has the maximum score after 3 GPs. Not only did he win 3 Grand Prix, he also scored 6 series victories. As a result, Pauls will travel to Pietramurata, Italy, next weekend with a 30-point lead over Thomas Kjer Olsen.
“It looks good for Jonass to win the MX2 World Championship again this year,” says Jeffrey Herlings. 'The Bullet' himself rode to more than 60(!) GP victories on the 250 SX-F in six years. “I see him every week and he looks very strong. Mentally he doesn't care about anything. He just thinks 'I am the man'. That's nice to see. He also just stays with both feet on the ground and doesn't start flying now that he has had so much success. “
How long will the winning streak last?
Pauls Jonas can of course count on a lot of praise due to his brilliant performances, but there is also a downside. How long will his flawless run last? “That certainly creates extra pressure. Every time you win, people think you're driving well. They think you don't need to train, but the truth is you need to train even more!” he explains. “People expect me to win… and I want that too. I'm really looking forward to every weekend at the moment and I'm working hard to keep up my 1-1 scores. ” The Latvian also spoke about the possible mental advantage of striking straight away. “I remember riding against Jeffrey (Herlings) and while you were at the start together, he thought to himself that he had already beaten you. I know the others will do their best to beat me, but maybe they also wonder if I will start with the same attitude.”
Jonass is also the first to point out the collaborative spirit within Red Bull KTM and his work training with Harry Everts as important factors in his success. “I'm grateful to have Harry by my side because he pushes me or slows me down when he needs to. There is also a real family atmosphere in the team at the moment. It feels very good and I am very happy. “
When mentioned in the same sentence as Herlings, the Alpinestars rider simply smiles and says: “It's nice to be compared to the 'king' of MX2.”
Tekst: Adam Wheeler
Photos: Ray Archer
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