Jago Geerts extends Kemea magic!
Kemea Yamaha has been living a dream lately. Two weeks ago, Ben Watson took his first ever GP podium (third place) in Russia. This weekend it was Jago Geerts' turn to step onto the GP podium for the first time. The Belgian teenager, a rookie in the MX2 World Championship, finished second (4+3 in heats) in Kegums, Latvia.
The Zelta Zirgs trail in Kegums, a 40-minute drive from the Latvian capital Riga, is known as a sandy and technical circuit. Combined with warm and sunny conditions (30 degrees), the riders were in for a tough Grand Prix.
The Kemea Yamaha boys started well on Saturday with a second (Watson) and fifth place (Geerts) in the qualifying race. Unfortunately, the Kemea drivers were not able to immediately capitalize on their great starting positions in the first series. Watson started eighth, Iago Geerts only thirteenth. However, the Belgian teenager then rode very aggressively in the beginning of the moto, passing his teammate and was already in fifth position after just four laps. In the meantime, Watson, who was struggling with a wrist injury, found a good rhythm, allowing the Brit to move up a few places. Geerts finished fourth after a tough battle with Jacobi. Watson also managed to pass the German at the end of the series and finished fifth.
The Kemea riders made a brilliant start on their YZ250F in the second heat with Geerts in second and Watson in third position. Only one rider was able to pass both Yamahas afterwards: Thomas Kjer Olsen, the later winner of the GP. At the end of the second series, Geerts leader put Prado and Olsen under intense pressure. The teenager came very close, but made a small mistake and finished third. Good for second place in the final standings! Watson finished fourth in the second heat and fifth in the final standings.
Iago Geerts was obviously more than delighted: “On stage, so fast… This is crazy. Things are moving fast for me this season, very fast. I really didn't expect this (being on the podium in a GP) to happen so quickly? But hey, when you get the chance, you should take it. I love this job very much. After the qualifying race on Saturday I knew that a good result was possible. I had to work hard in the first series after a weak start. That start was a lot better in the second series. That made the job a lot easier. In the end I even fought with Prado and Olsen for the series victory. Nice. A big thank you to the whole team for all the hard work and the great bike.”
Ben Watson: “I injured my wrist last week in the Dutch Masters in Mill. As a result, I was unable to train with the motorcycle last week. So I didn't really know what to expect in Latvia. My wrist hurt a lot, although I don't think that really slowed me down. Even though it was tough. I also felt a bit sick at the beginning of the first series. But all in all, I was very regular throughout the weekend. In Russia I tasted the GP podium for the first time and it left me wanting more. But considering the injury, I have to be satisfied with my fifth place. This GP also taught me that the injury cannot be made worse by riding. So I can resume motorcycle training this week.”
Marnicq Bervoets: “A fantastic day for Kemea Yamaha. Geerts made a huge impression today. So good, so fast, so aggressive, so cool too. Like he does this every week. Jago was already very fast in the Dutch Masters, but showing the same in a Grand Prix is something else. Here the competition is much tougher. But he was very strong. Physically and mentally. We also know that Kegums is one of his favorite courses. The next stop is Teutschenthal: a concrete-hard circuit. That will be a challenge for him. About Watson: He also did very well considering his wrist injury. Ben rode with pain, but delivered two strong runs and finished fifth. Good looking."
Photos: bavo
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