MX2: Pauls Jonass sets the pace again.
The matches in Arco di Trento and Agueda were difficult for Pauls Jonass. Today in Orlyonok, the Latvian put things back in order by winning both heats. His KTM colleague Jorge Prado-Garcia finished second in both heats and Ben Watson stood next to the Orange duo on the podium! Jago Geerts finishes ninth on the circuit where he won the Junior World title two years ago. Compatriot Brent Vandoninck finishes eleventh ahead of Davy Pootjes. In the standings, Jonass now has a 20 point lead over Prado.
For the sixth time this year, Prado-Garcia wins the FOX Holeshot Award. The Spaniard is followed by Jago Geerts and Jonass. The leader in the standings quickly manages to leave the Yamaha rider behind to take over the lead after completing the first lap. Watson quickly moves into third place but cannot keep up with the pace of the KTM riders. The Briton finishes third ahead of Thomas Kjer Olsen, who has shaken off Stephane Rubini with ten minutes to go. However, the Frenchman comes back and that means that Calvin Vlaanderen has to increase the pressure on 'TKO'. The Honda rider cannot stay ahead of Rubini, but the Dane succeeds! Rubini crosses the finish line in fifth place and he is very happy with that. The best Laaglander is Davy Pootjes, the LRT rider crosses the finish line in eleventh place ahead of Geerts and Brent Vandoninck.
In the sprint to the first corner, Jonass leaves no doubt and the 21-year-old rider enters the first corner as the leader. The KTM rider is followed by Prado-Garcia, Michele Cervellin, Henry Jacobi (withdrawn in the first moto) and KEMEA rider Watson. The leader in the standings takes off and comes out of the first round with a 2,5 second lead. Later in the race the Spaniard is able to get a little closer and it is still exciting in the last round, but Jonass wins for Prado. Cervellin rides a lonely race, the Honda rider crosses the finish line in third place for Flanders. The South African has a nice duel with Kjer Olsen and with a nice move he manages to pass the Dane. Watson finishes sixth and thus records his first GP podium. Geerts finishes ninth ahead of fellow countryman Vandoninck, Pootjes crosses the finish line in fifteenth.
The next GP will be held on May 12-13, when the Latvian Grand Prix is on the calendar. This will be held on the now famous Kegums circuit and 'their' Jonass has the redplate!
Results MX2 #6; Orlyonok, Russian:
1st heat:
1 Paul Jonas Let KTM
2 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM
3 Ben Watson GB Yamaha
4 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna
5 Stephane Rubini F KTM
6 Calvin Flanders ZA Honda
7 Michele Cervellin I Honda
8 Jed Beaton Aus Kawasaki
9 Vsevolod Brylyakov Rus Yamaha
10 Iker Larranaga E Husqvarna
11 Davy Paws NL KTM
12 Trade Geerts B Yamaha
13 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna
2st heat:
1 Paul Jonas Let KTM
2 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM
3 Michele Cervellin I Honda
4 Calvin Flanders ZA Honda
5 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna
6 Ben Watson GB Yamaha
7 Jed Beaton Aus Kawasaki
8 Stephane Rubini F KTM
9 Trade Geerts B Yamaha
10 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna
15 Davy Paws NL KTM
Daily classification MX2 GP of Russia:
1 Paul Jonas Let KTM 1-1
2 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM 2-2
3 Ben Watson GB Yamaha 3-6
4 Michele Cervellin I Honda 7-3
5 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna 4-5
9 Traffic Geerts B Yamaha 12-9
11 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna 13-10
12 Davy Pootjes NL KTM 11-15
MX2 standings after 6 races:
1 Paul Jonas Let KTM 266
2 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM 246
3 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna 219
4 Ben Watson GB Yamaha 176
5 Jed Beaton Aus Kawasaki 156
11 Trade Geerts B KTM Yamaha
13 Davy Paws NL KTM 97
20 Bas Vaessen NL Honda 56
21 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna 49
33 Micha Boy de Waal NL Honda 3
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: #RayArcherPhoto
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