MX2: Calvin Vlaanderen wins his first GP!
After ten years, South Africa has another Grand Prix winner! Calvin Vlaanderen booked his first Grand Prix victory in Pangkal Pinang. The last victory for South Africa was in 2008 when Tyla Rattray won the Grand Prix in Lierop. During the twelfth GP of the season, Thomas Covington (1-4) finished second ahead of Jorge Prado-Garcia (4-3). Jago Geerts (7-6) finished sixth this weekend and is the best Laaglander ahead of Davy Pootjes (10-5) and Brent Vandoninck (13-14). Bas Vaessen only scores in the first heat with a twelfth place. In the title battle, Prado makes up points again, although this time there are only two.
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With the Husqvarna, Covington takes the best start during the first moto, it is his second FOX Holeshot Award of this season. The American is followed by Calvin Vlaanderen, Jonass, Prado and Henry Jacobi. Not a good start for Pootjes, Brent Vandoninck and his teammate Iker Larranaga who want to leave too early and hit the starting gate. Due to a mistake by Jacobi, the German falls outside the top five and Kjer Olsen takes over fifth place. In the initial phase, Prado briefly takes over third place from Jonass, but the Latvian returns a little later. The top five are stuck and little happens until Kjer Olsen falls. The Dane loses the connection with Prado but remains fifth. In the last minutes of the race, Jonass manages to take second place from Flanders. The South African then comes under pressure from Prado, who wants to try to limit the damage. The KTM rider tries to pass the Honda rider, but he does not give up and still crosses the finish line in third place behind Covington and Jonass. Prado is clearly disappointed with fourth place and Kjer Olsen crosses the finish line in fifth. The best Laaglanger is Geerts, the 18-year-old cross rider from Balen sends his KEMEA-Yamaah to a nice seventh place. Pootjes managed to cross the finish line in tenth place ahead of fellow countryman Bas Vaessen (12th) and Vandoninck (13th).
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The second FOX Holeshot Award of this weekend is won by Flanders. The 21-year-old Honda rider is followed by Jonass, Prado-Garcia, Kjer Olsen and Simone Furlotti. In the first round, Watson manages to work his way up to fourth place at the expense of Kjer Olsen. Flanders immediately manages to break away from Jonass and Prado-Garcia, who are battling each other for second place. Through direct combat, Watson manages to connect with Kjer Olsen. Later, Pootjes and Covington also join and a large group is created that fights for second place. Just in the first half of the match, Pootjes manages to take over fifth place from 'TKO'. Not much later, Prado did the same for second place. Jonass is having a hard time and sees Watson, Pootjes and Covington also pass. At the moment the Prado-Garcia takes second place, Flanders has a lead of more than four seconds over the 17-year-old Spaniard. He cannot find the connection and Watson succeeds! The Briton takes over second place from Prado, who cannot make a fist. Covington also tries to gain a spot, but Prado manages to prevent that. Covington finishes fourth ahead of a fantastically strong Pootjes! Just like last year, the LRT driver knows how to perform very well on the circuit and that bodes well for the coming competitions! Geerts finishes sixth ahead of Jonass who has to be satisfied with seventh place.
A GP will also be held in Indonesia next week. The World Championships in Europe will continue on July 21-22 with the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic.
Results MX2 #12; Pangkal Pinang, Ind:
1st heat:
1 Thomas Covington USA Husqvarna
2 Paul Jonas Let KTM
3 Calvin Flanders ZA Honda
4 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM
5 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna
6 Ben Watson GB Yamaha
7 Trade Geerts B Yamaha
8 Henry Jacobi D Husqvarna
9 Adam Sterry GB Kawasaki
10 Davy Paws NL KTM
12 Bas Vaessen NL Honda
13 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna
2st heat:
1 Calvin Flanders ZA Honda
2 Ben Watson GB Yamaha
3 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM
4 Thomas Covington USA Husqvarna
5 Davy Paws NL KTM
6 Trade Geerts B Yamaha
7 Paul Jonas Let KTM
8 Henry Jacobi D Husqvarna
9 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna
10 Michele Cervellin I Yamaha
14 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna
DNS Bas Vaessen NL Honda
Daily classification MX2 GP of Indonesia:
1 Calvin Vlaanderen ZA Honda 3-1
2 Thomas Covington USA Husqvarna 1-4
3 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM 4-3
4 Ben Watson GB Yamaha 6-2
5 Paul Jonas Let KTM 2-7
6 Traffic Geerts B Yamaha 7-6
8 Davy Pootjes NL KTM 10-5
14 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna 13-14
17 Bas Vaessen NL Honda 12-DNS
MX2 standings after 12 races:
1 Paul Jonas Let KTM 510
2 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM 503
3 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna 394
4 Ben Watson GB Yamaha 376
5 Calvin Vlaanderen Z-A Honda 331
7 Trade Geerts B KTM Yamaha
10 Davy Paws NL KTM 218
18 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna 92
22 Bas Vaessen NL Honda 75
27 Micha Boy de Waal NL Honda 23
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: #Honda
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