The Italian weekend of Jago Geerts & Ben Watson
The Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2 Team traveled from Riola Sardo to cold Ottobiano last weekend for the second round of the Internazionali d'Italia. Watson finished fifth in the MX2 class, just ahead of his teammate Jago Geerts.
The sand circuit in Ottobiano was tough with deep ruts and treacherous bumps after last week's snowfall. Watson took a solid start (third) in the MX2 race, while Geerts faltered at the starting gate and had to come back from afar. Watson struggled to find his normal rhythm, but still came close to second place. At the end of the series, however, the Briton suffered from doubled riders, causing him to drop to fifth place. In the meantime, Geerts had managed to pull off a strong catch-up race and finished sixth.
In the Elite race, together with the best MXGP riders, both Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha riders had bad luck at the start. Watson was trapped in the middle of the pack, while Geerts immediately had to deal with mechanical problems and had to make a pit stop after one lap. Watson was not feeling well, but was still able to take tenth place. Geerts had already completed a lap when he left the pit lane and considered the rest of the race as intensive training.
The Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2 Team now has a weekend of rest before heading to Hawkstone Park for the third prep race of the season.
#193 Jago Geerts, 6th + 25th place: “I reacted too late at the starting gate, which meant I had a very bad start. I was able to overtake a lot of riders in the first laps and came back to sixth place. But then I started to suffer from pumped arms again. I didn't want to take any risks and just held on to sixth place. The second series, with the MXGP riders, was a disaster. I had a mechanical problem at the start and was forced to make a pit stop after one lap. When I left the pit lane I was already more than a lap behind the rest. So I decided to make it a tough training session.”
#919 Ben Watson, 5th + 10th place: “It wasn't a good day, I really didn't enjoy this match. I didn't have a good feeling in qualifying and made a lot of mistakes. We then completely changed the set-up. I got off to a good start in the first heat, but then rode below my level. I was still able to get close to number two, but then I was hindered by some doubled riders, which caused me to lose some spots. In the second series I took a mediocre start and continued to struggle to find the right feeling. I'm already looking forward to the first GP in Argentina to be able to ride a real race at my normal level.”
Photos: Off Road Pro Racing
Also to read
VIDEO: Highlights MXGP Portugal 2024
After a two-week break, the FIM MXGP-MX2 World Championship continued in Portugal. The normally sunny south was treated to lots of water this weekend! Liam Everts made very…MXGP Portugal: Pauls Jonass takes overall victory, Herlings wins the second series
The hard-fought MXGP of Portugal is one for the books because the rain that fell this weekend had turned Agueda into a mud puddle. Pauls Jonass was surprisingly able to…MX2 Portugal: Dominant Liam Everts takes the full spoils in the mud
Liam Everts has won the brutal Grand Prix of Portugal with a double series victory. In Agueda a heavily muddy circuit was thrown under the wheels and the race was…Tim Gajser beats Pauls Jonass in apocalyptic first MXGP series
In a gray and wet Agueda, Tim Gajser has just won the first series of the MXGP class. He trumped Pauls Jonass for the win. Jeffrey Herlings fought a heroic…
Your reactions