Preview MXGP Valkenswaard: who will stop Cairoli?
With Jeffrey Herlings at the start, it is a foregone conclusion that the rest of the participants in Valkenswaard will be able to compete for the classifications after first place. The four-time world champion has already triumphed eight times in Valkenswaard. Only in his first year in the MXGP (2017) did he have to settle for second place after a hand injury in the preseason.
Unfortunately, Herlings will not be there this year. He is still in the rehabilitation process after a serious foot injury sustained during training in Spain at the end of January. By missing a number of GPs, it is already clear that Herlings cannot count on prolonging his world title this year. Herlings will not be able to compete again until May.
But without Herlings, a very interesting battle could develop on the Eurocircuit. There seems to be a good chance that his fellow KTM factory driver Antonio 'Tony' Cairoli will be able to claim a leading role. The 33-year-old Italian, born in Sicily, already has nine world titles to his name. That is one less than Stefan Everts (and also sidecar great Daniël Willemsen).
Last year Cairoli was defeated again and again by Herlings, but he was 'best of the rest'. If Herlings was a class better than Cairoli, the Italian in turn often stood head and shoulders above the others. He had one of the strongest seasons of his career, although this was not so clearly evident due to Herlings' strong performance.
Cairoli can boast an excellent history in Valkenswaard: he has already triumphed there six times. The first time that happened was twelve years ago; he then won in MX2. His last victory dates back to 2014, when he proved to be the strongest in the MXGP. Cairoli started the 2019 season excellently. He won the international Italian title and won both heats at the opening GP in Argentina. In the British GP, the 33-year-old KTM factory rider added a first and a second place, maintaining first place in the rankings.
The only one who currently manages to stay in Cairoli's footsteps is Tim Gajser (22). The Slovenian Honda factory rider has achieved three second places so far and triumphed in the second round of the British GP, leaving the 2016 MXGP World Champion just eight points behind Cairoli.
Gautier Paulin (Yamaha) can look back on an excellent start to the 2019 season. The Frenchman, who turned 29 this week, added a second and a third ranking to both his fifth places in Argentina in England, which now puts him in third place in the World Cup position occupied. In 2015 and 2017, Paulin managed to win at the Eurocircuit.
Fourth in the standings after two GPs is Jeremy van Horebeek. The 29-year-old Belgian initially seemed to be left out this year, after Yamaha did not extend its contract with him at the end of last season. Thanks to good performances in French beach crosses, he received an offer from the French Team Honda SR Motoblouz to start for them in the GPs. Van Horebeek has not betrayed the confidence placed in him by the French by achieving four good results so far.
Clément Desalle (29) is in fifth place. The Walloon Kawasaki rider consistently scored slightly behind the podium places. Glenn Coldenhoff (28) scored in each of the four heats and that can be called an encouraging result for the Brabant rider who exchanged the KTM factory team for the Belgian team of Standing Construct KTM. The winner of two GPs suffered a serious back injury in addition to a broken wrist in a fall on the Lommel circuit in mid-December. There was therefore no good preparation for the new season. Only a few days before the Argentine GP, Coldenhoff decided to travel to South America. He scored a few points in Argentina and did considerably better in England three weeks later. He clearly seems to be on the way back. In Valkenswaard close to fifth place?
Brian Bogers is a teammate of Tim Gajser. The 22-year-old Brabander left Argentina with nine World Cup points, but unfortunately was unable to increase his score in England. Suffering from pumped arms in the first moto and a fall in the second race (lying in thirteenth place) ensured that he remained scoreless. He will certainly want to take revenge in his home GP – Bogers lives in Eindhoven.
Micha-Boy de Waal (23) and Sven van der Mierden (23) did not race in Argentina. For them, scoring points in England was still a bridge too far. Lars van Berkel (25) has received a wildcard for the Dutch GP. Van Berkel was victorious last weekend in Oss in both rounds of the first race of the ONK motocross.
Jeffrey Dewulf is back, starting his MXGP World Championship in Valkenswaard. The KTM North Europe Racing rider suffered a wrist injury in Le Touquet but will compete on the Eurocircuit. The Belgian delegation is completed by Nathan Renkens who left a positive impression in Matterley Basin. The third GP of the season comes a little too early for Kevin Strijbos, who is struggling with an elbow injury.
watch here the participant lists for the MXGP, MX2 and WMX!
Photos: Ray Archer, Gino Maes
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