Watson second, bad luck kills Geerts in Axel!
The Monster Kemea Yamaha MX2 Team returned home with mixed feelings after the second round of the Dutch Masters in Axel. On the one hand there was satisfaction with Ben Watson's second place (3+3), on the other hand there was disappointment because engine trouble cost Jago Geerts the day's victory (1+DNF).
Jago Geerts took a great start in the first heat. The teenager grabbed the holeshot and maintained a high pace throughout the series. No one was able to follow the Balenaar. Geerts won the series easily with more than half a minute ahead of Jacobi. Watson started just outside the top 10 and needed some time to find the right feeling. The Briton only got into the right rhythm in the final phase, but was still able to advance to third place.
CATCHING UP RACES
No Monster Kemea Yamaha riders to be seen at the front at the start of the second series. Geerts entered the first corner seventh, while Watson had to start last after his engine stalled at the starting gate.
Geerts was already in second position after two laps, but his overtaking race was stopped by a mistake by Jacobi. Geerts could not avoid the German and fell to the ground. Game over? No! Geerts started a new catch-up race that took him from twelfth to… first place. And that with only two laps to go. But disaster struck in the penultimate lap when Geerts had to abandon the fight due to mechanical problems. So no series victory and no day victory for the fastest man on the track. A blow. Watson, meanwhile, had not given up. The Briton raced through the peloton with great determination. His impressive catch-up race earned Watson third place, good for second place in the final standings.
#193 Jago Geerts
“What can you do about bad luck? Nothing. However, I felt very strong today. My first series was almost perfect. In the second heat I managed to get back to the lead, but then I had to deal with a mechanical problem on the penultimate lap. Road victory. This championship only has four matches, so it will now be very difficult to defend my title. Well, I have to remember the positive: the driving itself was very good. That gives me extra confidence for the GP in Mantova next weekend.”
#919 Ben Watson
"Second place. Not bad at all, because my heart is not in such competitions. I can't bring out the same enthusiasm in these races as I do in the Grand Prix. I mainly saw it as a training. And it turned out to be a very good training. I am very satisfied with the driving itself. Especially my second series, in which I was the very last to find my way to the front. So I can leave for Mantova with a good feeling. I'm looking forward to riding real competitions and GPs again.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: #NiekFotografie
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