Jago Geerts looks ahead to the season debut
The international MX season gets underway in Riola Sardo, Sardinia, on Sunday. This year, the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team will field the same riders as in 2019: Jago Geerts, who took bronze in the World Championship last season, and Ben Watson, who wants to make his mark again in 2019 after injuries. Goal for both riders in 2020: the top three. And who knows, the world title.
Watson has been in Sardinia for several weeks now. The 22-year-old Briton, who is starting his last season in MX2 due to age regulations, has completely recovered from the wrist injury that sidelined him at the end of last season and has already logged many hours on the bike. Teammate Jago Geerts (19) chose to complete most of his preparation on Belgian soil. He is also perfectly on schedule for the World Cup, which starts in five weeks.
“Both Ben and Jago have had a good preparation,” says the team manager Marnicq Bervoets back to the winter period with satisfaction. “They are now a year older and therefore also a year stronger. So I have a good eye on it. But of course we don't know how much progress the opposition has made. So we keep our feet firmly on the ground. Big talk is not for us.”
Which is not to say that the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team is not ambitious. On the contrary. “We want to do at least as well and preferably even better than last season,” says Bervoets. “That means top three or better. If that doesn't work, then we have failed. I believe in our boys. Both Jago and Ben are capable of entering the top three. I have already seen Watson in training a few times and it looked very good and smooth. He just needs to learn not to put so much pressure on himself. Something that Geerts is less bothered by. Iago is a cool frog. He doesn't show everything in training yet, but he knows what he wants, what he can do and what he has to do.”
YZ250FM
Both drivers are therefore perfectly on schedule. They are also both very pleased with the new YZ250FM. “Yamaha has indeed taken another big step forward,” says Bervoets. “Especially when it comes to the engine block. I don't think we've ever had such a good combination of riders and bikes in recent years.”
The Yamaha duo's first international race is scheduled for Sunday in Riola Sardo. They will then ride in Hawkstone Park (9 February) and Lacapelle Marival (16 February) to get ready for the first Grand Prix in Matterley Basin, England (1 March). “These preparation races are ideal to try out some things and to improve your fitness,” says Bervoets. “And also important: we can see how far the competition is.”
Jago Geerts: “My preparation went well according to plan. I mainly stayed in Belgium, although I also trained in Italy for a week between Christmas and New Year. I have put in quite a few hours on the motorcycle. The new YZ250FM feels good. More power, plus better suspension. The condition is also good. In Riola Sardo it will have to be seen what the speed is like. Well, I certainly won't be at my best this weekend. That's not allowed either. The first Grand Prix, then I have to be there. Although I am looking forward to this first match. The winter has lasted long enough. After all that training, it's time for real action. My ambition in 2020? Finish in the top three again and if all goes well, hopefully play for the world title.”
Ben Watson: “Because I missed the end of last season due to a wrist injury, I started preparing for 2020 earlier. Already in October. The wrist injury has now completely healed and I have a lot of motorcycle hours under my belt. I have been in Sardinia for more than three weeks now. Everything went fine. I am satisfied with my training and the new bike. Although I have decided not to focus too much on my Yamaha anymore. I may have wanted to change things a little too often last year. Now I mainly focus on myself. My ambitions? Gosh, I'm not the kind of person who makes bold statements. I do have a goal in mind, but I prefer to keep that to myself. I'm especially looking forward to riding again. My last competition dates back to August last year. So I'm looking forward to it.”
Photos: Gary Freeman, shotbyBavo/Yamaha Racing
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