Herlings hits back with GP victory!
World Championship leader Jeffrey Herlings had to fight for it for a long time, but today he took his 171st series victory and the 89th GP victory of his career. In addition, title rival Tim Gajser dropped out in the final series. As a result, the difference between 'the Bullet' and the reigning world champion is now 46 points.
The competition has been erratic all week with many surprises. Tony Cairoli was the main victim in race 1 of a crash in the treacherous first 180° right corner. A few corners further, Jeremy Seewer crashed.
Tim Gajser again
Tim Gajser immediately took control at the front. The reigning world champion rode unthreatened to victory ahead of strong Arminas Jasikonis and Jorge Prado. After a poor start, Jeffrey Herlings fought his way to 4th place. Coldenhoff finished 7th just ahead of Clement Desalle. While Cairoli recovered to P9 - just ahead of Jeremy Van Horebeek - compatriot Ivo Monticell lost ground as the heat progressed. The GasGas front starter ultimately took 11th place.
Herlings wins titanic battle
Gajser took the holeshot in the restart. This time all tenors were seated at the front from the start. After all, the HRC Honda star had Herlings, Jorge Prado, Tony Cairoli and Romain Febre behind him. Herlings wasted no time and took command in the second round. Cairoli, winner on Wednesday in Kegums, also moved to the front. The great animator of the second round was undoubtedly Arminas Jasikonis. Starting in 6th position, the spectacular Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider made systematic progress. Just after half the race he even took the measure of Gajser for P3. The same Gajser was chasing Jasikonis in the final phase of the race when he suddenly stopped with a technical problem. A particularly expensive failure for the Slovenian.
This allowed Jasikonis to finish quietly and deservedly take second place in the final standings. Moreover, the difference with Herlings in the final settlement was barely one point. Jorge Prado also had reason to be happy. The Spaniard, who broke his thigh at the end of last year, recorded his first MXGP podium today thanks to a 3-4 score. Glenn Coldenhoff finished his Latvian triptych in sixth place. A very regular Jeremy Van Horebeek was again the best private driver. The SR Honda Motoblouz rider finished 9th. Clément Desalle had to settle for a mediocre 11th place (12-10) in the final standings.
Kegums III was also a match to quickly forget for Brian Bogers and Calvin Vlaanderen.
MXGP Race 1
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:20.589; 2. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:08.779; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:21.090; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:29.165; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:32.391; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:33.535; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:34.644; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:38.291; 9. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:44.978; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:50.164; 11. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, GASGAS), +0:53.852; 12. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:54.755; 13. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:58.089; 14. Henry Jacobi (GER, Yamaha), +1:06.302; 15. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:08.388; 16. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, KTM), +1:10.658; 17. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:15.722; 18. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:30.787; 19. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1:38.676; 20. Valentine Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:44.289; 21. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), +1:53.163; 22. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 23. Dylan Walsh (GBR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Anton Gole (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 25. Matiss Car (LAT, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 26. Thomas Covington (USA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 27. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), -7 lap(s); 28. Alessandro Lupin (ITA, Yamaha), -8 lap(s); 29. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -8 lap(s); 30. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, KTM), -9 lap(s); 31. Samuel Bernardini (ITA, Yamaha), -12 lap(s); 32. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Honda), -13 lap(s); 33. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), -15 lap(s); 34. Artem Guryev (RUS, Honda), -17 lap(s);
MXGP Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:26.803; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:07.898; 3. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:12.060; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:23.368; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:27.988; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:31.572; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:39.249; 8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:49.115; 9. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:57.135; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +1:03.116; 11. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, GASGAS), +1:07.360; 12. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:18.170; 13. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:26.856; 14. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:37.971; 15. Henry Jacobi (GER, Yamaha), +1:41.571; 16. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +1:46.746; 17. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:49.822; 18. Thomas Covington (USA, Yamaha), +1:52.001; 19. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:55.779; 20. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +2:17.552; 21. Matiss Karro (LAT, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 22. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 23. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, KTM), -1 lap(s); 24. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 25. Artem Guryev (RUS, Honda), -1 lap(s); 26. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), -4 lap(s); 27. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), -8 lap(s); 28. Anton Gole (SWE, Honda), -9 lap(s); 29. Dylan Walsh (GBR, Honda), -13 lap(s); 30. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), -13 lap(s);
MXGP or Kegum's final ranking
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 43 points; 2. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 42 p.; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, COW), 32 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 29 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 25 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 22 p.; 10. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 21 p.; 11. Clement Desalle (BELL, COW), 21 p.; 12. Ivo Monticelli (STONE, GAS), 20 p.; 13. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 14 p.; 14. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 13 p.; 15. Henry Jacobi (GER, YAM), 13 p.; 16. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 10 p.; 17. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 10 p.; 18. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 8 p.; 19. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 5 p.; 20. Carlisle Sabulis (LAT, KTM), 5 p.; 21. Thomas Covington (USA, YAM), 3 p.; 22. Tunnel Leok (EST, HUS), 2 p.; 23. Valentine Guillod (SUI, HON), 2 p.; 24. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 2 p.; 25. Matiss Carriage (LAT, HUS), 0 p.; 26. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 0 p.; 27. Samuel Bernardini (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 28. Artem Guryev (RUS, HON), 0 p.; 29. Anton Gole (SWE, HON), 0 p.; 30. Dylan Walsh (GBR, HON), 0 p.; 31. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), 0 p.; 32. Alessandro Lupin (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 33. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, KTM), 0 p.; 34. Benoit Paturel (FRA, HON), 0 p.;
MXGP standings after 5 laps
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 213 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 167 p.; 3. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 163 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 163 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 146 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 134 p.; 7. Clement Desalle (BELL, COW), 131 p.; 8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 129 p.; 9. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 120 p.; 10. Romain Febvre (FRA, COW), 104 p.; 11. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 95 p.; 12. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 66 p.; 13. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 64 p.; 14. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 59 p.; 15. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 51 p.; 16. Ivo Monticelli (STONE, GAS), 50 p.; 17. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 49 p.; 18. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 47 p.; 19. Benoit Paturel (FRA, HON), 45 p.; 20. Henry Jacobi (GER, YAM), 41 p.; 21. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 31 p.; 22. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 26 p.; 23. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HOUSE), 17 p.; 24. Carlisle Sabulis (LAT, KTM), 16 p.; 25. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), 13 p.; 26. Alessandro Lupin (ITA, YAM), 12 p.; 27. Harry Kullas (EST, HON), 11 p.; 28. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 10 p.; 29. Lars van Berkel (NED, HUS), 9 p.; 30. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 9 p.; 31. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 6 p.; 32. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HUS), 5 p.; 33. Thomas Covington (USA, YAM), 3 p.; 34. Samuel Bernardini (ITA, YAM), 2 p.; 35. Anton Gole (SWE, HON), 2 p.; 36. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 1 p.;
Photos: JP Acevedo
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