Geerts is approaching World Cup leader Vialle!
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider Jago Geerts finished a close second in the sixth round of the FIM World Championship in Faenza, Italy. The Belgian has now come within three points of World Cup leader Vialle. Ben Watson had a lot of bad luck in the first of three GPs in Faenza and only finished 14th.
After the success of the first triple GP in Latvia, the FIM world championship went to Faenza for a second triple GP for the first time since 2012. Three weeks ago the riders in Kegums were presented with another sand track, this time they had to take action on a hard Italian track with many deep ruts. Monster Energy Yamaha Factory riders Jago Geerts and Ben Watson achieved fifth and tenth fastest times respectively in timed practice.
Great starts
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory riders knew that a good start was paramount on the compact and winding course. Geerts sent his YZ250FM to second place at the start of the first series, just behind World Championship leader Vialle. The Balenian had problems finding the right rhythm and speed for ten minutes. Once found, he slowly crept closer to the Frenchman. When Vialle made a mistake on the eighth lap, the #193 immediately took over the lead. Geerts controlled the race until the end and took his seventh series victory of the season. Teammate Ben Watson had a terrible first series. The Brit crashed in the first lap, causing the lever of his front brake to break off. Game over.
Geerts, full of confidence after his series win, had a great start in the second race. Good for his third holeshot of the season. He could not enjoy that leading position for long, because a small mistake cost him two positions, behind the French duo Renaux-Vialle. The Kempen native continued to put pressure on the two Frenchmen, but was unable to get to their wheel and finished third in the series and second in the Grand Prix.
Watson started in ninth position, but could not get into the right rhythm. The Brit stayed in ninth position throughout the race, meaning he only finished 14th in the GP.
Geerts remains second in the World Cup standings, but has now almost completely closed the gap on leader Vialle (only three points). Despite his bad luck, Watson remains seventh in the World Cup standings.
#193 Jago Geerts
“It was the first time I rode in Faenza. Lots of spore, well prepared: I thought it was a very nice course. However, in the early stages of the first series I was unable to follow Vialle's pace. Only after about ten minutes did I slowly return. When he fell, I immediately took action: took over the lead and controlled it until the end. In the second heat I took the holeshot, but a mistake knocked me back two places. I kept pushing, but the track became very treacherous at the end, so I decided not to take too many risks anymore. Second place in the GP and five points closer to Vialle: I can't complain. I'm going to try to keep the pressure on him.”
#919 Ben Watson
“It was a tough day for me. It started with a very mediocre time in the time training, as if it was still okay for my starting position. I also got away well in the first heat, third or fourth, but then I crashed on a wet spot. My front brake lever broke off in that crash. I tried to drive further, but soon realized that it was not safe and that I had to give up. My start in the second race was mediocre. After missing the first series almost completely, it was very difficult to get into the right rhythm. I was driving too tensely and didn't have a good feeling.”
Marnicq Bervoets
“Geerts did what he had to do: get a good result on this treacherous and difficult track. Jago made two good starts, which helped him a long way. He rode a very smart race, without taking too many risks. Second place and five points better than World Cup leader Vialle, then I say: mission accomplished. Watson, on the other hand, had a very difficult day. Two crashes in the first series, where his front brake lever broke off, completely ruined his day. In the second series he just couldn't get into his rhythm. He started ninth, rode the entire series in a train and also finished ninth.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: Gino Maes
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