Jago Geerts second in his own village
Jago Geerts finished second in the international competition in 'his' Balen on Sunday. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory rider finished both heats behind world champion Tom Vialle. In the Superfinal, Geerts was the best MX2 rider in seventh place.
The competition at the Keiheuvel in Balen is a major classic. The race, which traditionally takes place on August 15, was back on the calendar after a year of absence due to the corona pandemic. Much to the delight of the Belgian motocross fans who flocked to the Keiheuvel.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team came to Balen in a 'light' version. Thibaut Benistant was still suffering from the collarbone injury he sustained in Latvia last week and Maxime Renaux was in France for private reasons. Jago Geerts was - in his own village, he lives five minutes from the circuit - the only spearhead of the blue guard.
During the timed training it became clear that in MX2 it would end in a duel between Vialle and Geerts, the numbers one and two of the 2020 World Championship. The Frenchman, who also lives in Balen, set the fastest time, followed by Geerts within a second. These two immediately demonstrated their superiority in the first series. Vialle took the holeshot and immediately got Geerts in his wheel. Iago continued to follow the Frenchman for a long time, but there was no real attack.
A similar scenario in the second series, although Geerts now claimed the holeshot. Vialle took over the lead on the first lap. Another fun duel followed. Geerts came very close a few times, but due to inflated arms and doubled riders, he again failed to make that one successful attack.
In the Super Final, Geerts had to compete against the much more powerful 250 engines on his 450cc machine. Yet Jago – as the best MX2 rider – was able to secure a nice seventh place.
#93 Jago Geerts
“It was very nice to be able to drive in our own village again. It was nice to see how many people had come to Keiheuvel. Although it was quite busy signing autographs and taking selfies. I was no longer used to that after all those matches without an audience. It's a shame I couldn't treat my fans to a win. I suffered from pumped up arms in both MX2 series, which meant I couldn't go all the way and I was just a little too short to launch the attack on Vialle.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photos: Photographic Art
Also to read
Jago Geerts: “I want to come back to Lommel”
Jago Geerts is working hard to bounce back from an injury he sustained in early March during the opening race of the 2024 MXGP World Championship in Argentina. The Belgian, who at…Andrea Bonacorsi on his move to MXGP: “That was the most difficult decision of my life”
Reigning EMX250 Champion, Andrea Bonacorsi, will move to the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team for the remainder of the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship season, replacing…Entry lists MXGP of Portugal
The Motocross World Championship will continue next weekend with the fifth race on the MXGP calendar. In Agueda, Portugal, in addition to MXGP and MX2, the boys from EMX250 and EMX125 will also compete…Tom Vialle is chasing the US title
There is one race left in the US East Coast Supercross Championship. It will take place in two weeks in Salt Lake City, the city that has become accustomed to…
Your reactions