Pauls Jonass wants to close the gap with the top 5
Although two zero scores weigh heavily, Pauls Jonass (Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing) is neatly 7th in the MXGP standings. With a well-deserved podium in the Belgian GP, the ex-MX2 world champion put his nose to the window again for the first time. Lommel was Jonass' first trophy in almost two years after missing almost the entire 2020 season due to a back injury.
After Glenn Coldenhoff last year, the Latvian is the first GasGas rider to reach the podium. In the fiercely fought GP of Flanders, Pauls Jonass was good for third place with a 4-2 score.
Not his first podium in the MXGP because in 2019 the Red Bull rider scored 3 podiums. In Belgium, on the other hand, it was the first time in a long time that Pauls led a race.
“It was cool to get on the podium in my second 'home' GP and at the home GP for my team. In the week before Lommel we had worked a lot on my start. Many people already saw that my speed is okay this year, but that I left too much behind at the start. The competition in MXGP is tough and if you don't get a good start, it's just very difficult to come back and make the podium.”
The 24-year-old former youth world champion has the number 6 in the standings, Jeremy Seewer, in his sights. Because he failed to score in one series in Russia and the Czech Republic, he now has to chase. “It's getting a little better to score consistently. It's a shame about the few DNFs that do matter, but so far I'm quite satisfied.”
In 2019, Jonass received the Rookie of the Year award. He eventually finished the season sixth, a few points behind Arnaud Tonus. After injuries in 2020, he had to Rockstar Energy IceOne Husqvarna makes way for Thomas Kjer Olsen. Due to his contract with the KTM group, he still found a home with the Belgian Standing Construct GasGas formation. “The team firmly believed in me and gave me the opportunities to return to the top. Everyone in the team works very hard, which is why I had no choice but to dedicate the podium in Lommel to them.”
Due to the successful GP in Lommel, Jonass went to his real home GP in Kegums with confidence. “It didn't go as I had hoped, but that's how it goes sometimes. In the first moto it took me a while to get into the flow and I finished sixth. The second series was a crash festival! I crashed at the start, a few laps later I was knocked down by another rider and then I crashed a third time. Of course it won't work that way,” Pauls analyzes honestly. “Okay Latvia was difficult but there are still many rounds to go. I think we can be there again after the break so that I can fight for a podium place in Turkey.”
Tekst: Adam Wheeler, Tom Jacobs
Photos: Red Bull content pool/Samo Vidic, shotbyBavo, JP Acevedo
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