Maxime Renaux already has a 71 point lead
Maxime Renaux – who again performed very regularly and smartly – increased his lead again in Riola Sardo. The Frenchman, who finished second in the deep Sardinian sand, already has 71 points more than Guadagnini. Geerts missed the podium by one point, Benistant finished sixth. The sand course of Riola Sardo, in Sardinia, is a familiar place for most World Cup riders. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team did test work there in the winter and Geerts and Renaux took part in an Italian championship race there at the beginning of this year. This weekend the Sardinian village hosted a Grand Prix for the first time.
Pole position
Geerts loves the deep dune sand of Riola Sardo. The Balenaar, who had won the preparation race earlier this year, flew in the timed training and authoritatively captured pole position. With Renaux in 4th place and Benistant in 10th, the three Monster Energy Yamaha Factory riders were able to enter the top 10.
The roles were reversed at the start of the first series: Benistant had the best shot (3rd), while Renaux (6th) and Geerts (9th) were a little further away. Geerts immediately had to deal with bad luck in the first round. The Belgian was hit from behind, crashed to the ground and had to start an almost hopeless overtaking race from 29th position.
In the meantime, Renaux took the time to read the circulation. He also received some help from teammate Benistant, who crashed and dropped from third to fifth place. But the World Cup leader – now in third place – wanted more. Renaux chased Guadagnini (successfully) and Vialle. Renaux closed a gap of six seconds in the final phase, but was unable to launch that one perfect attack on Vialle and finished second.
Benistant seemed to be on his way to fourth place, but the Frenchman saw the Wolf overtake him on the last lap. Geerts, meanwhile, was on a mission after his early crash. The Belgian squeezed a strong catch-up race out of his slender body: from 29th to 8th place. Along the way he also set the fastest lap time.
Slim
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory trio did not give each other an inch at the start of the second series: Benistant entered the first corner in fifth, immediately followed by Renaux and Geerts. Renaux quickly moved up to second place after some clever maneuvers. The World Cup leader wanted to go after Vialle again, but wisely decided not to take unnecessary risks when fatigue struck.
While Benistant had moved up to third place, Geerts also started his rise. After a tough duel with the Wolf, the Balenian chased his two teammates. Jago received a free pass from Benistant, who crashed and dropped to eighth place, but then passed Renaux to second place. Just not enough for the GP podium. Jago was one point short of that. Renaux – again driving very regularly and smartly – finished third in the second series and second in the GP. Benistant had to be satisfied with sixth place in the GP.
Renaux in particular did a great job again. In the World Cup standings he is already 71 points ahead of Guadagnini. Geerts – third in the World Cup – has now closed to within seven points of the Italian and Benistant has moved up to fourth place.
#93 Jago Geerts
“Given my early fall in the first moto, fourth place isn't that bad. Although I came here for more. The stage at least. It was a stupid crash. There was a traffic jam in the bend after the table mountain. I had to brake hard, causing another rider to hit me from behind. I am quite satisfied with my catch-up race, but not with that eighth place. In the second series I lost a little too much time behind the Wolf and finished second.”
#198 Thibault Benistant
“I'll start with the good news: I'm really excited about my starts today. We have worked hard on the engine over the past week. It's clearly a huge improvement. Unfortunately I suffered from pumped arms in the first series. Resulting in that crash. In the second heat I initially had a better rhythm, but I didn't feel 100 percent comfortable on this track. At the end I got tired and broke down again.”
#959 Maxime Renaux
“I tried to go for the win in both series. In the first heat I was just a little short of time to catch Vialle. In the second series I never really got close to him. I felt the fatigue and had pain in my legs. That's why I decided to think about the championship. I walk further out again. 71 points already. A nice lead. But we still have eight GPs to go. I keep pushing. In a smart way, I really don't want to do crazy things anymore.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photos: Yamaha
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