Jago Geerts on the podium in Trentino
Jago Geerts was finally back on the podium, in round 14 of the FIM World Championship in Pietramurata. His first top-three finish since Latvia, on August 8. Maxime Renaux (eighth) had a difficult day in Italy, but remains the World Cup leader with a 92-point lead. Unlucky Thibault Benistant finished 19th.
Set in beautiful countryside, that's the least you can say about the Crossdromo Ciclamino in Pietramurata, the location of the Italian triple GP. The spectacular and hard circuit – narrow and winding – is nestled between the Dolomites and the north coast of Lake Garda. A favorite place of Jago Geerts. Just think of his two victories on this course last season. The Balenian immediately felt good again on this track and took pole position - his fourth this season. Teammate and World Cup leader Maxime Renaux clocked the second time. The difference? Only six thousandths of a second! Finally, Thibault Benistant set the ninth fastest time.
Valuable World Cup pointsn
Still, Benistant was the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider with the best start in the first heat. The Frenchman came third into the first corner, just in front of Geerts. Renaux, on the other hand, missed his start completely and faced an extremely difficult assignment from 24th position. However, the World Cup leader remained calm, worked his way to the front and was already in eighth place halfway through the series - after some tough passing maneuvers. In the meantime, Geerts had taken over third place from Benistant, who had to deal with electronic problems. The European EMX250 champion tried to continue, but had to abandon the battle a few laps later.
Meanwhile, Geerts was panting more and more heavily on the neck of Isak Gifting, who was in second place. The vice world champion tried everything to pass the Swede. Not easy, on the narrow, single-line Italian track. Two laps from the end, Geerts was rewarded for his drive to attack. He jumped over Gifting into second place. After a good catch-up race, Renaux managed to finish sixth and gain many valuable World Cup points.
Crash in first corner
Another disastrous start for Renaux in the second series. The Frenchman crashed in the first corner and had to start a catch-up race last (36th). Benistant also missed his start (21st). Geerts was the only Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider in the front line (4th). The Belgian clearly had his sights set on the podium and passed Beaton and Hofer to second place.
Benistant and Renaux were now working their way to the front. After eight laps, Thibault and Maxime were already in ninth and eleventh position. But there Benistant's advance stopped. The young Frenchman made a mistake, crashed and fell back to P20. Renaux, on the other hand, kept pushing and eventually crossed the line in eighth. At the front, Geerts continued to put pressure on Vialle. The Balenaar came close, but not close enough to launch that one decisive attack. Anyway, Geerts was shining beautifully on the podium. His first top three since the Latvian GP at the beginning of August. And that clearly felt good.
Renaux saw his World Championship lead shrink from 108 to 92 points with four GPs to go. “It wasn't Maxime's best day. Yet there is no reason to panic now," said team manager Marnicq Bervoets. “His overtaking races were punishment. The driving itself is almost perfect. He just needs to get better starts on Wednesday.”
#93 Jago Geerts
“On the one hand, it feels very good to be on the podium again after a long time. On the other hand, I am of course also a bit disappointed because I was so close to Vialle and therefore also to the GP victory. In the second series I was close to him from the beginning to the end. I really did everything I could to get close enough to pass him. But there was more of one good line and we had about the same speed. Well, I'm back to my old level. I feel like I can compete for GP victories again. A nice feeling. I get two more chances here this week.”
#198 Thibault Benistant
“This was clearly not my day. However, I felt quite good in the timed training, with a ninth fastest time as a result. Although I did sustain a knee injury at the end of the session and it bothered me for the rest of the day. Despite that knee, I made a very good start in the first heat. I was third when my motorcycle suddenly developed electronic problems. That made it very difficult. When things started to get really dangerous, I had no other option but to stop. In the second heat I came back well after a weak start, but then I made a mistake and crashed. My knee was hit again, but fortunately it is not serious.”
#959 Maxime Renaux
“This was a black day for me. However, in the morning, during the timed training, I felt good about myself. I immediately got into a good rhythm and also set the second fastest time. But after that my starts failed me. In the first heat I had to fight back from 24th position and in the second heat I crashed in the first corner. Then you have a big problem on this job. Yet there are also positive things: the driving itself and my passing maneuvers. I really couldn't get more out of it today after those two weak starts. Title stress? No not at all. Just bad starts. The focus must now be on Wednesday. The starting problem should be solved by then.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photos: ShotbyBavo
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