Jago Geerts immediately on stage
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider Jago Geerts started his World Championship campaign with a nice third place in the British Grand Prix, in Matterley Basin. Andrea Bonacorsi, the replacement for the injured Thibault Benistant, crashed hard on Saturday and had to sit out for the remainder of the GP.
One week ago, Storm Eunice left a trail of destruction in Great Britain. Also in Matterley Basin. Uprooted trees, team tents torn from the truck, advertising panels flying around... World Championship promoter Infront had no choice but to postpone the Grand Prix by a week. Peace had completely returned to the south of Great Britain this weekend. Instead of heavy gusts of wind and heavy rain, the sun actually came out.
The circuit was perfect. Although Andrea Bonacorsi, who filled in once for the recovering Thibault Benistant, did not really enjoy that. The 18-year-old Italian had a serious crash during timed training on Saturday, was hit by the motorcycle and had to be taken to hospital. Fortunately, the damage turned out not to be too bad. No internal bleeding and no vital organs hit. Bonacorsi was allowed to leave the hospital on Saturday evening. The Italian teenager can now focus on the EMX250, which starts next week in Mantova.
Nice recovery
Jago Geerts, third in the qualifying race on Saturday, was unable to capitalize on his good starting position at the start of the first series. The Balenian only entered the first corner in eighth place and therefore still had some work to do. After two laps he had already moved up to fifth place, but just when he wanted to attack the Wolf, things went wrong. Jago made a mistake in the vicious bend just before the starting strip, crashed and had to restart in ninth place. He quickly passed Haarup again and was given two places when Gifting and Horgmo crashed. That rekindled the fire. Geerts was now completely under steam and increased the pressure on his competitors in the final phase. After a great maneuver on van de Moosdijk - he literally jumped over the Dutchman - and a great move past Rubini in the last lap, Geerts crossed the line in fourth. A great recovery after that early fall.
Exciting three-way battle
Geerts started off much better on his YZ250FM in the second series. The Balenaar was immediately in the wake of Längenfelder, Vialle and Horgmo. Although Geerts needed four laps to displace the Norwegian from third place. The two leaders had opened a small gap in the meantime, but Jago closed that gap quite quickly. And so a brilliant three-way battle developed at the front. They rode on a handkerchief. Until the last round. Vialle collapsed under the pressure and fell to the ground. Geerts was quick to take over second place. The Kempen native was still chasing the leader, but was stranded in his wheel. No series victory, but immediately on the podium in the first Grand Prix. A boost for Geerts, who had undergone minor procedures on his left arm in the past two weeks.
#93 Jago Geerts
“A podium finish in the first GP is always a good result. Especially when you know that I have had two, albeit minor, procedures done on my left arm in the past two weeks. So I wasn't able to ride the bike for two weeks in the run-up to this GP. Not ideal of course. Although I must admit that I did not experience any problems with that arm today. I'm glad my speed and fitness didn't suffer. My starts and my first laps were a bit less. Maybe I was a little too careful. So those are work points.”
#35 Andrea Bonacorsi
“This was certainly not the World Cup debut as I had imagined it. Just past the pit lane my engine died. I couldn't hold my machine anymore and hit the ground hard. The motorcycle hit me. That was a strong blow, especially on my stomach. Because I was in a lot of pain, the doctors immediately had me transferred to the hospital. Fortunately, after investigations it turned out that all in all I had done very well. Although my GP debut went up in smoke. Well, I'm still young, there will be new opportunities.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: CDS
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