Three GP victories in a row for Jago Geerts
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider Jago Geerts has won the Swedish Grand Prix in Uddevalla. His third GP victory in a row, his sixth of the season. In the World Cup, the Balenian still has a 23 point lead over Vialle. Thibault Benistant had shoulder problems and finished seventh.
The FIM World Championship returned to Sweden after a two-year hiatus – you know, the pandemic. The Glimminge Motor Stadium in Uddevalla is well known to most riders. Jago Geerts felt good on the hard, stone-strewn track. The Kempen native took pole position after a great victory – in the lead from start to finish – in the qualifying race on Saturday. Thibault Benistant, on the other hand, had a difficult afternoon and was stuck in ninth place.
Geerts could not immediately capitalize on his good starting position. He entered the first corner in fourth place, two spots ahead of teammate Benistant. While the Frenchman dropped to 10th place in the first lap, Geerts moved to the front. First he jumped over Längenfelder into third place. A lap later, the Balenian overtook Horgmo and nestled in Vialle's rear wheel. However, it did not come to a titanic battle, because Jago lost a spot after a slide in lap 5. He quickly took second place again, after a clever maneuver on Horgmo, but Vialle was already flying at the front. Although it was not that easy to pass, Benistant still managed to move up a few places at the end. The Frenchman crossed the line in sixth place.
To attack
Benistant shot very strongly out of the starting gate in race 2. The Frenchman settled right behind Längenfelder and Horgmo and a few corners later overtook the Norwegian into second place. Geerts had a little more work ahead of him. The Balenian finished sixth after the first lap, but quickly moved up to fourth place, just behind Vialle. Benistant literally and figuratively fell away at the front. The Frenchman went from P2 to P9.
Vialle also made a mistake at the front, allowing Geerts to move up to second place. The World Cup leader immediately went after leader Längenfelder. He closed the gap in one, two, three, but getting past the German was another matter. Geerts launched one attack after another, but Längenfelder always countered cleverly. It was only in the eleventh round that Geerts finally scored. He took the measure of Längenfelder, but then immediately got the returning Vialle in his wheel. The Frenchman continued to follow him closely, but it was not possible to mount a real attack. Geerts kept a cool head and took the series and GP victory. His sixth of the season, the sixteenth of his career. And for the first time three GP victories in a row, after Loket and Lommel. Benistant had more problems with his shoulder after his fall and was therefore stuck in ninth place.
In the World Championship standings, Geerts, with three Grand Prix still to come, is still 23 points ahead of Vialle. Benistant remains fifth.
#93 Jago Geerts
“This is a victory that is really rewarding. Especially after that slip in the first series. I was angry with myself and definitely wanted to put something right in the second series. I finally succeeded. Although I had to work hard to get past Längenfelder. When I finally passed him, Vialle came pushing again. So we had to fight and pay attention right to the finish. In the World Cup standings I didn't win a point, but I didn't lose a single one either. Fine. I am now especially looking forward to the GP in Finland next week. I have good memories of Hyvinkaa. In 2014 I became European 85cc champion. A sand circuit. Bacon to my mouth.”
#198 Thibault Benistant
“A bad weekend. On Saturday I had some problems with my suspension. Fortunately, that problem was quickly resolved. I also suffered from a shoulder injury. This injury bothered me especially during hard landings. In the first series the pain was not too bad. Despite a small mistake in the first lap, the driving itself went quite well. In the second series I stretched my shoulder a little further after a fall in the third round. I had to fight the pain and also have to be careful. So I couldn't go all out. Quite frustrating.”
Posted: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Gallery: Yamaha
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