MXGP: Prado boss in Sardinia!
Even in the most physically demanding GP of the season, there was no limit for world champion Jorge Prado. The 23-year-old Spaniard convincingly took his third consecutive GP victory (1-1) of the season in the heavy dune sand of Riola Sardo (Sardinia). Tim Gajser (2-2) and Jeffrey Herlings (3-3) finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Only Tim Gajser was able to keep pace with World Championship leader Jorge Prado in the first MXGP race in Riola Sardo. Prado led almost from start to finish and was ahead of Gajser, Herlings Coldenhoff and Pauls Jonass.
Prado in “cruise control”
The holeshot was right for Jeremy “the Smurf” Seewer, followed by Jorge Prado. However, the Spaniard wasted no time and sent his GasGas into the lead. Pauls Jonass, Glenn Coldenhoff and especially Tim Gajser were also good. A motivated Gajser was able to outwit Seewer early on.
At the front, Prado was able to systematically extend his lead. Herlings only started seventh. The Bullit first took the measure of Gifting, Flanders and then Coldenhoff and Jonass were also killed. Jeffrey (photo below) thus proved to be one of the fastest men on the track.
Seewer went off on the third lap, dropping him to 21st place. Ultimately, the Swiss was able to manage an 11th place. An experienced Coldenhoff finished neatly 4th, while Febvre - who fell at the start - saw a hell of a catch-up race stranded in P6.
Brian Bogers did a fine job in his Fantic debut. The fast Eindhove native finished 8th, following in the wake of fellow countryman Calvin Vlaanderen. Despite a final offensive, Gajser had to acknowledge his superiority in Prado.
Herlings is working hard
The start of the second series was almost a copy of the first. This time Prado immediately won for Seewer. And unlike the first heat, Herlings had now started well. Tim Edberg, Brent Van Doninck's replacement at JM Honda Racing, also got into the spotlight with a cannon start.
Thanks to a 4th holeshot of the season, Prado immediately controlled the debates. Yet there was no one who challenged him more this weekend than veteran Herlings. The Red Bull KTM legend fought his way into the wheel of the three-time world champion. Just when Jeffrey seemed to be preparing an attack, he lost control at the front on the 10th lap. Road P2 for Herlings who had to let Gajser pass. But in terms of speed, this GP was certainly a boost for 'the Bullit'.
A regular Pauls Jonass continued his momentum on the Italian island. The only Standing Construct Honda pilot excelled with a strong fourth place (5-4) in the final standings. Despite his unfavorable starting position, Romain Febvre was now “best of the rest”. The French former world champion finished 5th ahead of Calvin Vlaanderen and Kawa teammate Seewer. Gajser also made a slider. But his mistake in the final phase ultimately did not change the score.
Yamaha privateer Isak Gifting surprised friend and foe with a deserved 8th place. After a bad start, Coldenhoff now had no more option than a 9th place. In the final standings, Glenn finished 6th ahead of Calvin Vlaanderen.
Fantic teammate Bogers held up well despite the lack of match rhythm. Brian finished a strong 9th in his first GP. For Roan van de Moosdijk, who came in for the injured Ruben Fernandez at HRC Honda, Riola was a race to quickly forget. Van De Moosdijk always disappeared from the match early.
MXGP Race 1
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 35:36.104; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:05.279; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:39.521; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:53.793; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:57.563; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:08.202; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:14.107; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:17.947; 9. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:29.308; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:40.733; 11. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +1:46.353; 12. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), +1:52.616; 13. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 14. Isaac Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 15. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 17. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Valentine Guillod (SUI, Honda), -1 lap(s); 19. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Beta), -1 lap(s); 20. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 21. Todd Kellett (GBR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. Jakub Teresak (CZE, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 23. No Banner (SLO, KTM), -2 lap(s); 24. Anton Nagy (SWE, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 25. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 26. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -3 lap(s); 27. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Honda), -6 lap(s); 28. Tim Edberg (SWE, Honda), -8 lap(s); 29. Tomass Sileika (LAT, GASGAS), -15 lap(s);
MXGP Race 2
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 35:44.443; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:16.624; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:27.553; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:49.572; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:00.952; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:02.493; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +1:07.901; 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:15.011; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +1:17.421; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:18.785; 11. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:43.318; 12. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:57.870; 13. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 14. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 15. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), -1 lap(s); 16. Todd Kellett (GBR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 17. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 20. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Beta), -1 lap(s); 22. Tim Edberg (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 23. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 24. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 25. Anton Nagy (SWE, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 26. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -3 lap(s); 27. Jakub Teresak (CZE, Husqvarna), -6 lap(s); 28. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Honda), -8 lap(s); 29. Tomas Sileika (LAT, GASGAS), -15 page(s);
MXGP Sardinia final standings
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 50 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 44 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 34 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 31 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 30 p.; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 29 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 24 p.; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 23 p.; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 22 p.; 11. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 21 p.; 12. Isaac Gifting (SWE, YAM), 20 p.; 13. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 17 p.; 14. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 12 p.; 15. Alvin Östlund (SWE, HON), 11 p.; 16. Valentine Guillod (SUI, HON), 9 p.; 17. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 8 p.; 18. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 7 p.; 19. Todd Kellett (GBR, YAM), 5 p.; 20. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 2 p.; 21. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, BET), 2 p.; 22. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 1 p.; 23. Tim Edberg (SWE, HON), 0 p.; 24. No Banner (SLO, KTM), 0 p.; 25. Anton Nagy (SWE, YAM), 0 p.; 26. Mark Scheu (GER, HUS), 0 p.; 27. Jacob Teresak (CZE, HUS), 0 p.; 28. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HON), 0 p.; 29. Tomas Sileika (LAT, GAS), 0 p.;
World Championship MXGP standings after 3 rounds
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 174 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 157 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 125 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 123 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 113 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 99 p.; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 90 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 83 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 64 p.; 10. Maximum Renal (FRA, YAM), 63 p.; 11. Valentine Guillod (SUI, HON), 60 p.; 12. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 58 p.; 13. Isaac Gifting (SWE, YAM), 44 p.; 14. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 37 p.; 15. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, BET), 36 p.; 16. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 30 p.; 17. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 26 p.; 18. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 22 p.; 19. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 21 p.; 20. Alvin Östlund (SWE, HON), 18 p.; 21. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 12 p.; 22. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 7 p.; 23. Todd Kellett (GBR, YAM), 5 p.; 24. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 5 p.; 25. Lars van Berkel (NED, HON), 5 p.; 26. Michael Cordovez (ECU, YAM), 4 p.; 27. Fabius Appearing Two Saints (BRA, YAM), 3 p.; 28. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 3 p.; 29. Nicholas Roland (WORD, HUS), 2 p.; 30. Andrew Benenaula (ECU, CAW), 1 p.; 31. Sergio Ignatius Villaronga Muga (CHI, HON), 1 p.;
Photos: JP Acevedo, Ray Archer, shotbyBavo, Eva Szabadfi, MXGP
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