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Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass Take Top Spots in Turkish Qualifying

Qualifying day at the MXGP of Turkey for the 18th round this season has wrapped up. The new circuit of Afyon led to some of the highest race speeds this season but no one topped the pace of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass as the took pole position in their respective categories.

The Afyon circuit was previously unknown which challenged riders and teams to adapt quickly. The welcoming atmosphere created by the Turkish Motorcycling Federation and the organization has been beyond expectation: Top level facilities and amazing hospitality combined today to provide the thousands of attendees a truly unique experience from the paddock events to concerts and autograph sessions ultimately leading up to world class racing.

MXGP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has started his Turkish trip just as he has many others so far this season. Today’s time practice session top time slotted him with the first gate pack. One advantage led to another with his gate pick giving him the holeshot and lead.

Behind Herlings off the start was Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and the lone Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP rider Jeremy Van Horebeek as Romain Febvre was taken for medical evaluation after a crash in the time practice session. Febvre suffered a concussion in the accident and was taken to hospital for further medical examination. Positive feedback from the hospital showed no serious injury occurred, the former world champion will however sit out racing tomorrow.

Running in 4th place was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Glenn Coldenhoff in one of his strongest performances this season. The other Red Bull KTM belonging to Antonio Cairoli was back in 10th fighting with Standing Construct KTM Racing Team’s Valentin Guillod to take 8 then continuing on to Guillod’s teammate Kevin Strijbos.

Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer was 6th looking for a way past Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle. Cairoli made a pass on Seewer look easy when he dove to the inside and took the line away from the Swiss rider. Up next for the Sicilian was Desalle but it took 6 laps before making it past leaving only two to go.

However at the finish Herlings maintained his small gap over Gajser to take the win with the #243 of Gajser second and Van Horebeek 3rd. Coldenhoff held on to 4th while Cairoli took 5th.

Jeffrey Herlings: “I took a really good start, managed to take the holeshot and then check out. Pole position and fastest in time practice so I’m definitely looking forward to tomorrow and hopefully I can get 2 good starts and we will go from there.”

Antonio Cairoli: “It was a difficult day for sure, with the injury I still am not feeling 100% and the track is very fast so it is hard for me to attack. There is still a lot of races and a lot of points on the table so we try to do our best.”

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 24:29.102; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:01.573; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:28.869; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:32.391; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:33.178; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:39.615; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:41.741; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:45.279; 9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:53.387; 10. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Yamaha), +1:03.978

MX2 Today’s MX2 Qualifying race in Afyon was wild off the start with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado taking the Holeshot over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington and Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass impressively split Prado and Vlaanderen on the exit of turn 2 and took over the lead. Prado was quick to fire back and take the lead into turn 3 but left the inside open allowing Jonass the spot again.

The KTM exchange nearly gave Covington second from Prado but the young spaniard held on to the position. Covington then came under pressure from fellow Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory rider Thomas Kjer Olsen.

Vlaanderen, after his good start, fell back a few spots in the melee at the front before taking 5th from Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 team’s Ben Watson. STC Husqvarna Racing’s Henry Jacobi then attacked Vlaanderen for 5th which eventually sent Vlaanderen over a berm.

Vlaanderen lost the spot not only to Jacobi but Watson as well. Vlaanderen made his second pass of the race on Watson to get into 6th but was unable to catch Jacobi by the finish. Jonass meanwhile won his second qualifying race in a row with Prado 2nd, Olsen 3rd, Covington 4th, and Jacobi 5th.

Pauls Jonass: “The Qualifying race went pretty good, I just didn’t get the best jump off the start but I cut to the inside off the first turn and managed to pass Jorge. After that I just rode my own race and felt really good.”

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Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass win big in Great Britain

The 2018 edition of the MXGP of Great Britain is complete under sunny skies at the Matterley Basin circuit. Eager British fans lined the track witnessed some of the best races of the season so far and saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass assert themselves as undisputed winners.

The unusually sunny British weather was scorching hot and when combined with the nearly 2,000 meter circuit provided testing but epic conditions for the world’s best motocross riders. The stadium like venue gave perfect viewing for all in attendance as the racing action kicked off.

Aside from the wild MXGP and MX2 racing the FIM Veterans Motocross World Cup was action packed with riders like last year’s winner, Martin Zerava, who won the VMX in 2014 and 2017 too, the 2 time Motocross World Champion KTM Rocket Juniors Mickael Pichon, and multi time GP winner Mervyn Anstie all joining in the racing. Saturday’s Race 1 was led from start to finish by Zerava while Pichon worked his way back to the front after a bad start while Anstie crashed out. Anstie crash looked worse than it was fortunately but a fracture to his collar bone plus some injured ribs left him out of racing Sunday. When the racing returned Sunday so too did the dominant performance from Zerava with Pichon again second for a surprising result. Finland’s Niko Kalatie rode consistent all weekend taking 2 third place finishes to round out the podium behind Pichon and back to back winner Zerava.

MXGP MXGP Race 1 started with a Fox Holeshot from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Antonio Cairoli just ahead of his teammate Glen Coldenhoff. A few spots further back was the other Red Bull KTM of Jeffrey Herlings, the MXGP points leader.

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser also had a good start and ran third after the start but by the end of the 1st official lap Herlings moved into second as Coldenhoff dropped to fifth behind the surging Clement Desalle on his Monster Energy Kawasaki.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre and Jeremy Van Horebeek ran 6th and 7th with BIKE IT DRT Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle in 8th. Febvre later jumped into 5th past Coldenhoff which he held for the remainder of the race.

Searle was looking strong before a piece of plastic caught in his chain started to distract the Brit. Meanwhile Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Julien Lieber was gaining ground and with 4 laps remaining Lieber took a spot from Searle along with Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer. Searle took the 9th back when Seewer fell in a turn and lost a handful of positions before finishing fourth.

Back at the front the battle was on between Cairoli and Herlings. A bad lap and some mistakes left Herlings in a position to take the lead but Cairoli fought back and the two carried on for the next laps. With 2 laps to go Herlings dove to the inside of Cairoli and both bobbled with Cairoli going down. Herlings took the race win but Cairoli got up quickly and managed second with Gajser 3rd.

Race 2 started just the same with Cairoli taking the FOX Holeshot and Herlings around 4th with Febvre and Desalle in between. Meanwhile Gajser lost traction and had a big save in front of Pit Lane. After the first few corners Herlings was already into 2nd and chasing down Cairoli while Desalle took 3rd from Febvre.

The front two started to pull away from Desalle after a couple of laps as both were setting their fastest laps each time around. On lap 6 Desalle fell, letting both Febvre and Gajser through before remounting his Kawasaki.

Gajser then started to close on Febvre coming within passing distance several times but couldn’t make it through. As Gajser continued to try to get by Febvre it was Desalle who ended up making it past the Slovenian.

When the 2 lap board came out Herlings was still behind Cairoli by a few seconds and realized he need to make a pass for the lead. As the pair started the final lap and came down the start straight into the first turn Herlings spotted his opportunity and took the spot! Herlings’ pace on the final lap resulted in the fastest lap of the race with a 2:19.285 and gave him the race win for maximum points and the clear overall. Herlings win gave him his 100th World Championship podium as Cairoli finished 2nd and Febvre took 3rd.

Jeffrey Herlings: “I am very happy to be here in this spot and to win… we made it happen and it’s a pleasure. It was a great race, both times I managed to get the lead, the first race 2 laps until the end and in the last race it was in the last lap, it was an amazing fight and a great way to get my 100th podium.”

Romain Febvre: “I am really happy to be on the podium again as the last few weeks have been tough…”

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:58.965; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.188; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:14.527; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:32.384; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:47.533; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:50.591; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:58.183; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:01.933; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:06.611; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), +1:09.122.

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:26.698; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.150; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:40.145; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:42.049; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:54.266; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:58.266; 7. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:59.513; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:01.221; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), +1:32.712; 10. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:39.421.

MXGP Overall Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 36 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 36 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 36 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, SUZ), 23 p.; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 23 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 22 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 17 p.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 436 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 382 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 314 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 291 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 267 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 257 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 237 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 207 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 198 p.; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 162 p.

MXGP Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 447 points; 2. Kawasaki, 325 p.; 3. Yamaha, 314 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 283 p.; 5. Honda, 272 p.; 6. TM, 160 p.; 7. Suzuki, 139 p.

MX2 Much like in the MXGP class tension is building within the MX2 championship as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass and Jorge Prado each try to assert themselves as the top rider. Prado who won yesterday’s Qualifying Race by a near mile took the Race 1 Holeshot but Jonass responded before the pair excited turn 3.

While Jonass was leading and Prado held second F&H Racing Team’s Ruben Fernandez was off to a blistering start. Fernandez ran third in front of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington and Thomas Kjer Olsen. Fernandez held the position the first 5 laps before Covington took the spot.

On the same lap as Covington’s move forward his teammate, Olsen, was shifted back by Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen. The following lap both Vlaanderen and Olsen moved Fernandez down the running order.

Things then started happening fast for the #70 of Fernandez dropping another 2 positions the next lap and 4 more after that. Olsen however found his groove again and passed Vlaanderen back and went even further forward to pass Covington. Olsen then faced a mechanical issue and was unable to finish the race while Jonass and Prado crossed the finish line followed by Covington, Vlaanderen, and Jumbo No Fear Vamo Honda’s Marshal Weltin, who had a stellar ride. Also impressive was Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Ben Watson who after having an issue on the start came back from dead last to finish 6th.

Race 2 was another Fox Holeshot from the fast starting spaniard, Jorge Prado. Race 1 winner Jonass was behind Prado from the start but didn’t let the #61 get far away. In third was STC Racing Husqvarna’s Henry Jacobi with Olsen and Vlaanderen giving chase.

Just outside the top 5 was F&H Racing Team’s Jed Beaton in 6th but on his third time around he ejected of the uphill triple and did not finish the race. Inheriting 6th position from Beaton was LRT KTM’s Davy Pootjes.

On around lap 6 the battle for 3rd intensified between Jacobi and Olsen. Olsen went around the outside of Jacobi but the German fought back which caused him to miss his line and as Olsen tried to charge by again Jacobi slammed the door causing Olsen to go down. The battle allowed Vlaanderen to pass both and jump into third. Olsen tried to rebound from the fall but his bike again gave out forcing another DNF.

Just after the battle for third was decided Pauls Jonass charged past Prado for the lead. Meanwhile Watson was again fighting forward after another bad start and with 2 laps to go the British hero took 4th from Jacobi as Jonass won the race ahead of Prado and Vlaanderen. The overall finished the same as race 2 with Jonass on the top step, Prado second, and Vlaanderen taking 3rd for the second time.

Pauls Jonass: “Today I managed to turn it around and in the first race on the start I was just behind Prado and managed to pass him right away. I am happy to go 1-1 again and especially like this because in previous races when Jorge has got the holeshot and a lead he just pulls away, so for me it was good to catch him and pass him in the last laps today.”

Jorge Prado: “It was tough, really tough, he (Jonass) was riding really good this weekend so I did my best and I am happy with that.”

Clavin Vlaanderen: “It is really good to get back to back podiums. There is a big battle for 3rd place on the podium with about 5 guys so it is fun to battle with them, it is good racing and it’s always clean.”

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 36:21.354; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:00.840; 3. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:49.040; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, Honda), +0:55.651; 5. Marshal Weltin (USA, Honda), +0:59.351; 6. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:00.863; 7. Henry Jacobi (GER, Husqvarna), +1:01.791; 8. Jed Beaton (AUS, Kawasaki), +1:06.628; 9. Anthony Rodriguez (VEN, Yamaha), +1:10.412; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:16.918

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 36:42.951; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:01.294; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, Honda), +0:38.493; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:40.283; 5. Henry Jacobi (GER, Husqvarna), +0:54.081; 6. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, Husqvarna), +0:58.663; 7. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:59.296; 8. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +1:07.559; 9. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:13.917; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:23.880.

MX2 Overall Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 38 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 33 p.; 5. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 32 p.; 6. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 30 p.; 7. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, HUS), 25 p.; 8. Marshal Weltin (USA, HON), 24 p.; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 22 p.; 10. Anthony Rodriguez (VEN, YAM), 22 p.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 401 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 373 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 288 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 279 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 234 p.; 6. Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 216 p.; 7. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 187 p.; 8. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 179 p.; 9. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 166 p.; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 161 p

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Clement Desalle and Pauls Jonass 2 for 2 in Russia

The 2018 MXGP Season’s 6th round is complete from the Russian circuit of Orlyonok. The MXGP of Russia hosted the best riders of the FIM Motocross World Championship with great success for the second year in a row. Different conditions, improved weather, and a Monday-Tuesday schedule led to amazing racing.

For the first time in 2018 the MXGP class was won by a non KTM rider, the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team bike piloted by Clement Desalle took Russia by storm in 2017 and has repeated his performance again this year. Also returning to the top step of the podium in Russia with blistering speed was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass.

MXGP MXGP’s Race 1 was intense and another memorable battle between the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders of Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings. On the start Cairoli took the Fox Holeshot but Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory Racing Team’s Clement Desalle was right alongside and Herlings just behind.

Desalle took the lead on the opening lap from Cairoli with better drive up one of the many steep hills of the Orlyonok Circuit. Behind Herlings in third was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Van Horebeek ran in 5th the first 2 laps before Team HRC’s Tim Gajser took the position away from the Belgian. Back at the front Herlings, who had lost time from Cairoli early in the race, was charging in an attempt to pass Cairoli while Desalle sprinted away.

Herlings made several attempts at the Italian but was unable to make anything stick. On the final lap Cairoli closed gap to Desalle but for both him and Herlings it was a little too late. Desalle took the race win, the first of 2018 not by a KTM, with Cairoli 2nd and Herlings 3rd.

For Race 2 Herlings was determined to take the win and gain as many points as possible. When the gate dropped the #84 took the FOX Holeshot ahead of Desalle and Gajser. For Desalle all that was needed to secure the overall was second in race 2.

Cairoli, who started in 4th place, faced pressure from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre but kept his focus on passing Gajser. On lap 10 Cairoli bobbled while trying to catch Gajser and lost traction before falling. The mistake from Cairoli cost him 1 position to Febvre as he remounted in 5th.

While Herlings and Desalle crossed the finish first and second Febvre took third from Gajser after a great battle for the position. In the overall Desalle had 47 points with 1-2 finishes, Herlings 45 points going 3-1, and Cairoli 38 after his 2-5 score. Meanwhile BOS GP’s Russian star Evgeny Bobryshev finished 14th overall at his home GP.

Clement Desalle after the races said: I feel good, today was really good for me… I wanted to take the GP step by step and actually to finish with a really good day and win. I am really happy about it, about my riding, about quite a few things, to finally have a green bike on the podium in first position with my team it is really nice.”

Jeffrey Herlings: “I took good starts which is important for me, we are getting better and better at that, more controlled. Yeah, in the first race we got third which messed up the overall but to come back swinging in the second race with a FOX Holeshot and then ride good without mistakes… I’m happy to go to Latvia in 2 weeks time, that is one of my favorite tracks on the calendar.”

Antonio Cairoli: “It is good that we made it to the podium because it has been my goal since the beginning of the season, to be on the podium every race…. so it is ok. It is also good that Clement now is getting back into form and that he can be in the mix, it is good for the championship.”

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), 33:30.843; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.512; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:03.489; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:25.944; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:34.132; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:39.081; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:44.279; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:45.440; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:45.952; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Honda), +0:55.876.

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 33:53.627; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:05.066; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.098; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:17.458; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:19.176; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:20.912; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:41.868; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:47.040; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:49.670; 10. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), +0:50.771.

MXGP Overall Top Ten: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 47 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 34 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 33 p.; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 27 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 20 p.; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HON), 19 p.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 286 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 263 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 212 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 203 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 180 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 152 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 150 p.; 8. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 147 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 135 p.; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 113 p.

MXGP Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 297 points; 2. Kawasaki, 223 p.; 3. Yamaha, 212 p.; 4. Husqvarna, 188 p.; 5. Honda, 162 p.; 6. TM, 104 p.; 7. Suzuki, 87 p.

MX2 After two difficult GPs at Trentino and Portugal Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass returned to his winning shape this week. Lining up to the gate first after winning Monday’s Qualifying Race Jonass came out if the first corner of race 1 in second.

Leading the way with the Fox Holeshot was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado. Prado led his Latvian teammate the opening lap but just across the finish line jump Jonass keep his bike lower and was quicker to get the power back to the ground.

As the pair came up the hill and passed the mechanics area Jonass took the lead. Behind the KTM’s was Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Ben Watson first followed by F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Adam Sterry and shortly after his Kemea teammate Jago Geerts.

Geerts who won the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship here in 2016 held 4th for 5 laps before crashing and eventually finishing 12th. Capitalizing on the error from Geerts was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen.

Olsen moved to 4th ahead of Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen but then, in a surprising ride from KTM Silver Action’s Stephen Rubini, Vlaanderen was passed. Rubini then charged to the back of Olsen but before making a pass spun out and lost his hard fought 5th back to Vlaanderen.

On the next to last lap Rubini, who was riding the track with more flow than most, took the spot back from Vlaanderen. Across the finish first was Jonass then Prado, Watson, Olsen, and Rubini.

Race 2 was again led by the KTM’s but the second time around it was a FOX Holeshot from Jonass as Prado pursued. Team Martin Honda Racing’s Michele Cervellin was third from the first lap and while Jonass and Prado pulled away he found himself with a comfortable cushion back to Olsen in 4th.

Ben Watson was 5th on lap one behind Olsen but lost positions to both STC Racing Husqvarna’s Henry Jacobi and Vlaanderen. On lap 3 Jacobi dropped to eight moving Watson back up and into 6th.

Watson had Vlaanderen just in front of him from lap 2 until lap 16 when the HRC rider passed Olsen for 4th. The pass on Olsen was important in the overall standings as it gave the final podium position to Watson.

On the last lap Prado charged to the inside of Jonass but wasn’t close enough to make a clean pass which resulted in Jonass taking the race win and the overall ahead of him. Cervellin held onto third with Vlaanderen and Olsen rounding out the top 5. Watson finished 6th but was unaware the result earned him a career first podium until riding up to his team manager who informed the young brit with much joy.

Pauls Jonass: “I really wanted to have two good races heading into my home GP and I did it, I had two good starts, first start I was second behind Jorge and I managed to pass him pretty quick so that was pretty good and in the second race I got a Holeshot and pulled a little gap. I am really happy going 1-1 again and really looking forward to my home GP.”

Jorge Prado: “The weekend was great… I am really happy with 2 second places and second overall especially on track that was difficult for me so I’m really happy.”

Ben Watson: “I honestly have no words for this weekend… I just gave it everything I had and I didn’t actually realize I was on the podium, I was actually gutted because I thought I finished 4th again. I came off the track and my team boss was there, I was just speechless.”

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 34:54.861; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:11.561; 3. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:31.861; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:36.859; 5. Stephen Rubini (FRA, KTM), +0:39.204; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, Honda), +0:40.899; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +0:53.491; 8. Jed Beaton (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:58.912; 9. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Yamaha), +0:59.572; 10. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, Husqvarna), +1:10.071.

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 34:38.909; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:01.630; 3. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +0:39.711; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, Honda), +0:40.600; 5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:41.581; 6. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:43.440; 7. Jed Beaton (AUS, Kawasaki), +1:06.039; 8. Stephen Rubini (FRA, KTM), +1:12.622; 9. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +1:15.696; 10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Husqvarna), +1:20.876.

MX2 Overall Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 35 p.; 4. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 34 p.; 5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 34 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 33 p.; 7. Stephen Rubini (FRA, KTM), 29 p.; 8. Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 27 p.; 9. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 21 p.; 10. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, HUS), 21 p.

MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 266 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 246 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 219 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 176 p.; 5. Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 156 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 130 p.; 7. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 127 p.; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 108 p.; 9. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 104 p.; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 102 p.

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Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass Strike First in Russia

The 2018 MXGP of Russia has seen its first day of racing at the Orlyonok circuit where the beautiful weather matched up with a perfect location for the event, just above the beaches of the Black Sea. Topping the field in the MXGP class was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and in MX2 it was the #1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Pauls Jonass.

Joining the FIM Motocross World Championship riders was the FIM Europe Motocross Championshipclasses of EMX250 and EMX300 presented by FMF Racing. The first race of the day and weekend was EMX300 presented by FMF Racing where A1M Husqvarna’s Andero Lusbo held off the charges of both Verde Substance KTM’s Brad Anderson and Vaclav Kovar while in Race 1 of EMX250 Tom Vialle won in dominant fashion over Giuseppe Tropepe and ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha’s Nicholas Lapucci.

MXGP At the drop of the MXGP starting gate Team HRC’s Tim Gajser looked like he would have a great start just behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre. Gajser however ended up clipping the back of Herlings which sent the Slovenian to the dirt. Herlings was thrown off by the contact allowing Febvre to take the holeshot.

Febvre’s Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP teammate Jeremy Van Horebeek ran second and TM Factory Racing’s Max Nagl ran 3rd before being passed by Herlings and later Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle.

Meanwhile Desalle teammate, Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory Racing’s Julien Lieber was back in 17th. In the next laps Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli moved into fifth with a move on Nagl.

In the second half of the race Nagl battled with Wilvo Yamaha MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer but then both were passed by a charging Julien Lieber. The early leader, Febvre fell twice during the race sending him back to 12th where he would only gain back one position.

Back at the front Herlings found his way past Van Horebeek for the lead and Cairoli passed Desalle for third. Cairoli made a mistake in front of Desalle causing the Kawasaki rider to miss his line and allow his teammate, Lieber, into fourth.

Only moments later Cairoli lost the front end whilst closing in on Van Horebeek. The mistake allowed Lieber into third while Herlings took the win. Van Horebeek finished second ahead of the career best MXGP qualifying result from Lieber that made impressive passes finishing in third.

Jeffrey Herlings in the Qualifying Press Conference: “I had a long trip to get here but I made it just in time, in the time practice I struggled a bit as these guys were warming up in the morning while I was traveling. I still managed to get second in the time practice and I won the Qualifying, thus I eventually had a good day, so I hope to have also a good night of sleep and looking forward to tomorrow. Here the track is pretty fast and starts are the main thing, if you have a good start you can fight for the win and have good results.”

Clement Desalle continued: “Here I have a good souvenir from last year when I won the GP. I felt good today and I have a positive feeling for tomorrow. I will do my best to have good starts, I tried to make passes today but it was not that easy, even so I found some good lines for tomorrow.”

Russian MXGP hero Evgeny Bobryshev from BOS GP finished the qualification race in 15th after being involved in the start crash with Gajser. Bobryshev: “It’s always nice to race in Russia, I have good support from my family and a few friends. My qualifying race actually didn’t go very well. I had a crash at the start with Tim Gajser and some other riders and then had some issues with the bike so it was quite difficult to catch up with the other guys. I hope to get good results for tomorrow.”

MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 23:42.878; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:01.513; 3. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:03.211; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:04.042; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:04.729; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:07.579; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), +0:09.940; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:12.027; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:13.161; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:16.580

MX2 MX2 Qualifying kicked off with a Holeshot from Red KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass who was closely followed by the other Red Bull KTM of Jorge Prado. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen and Thomas Covington started 3rd and 4th but Covington was quickly moved back by Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts, Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen, and the F&H Racing Team Kawasaki’s of Jed Beaton and Adam Sterry.

Vlaanderen took over 4th from Geerts early in the race and set his sights on Olsen in third. Not long after Beaton also found his way past the Yamaha of Geerts. Olsen then fell at the end of the roller section and rejoined the race in 10th.

Jed Beaton also crashed and lost positions to many riders including Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Vsevolod Brylyakov. Both Olsen and Beaton finished the race in the same position as when the rejoined in 10th and 9th respectively.

Brylyakov moved his way into 4th in front of the home fans while Jonass minded his lead ahead of Prado. At the finish line Jonass took the qualifying win 6.5 seconds ahead of Prado with Vlaanderen 3rd. Brylyakov’s 4th was his best qualifying result of the season which positions him well for his first ever home GP tomorrow.

Pauls Jonass in the qualifying press conferene said: “I struggled a bit in the last races but in the past 2 weeks I worked a lot and I’ve started to feel good. As Jeffrey has said starts are really important here so I hope to have 2 good starts tomorrow and fight for the win. I feel it’s been a long time since I’m not on the top of the podium so it would be nice to get a GP win but my goal is to ride 2 consistence races, not make mistakes and stay healthy because the season is long and for sure I want to bring the number 1 plate into my home GP.”

Russian Hero Vsevolod Brylyakov said : “It is definitely great to be back and race at my home GP. This is my best qualifying race so far and I can’t be any happier now then to have it in front of my fans.”