Tim Gajser is in complete control of the 2022 MXGP championship and his first 1-1 of the year at an atmospheric Arco underlined just how well he is riding – and that maybe his pace is starting to get in other rider’s heads!
In race two, Gajser got three gifts and didn’t even have to make a pass to win despite starting third, as his rivals made mistakes allowing the HRC Honda rider a big lead. Firstly, Prado stalled while leading holding up Seewer, then Seewer crashed while second trying to stay with Gajser and then Brian Bogers crashed as soon as he inherited second with the chance to chase Gajser for the win!
Everyone knows Tim is the man to beat and you can’t let him get out front and when you do you have to make the most of it. Glenn Coldenhoff rode really well in race one to lead Tim for half the moto, he didn’t make a mistake either and Tim still made the move and pulled away. Race two and it looked like the opportunity to challenge Gajser and go the pace required to do so was too much for the others to process. They know they have to be perfect and right now Gajser is on another level in terms of his consistent speed, and this is when you really feel the missing presence and intensity that Jeffrey Herlings provides.
At times of course Gajser can be beaten this year, Renaux and Prado have done it and are capable of doing it again but their bad days are a lot worse that Gajser who is always a strong second/third and still in winning contention. He is a machine right now.
Jorge Prado is close but again is just missing that little something (new bike adjustment?) from being on Gajser’s pace every moto. Renaux, after a dip in Portugal was back on the pace again in Arco but he didn’t start with Gajser even if he did ride very well. Send it Seewer again was fast, doing an incredible triple that had me thinking his throttle had stuck amidst a sharp intact of breath!
Glenn Coldenhoff is looking stronger and stronger, with a a brilliant Mitch Evans already showing some fantastic speed just five rounds in after missing all of 2021. It all provided captivating and intense racing behind the Slovenian on a track with a new direction that was simply fantastic with the beautiful backdrop of the the dolomite mountains and fervent fans showing their passion for the best sport in world.
Unfortunately, after a great weekend right on the pace, Calvin Vlaanderen had a huge crash in race two but he was flying and is more and more deserving of a factory seat. Happily, Ben Watson, after tough year, showed what he can do on the Kawasaki with a very strong sixth place, and no doubt a big sigh of relief for the talented Brit who will surely take a lot of confidence from that second moto.
MX2 was all about Tom Vialle delivering under pressure in both motos to take the win and the red plate as Jago Geerts for the first time all year brought his crashing habit back to from years previous. Until then, Geerts was looking superb and the fastest man on the track. But he couldn’t get by teammate Benistant and saw Vialle edging away when he went down and then the big second crash on the drop off really killed his hopes forcing a costly DNF. It was a real shame for Geerts but if he can remain calm the championship is still very much on, the pace is still more than anyone else in the class but he has let Vialle, who is rapidly growing in confidence, through an open door in Arco.
The aforementioned Benistant was really impressive, fourth overall including a heat race win shows just what a talent he is and how he has been missed in the opening few rounds.
But it was once a again a brilliant Mikkel Haarup that stole the podium off the Frenchman! Haarup is in the form of his life and was oh-so-close to a first moto win as he hounded Vialle all moto long but just couldn’t make the pass. His race was a brilliant comeback through the field to take sixth of an impressive Rick Elzinga for sixth. Haarup is putting it together this year and that was his third podium in a row, if he continues this form, and keeps his starts up front, could he be a title contender?
Article: Jonathan McCready
Image: InFront Moto Racing
Podcast! Jonathan McCready and Andy McKinstry discuss some great racing in Arco, the brilliance of Tim Gajser, Vialle taking the red plate in MX2, that Seewer leap and AMA supercross from St. Louis.
Listen here on iTunes or Spotify below:
