What a start to the year in MXGP…more specifically MX2 – that is the class to watch this year!
Lucas Coenen was fireworks all weekend, winning an instant classic in the qualifier then looking like he ended his chances of a GP title with a crash in race one that looked to have broke a bone – then he comes back to win race two until he didn’t when he crashed two turns from home and gave his teammate de Wolf the win! Lucas is so fast but those mistakes are opening the door for everyone else but he has the grit and speed to win this title, he just needs to stay on! The talent in incredible.
The Husky boys are on it and the emotion de Wolf showed on the podium showed just how much it meant to him – I didn’t put him in my top three because I was worried about starts not speed, but his starts were good enough this weekend and, my word, the kid can ride a bike! Husky and Rasmus Jorgenson must be absolutely buzzing at their riders’ performances in Argentina – they looked like Red Bull KTM!
The others that really stood out where Mikkel Haarup getting an awesome podium for himself and Triumph, what a debut for the team in the toughest motocross series on the planet! That bike is the real deal and so is Mikkel Haarup, he has always had speed but he might be putting it all together this year with Triumph and signing Haarup has been a brilliant move by Triumph – I’d keep him for the 450 team next year too!
There is a new Rossi in motorcycle racing and this one is also mega talented! Marc-Antonie Rossi wowed the world in Argentina, leading the qualifier than going within five minutes of winning the first GP moto before tipping over, then almost getting Benistant for second on the last lap but crashing again and ending up fourth! He dropped back a bit in race two – but all in all this kid is pretty special. The talent and poise is there, he isn’t afraid of anyone and with that talent and smooth technique, he shouldn’t be! He will learn quickly and could be a front runner most weekend. He has the steady and smart Simon Laengenfelder to learn off and he did his job taking no risks for a podium to start his title challenge off well, Laengenfelder is there for the long haul but world champ Adamo has work to to do – especially on those starts!
It’s still anyone’s for the taking and with Haarup and Rossi adding the themselves to the mix and Everts to return every gate drop will be fizzing with anticipation!
MXGP was a weekend of pain with more top names getting injured. Geerts broke his collarbone and elbow, Fernandez injured his lower leg, Van Doninck broke his femur, Gilbert injured his shoulder and Forato was too sore to race despite trying after his pre-season injury – and that added to no Guadagnini and Van de Moosdijk even travelling , MXGP was down seven riders for Sunday – and it was still deep!
The top men though all rode steady, only Herlings and Gajsjer made a mistake, both tipping over in race on on an awkward corner that claimed a lot of people over the weekend. Apart from that no-one took many risks, given the dangerous nature of the track, the extreme speed and hidden bumps made everyone nervous! Jorge Prado was awesome going 4-1-2 and didn’t miss a beat despite racing supercross, if anything he looks fitter and stronger than he did last year, especially in the second moto’s. And just like Jett, his style and technique is impeccable.
But Tim Gajser was probably the fastest, he went 1-5-1 and if it wasn’t for the crash he might have the red plate. Gajser dominated on Saturday and the final moto on Sunday even if Febvre and Prado stayed with him as long as they could, Gajser is back and he wants this title bad. Even his comeback ride to fifth was good on the sketchy track that was difficult to pass on. Romain Febvre positioned himself perfectly too for title contention, very happy with a podium but for Jeffrey Herlings it was ideal.
On the plus side he’s not injured – especially after that situation with Monticelli on Satruday, but after a 5-8-7 Herlings is 22 points down already to Prado. Herlings actually rode okay but when he is waving Renaux passed in race two, you know he isn’t comfortable and isn’t taking any risks. His starts weren’t great either, they were okayish in the qualifying race and first moto, but still outside the top five and when Gajser/Prado are holeshotting, that’s a problem. Race three and Herlings was outside the the top 10 and back in 12th with Gajser and Prado 1-2. He didn’t even give himself a chance and wisely just got through healthy but he can’t afford another 7th overall in Spain, the pressure is already on Herlings – but he is much better than he showed in Argentina.
With everyone playing it safe and even Gajser and Prado admitting it was hard to push too much, the championship starts for real in Spain in the MXGP class.
The real Tom Vialle has arrived in America! This is the guy we all saw in MXGP and that his US KTM finally saw at Ernee to make them believe in his talent. Vialle looks like he has the confidence now and believes he is the man, he dominated again and now leads the championship by a point – but the really exciting part is we might just see his real outdoor speed too this season! Haiden Deegan is the man that probably can run with Vialle on that fire breathing Yamaha but so far, crashes and petulance are holding Deegan back. Expect some aggressive moves next weekend if he is close to Vialle or McAdoo as he gets desperate in his chase for the title!
Poor Max Anstie, he has the speed, the talent but the bike just won’t get him off the gate, and then it quit and killed his title hopes. Red plate to DNF if brutal but Max is so nice he did and interview with JT and spoke really well despite the fury and disappointment within. Max is a class act on and off the the bike.
In the 450s it was the Jett show, no-one can stop this kid when he gets away except Jett himself, even Cooper Webb’s patented late race surges don’t work and he even tried to slam Jett in the heat race and fell off instead of Jett! Lawrence is just brilliant and Eli Tomac’s momentum is well and truly stopped. Webb might be the only one with half a chance at this title not named Lawrence with Sexton not having a great ride either.
Images: InFront Moto Racing – MXGP Align – Vialle
Artricle: Jonathan McCready
