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MXGP World Championship

Saturday Report: GP of Europe

A bumper Saturday report.

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Whenever the Grand Prix contingent enter a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, it is presumed that the events that unfold on Saturday will be telling. However, yet again, the qualifying races have left onlookers with more questions than answers.

There is one fact that everyone can agree on, however, and that is that Antonio Cairoli is at his best currently. “The start is not really important on this track, but when you get the holeshot it is easier,” Cairoli commented. “In the beginning I could make a good speed and a good gap on the first lap. I tried to ride my rhythm, make some good laps and control the race.” 

“It was a very difficult track already, for Saturday, as there are a lot of nice places and technical places,” he continued. “I really enjoyed it. Hopefully tomorrow it is even worse, the track, and bumpier. You can make your own speed and ride with a little bit of technique. I like this kind of Valkenswaard. This year it seems a little bit softer than the year before, because it is looser and makes small bumps. It is more difficult to ride. I like it a lot, but not the new changes. This I don’t like much. The start especially is very fast and very sketchy.” he concluded.

Cairoli got the holeshot and threw the hammer down immediately, so matched the type of intensity that Tim Gajser has showcased in recent weeks. ‘222’ had already established an advantage of two seconds after one lap and then doubled that the next time around. From there, he simply logged the laps and did more than enough to cross the line with a comfortable margin. It is tough to envision a scenario where he gets beaten tomorrow. There were points where his pace was matched, admittedly, but those occurred in the second half. One could argue that he had backed it down by that point and was simply maintaining his cushion of around eight seconds.

Jeremy Van Horebeek stormed through the field to finish second and drop the remaining protagonists, but posted some impressive times along the way. The Belgian, who has plenty of fans urging him on, made the pass for the runner-up spot on lap six of thirteen and then recorded the following lap times.

Antonio Cairoli

Jeremy Van Horebeek

Lap 6

1:48.802

1:46.584

Lap 7

1:48.641

1:48.854

Lap 8

1:49.508

1:49.085

Lap 9

1:48.830

1:49.435

What can Jeremy Van Horebeek do tomorrow? Well, it is almost impossible to predict as so much of the race will come down to his position on lap one. The Yamaha was once considered the best bike for starts but, for whatever reason, all four of the ‘blue’ guys just cannot get out of the gate. Can you remember the last time that you saw a Yamaha take a holeshot in MXGP? Exactly.

Van Horebeek has had the best starts of the quartet, seeing as he has an average-starting position of fifth, but that is unlikely to get the job done. Perhaps his mediocre starts are related to confidence and this result will light a fire within him? The last time that he started in the top three was at the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina, where he was just as fast as he was today. It will be most interesting to see what he can do in the two motos.

Gautier Paulin was a respectable third and, like Van Horebeek, tussled with the freight train of contenders before breaking free. Paulin is a former winner here, remember. Jeffrey Herlings chased him across the line in a ride that was difficult to categorize. It was good, undoubtedly, but not great. “I think it was pretty good,” he commented.

We were pretty quick all day long, but just took a wrong gate. I went all the way to the inside and my jump was pretty good, but then they came from a bit further to the outside. Tomorrow we should go a bit more to the outside and then hopefully we’ll get a better start and work from there. We came from around tenth to fifteenth and worked our way to the front,” he concluded.

Tim Gajser had an extremely mediocre showing, as he ran as high as third early on before dropping to sixth. “I got arm pump, as I was not relaxed and riding too hard,” he explained in a statement from HRC. “I wasn’t changing my lines enough and I fell back to sixth.” Evgeny Bobryshev was just as frustrated as his teammate. “I couldn’t find my rhythm,” he explained. “I struggled with my lines and made a few more mistakes. I had a good start as I was in fourth place but I didn’t have the speed in the beginning as I was riding too stiff.” 

Arminas Jasikonis was arguably one of the most impressive riders, despite the fact that his finish may not seem exceptional on paper. The Suzuki World MXGP rider featured near the front for the first time this year, which is hardly surprising when you take the conditions into consideration, and moved past the HRC duo to enter the top five at one point. A mistake restricted him to tenth at the finish, but he was even matching the lap times that Cairoli was posting at one point. Keep an eye on him tomorrow, as he could impress in the right set of circumstances.

What about his teammate, Kevin Strijbos, who limped around in the lower half of the field? There was a reason for his lackluster showing, as he explained on social media. “My elbow was sore for a few weeks. This week I went to the hospital and there is a small tear in my tendon/muscle from my elbow.” he wrote. “Normally I [would] need surgery, but first I wanna [sic] try everything in my power to ride and finish the season.” ‘22’ will be back behind the starting line tomorrow, despite the fact that he only managed to finish twentieth today.

Shaun Simpson quietly had a great ride, much like Arminas Jasikonis, as he latched onto that frantic battle that was going on for fourth. A start that could be described as mediocre at best hindered him through the first half, but he worked forward from the cusp of the top fifteen to gain two spots on the final lap. That left him seventh at the finish line, but he would have undoubtedly advanced further had there been more time.

Before we move onto the MX2 class, which was just as entertaining, a final note about the second Wilvo Yamaha MXGP rider. Arnaud Tonus, who set the fastest time in the second practice session, made contact with Paulin on lap one and hit the ground hard. Consequently, he had to charge forward from thirty-first on lap one to sixteenth.

Although Pauls Jonass claimed the win in his qualifying heat, one could argue that he again was not the fastest rider. Jonass only had the fifth-fastest time in the race today, which is similar to what happened at Pietramurata, but put himself in a great position from the start. “I got a pretty decent start. I was second, behind Julien [Lieber]. He was trying to pull away on the first lap, but made a mistake. I got into the lead and just controlled the race. I felt pretty good, but we will still improve the bike set-up a little for tomorrow.” 

Thomas Kjer Olsen chased Pauls Jonass across the line and may have made a move, but backmarkers halted his charge on the final lap. A maiden podium finish is just around the corner for the reigning EMX250 champion. His teammates, Thomas Covington and Conrad Mewse, actually rode better than their results may indicate. Covington was pushing for a spot in the top three, but fell with just a couple of laps to go, and Mewse charged forward from fifteenth to steal ninth. 

What happened to a few of the riders further down the order? Adam Sterry crashed whilst inside of the top ten, but recovered to fifteenth and salvaged a respectable gate pick for tomorrow. Jorge Prado got pinched off right out of the gate and had a horrific start, so had to push forward to twenty-fourth from way down the order, despite the fact that he was the fastest in time practice. Jeremy Seewer was in a similar position, as a crash early on left him with a mountain to climb. The Suzuki World MX2 rider pushed through the field with conviction, however, as he claimed nineteenth.

Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: ConwayMX

MXGP World Championship

2024 Spain Intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos – MXGP Results

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We will post the 2024 MXGP results of Spain Intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos GP all weekend. Get the latest updates to your phone through MX Vice.

MXGP Championship

MXGP Overall

MXGP Race Two

MXGP Race One

MXGP Qualification Race

MXGP Timed Practice

MX2 Championship

MX2 Overall

MX2 – Race Two

MX2 – Race One

MX2 – Qualification Race

MX2 Timed Practice

WMX Race Two

WMX Race One

EMX 250 Overall

EMX 250 – Race 2

EMX 250 – Race 1

EMX 250 – Timed Practice

EMX 250 Practice

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MXGP World Championship

//PEARCY Stats Preview MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos

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Once again, our resident stats guru, Paul Pearcy, provides a breakdown of the MX2 class going into Intu Xanadu. Famed more for its access to a shopping mall and McDonald’s than actual passing, the MX2 contenders will be looking to make their mark. Last year, Simon Laengenfelder reigned supreme and was unstoppable on Sunday, with no rider able to match his pace. If you were a betting man, who would be your winner?

MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Preview

MX2

Kay de Wolf

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race Finish: 4th
  • Qualifying Points: 7
  • Race First Lap Position: 6th
  • Race Finishes: 5th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 8th
  • Race Points: 54

Total Points: 61

Simon Laengenfelder

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podiums: 4; 22’, 23’
  • Race Wins: 2; 1-1 in 23’
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
  • Overall win: 1; 23’
  • Race Laps Led: 34; all in 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 4.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 3rd
  • Qualifying Points: 8
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.167
  • Race Finishes: 4.333 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 4.333
  • Race Points: 113

Total Points: 121

Thibault Benistant

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Race Laps Led: 1, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 5.5
  • Qualifying Points: 5
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.667
  • Race Finishes: 5.667 in Race 1, 6.333 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 6.333
  • Race Points: 92

Total Points: 97

Mikkel Haarup

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 9th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 12th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.5
  • Race Finishes: 12.333 in Race 1, 9.667 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 10.667
  • Race Points: 60

Total Points: 60

Andrea Adamo

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

  • Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 11th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 6.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 6
  • Race First Lap Position: 11.667
  • Race Finishes: 9.333 in Race 1, 12.667 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 10.333
  • Race Points: 70

Total Points: 76

Lucas Coenen

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
  • Qualifying Points: 9
  • Race First Lap Position: 17.5
  • Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 26th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14th
  • Race Points: 15

Total Points: 24

Sacha Coenen

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 19th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 24th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 17th
  • Race First Lap Position: 8.5
  • Race Finishes: 9th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 9th
  • Race Points: 22

Total Points: 22

Rick Elzinga

Venue Visits: 22’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 10th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 21.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 4.25
  • Race Finishes:13th in Race 1, 10th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14.5
  • Race Points: 27

Total Points: 27

Jack Chambers

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 22nd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 15th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 15th
  • Race First Lap Position: 24.5
  • Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17th
  • Race Points: 9

Total Points: 9

Oriol Oliver

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 16th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.75
  • Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17.5
  • Race Points: 19

Total Points: 19

David Braceras

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 16th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 15.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.75
  • Race Finishes:14.5 in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 16.5
  • Race Points: 23

Total Points: 23

Emil Weckman

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 10th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Race First Lap Position: 12.5
  • Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 19th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 18th
  • Race Points: 8

Total Points: 8

Bobby Bruce

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 20th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 26th
  • Race First Lap Position: 23rd
  • Race Finishes: 27th in Race 1, 21st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 17th

MXGP

Jorge Prado

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 22’
  • Qualifying Race Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
  • Qualifying Race Win: 1; 23’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
  • Race Podiums: 6
  • Race Wins: 2
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’
  • Overall Win: 1; 20’ (1-1 in 20’)
  • Race Laps Led: 56

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 1.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 10
  • Race First Lap Position: 2.125
  • Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3rd
  • Race Points: 160

Total Points: 170

Romain Febvre

Venue Visits: 20’, 21’, 23’

  • Race Podiums: 3
  • Race Win: 1; 21’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 20’
  • Race Laps Led: 11

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 5.667
  • Race First Lap Position: 8.5
  • Race Finishes: 1.5 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3.5
  • Race Points: 81

Total Points: 81

Tim Gajser

Venue Visits: 20’-22’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 20’
  • Race Podiums: 4
  • Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 1.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Race First Lap Position: 3.5
  • Race Finishes: 3rd in Race 1, 3.333 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 3rd
  • Race Points: 119

Total Points: 119

Pauls Jonass

Venue Visits: 21’, 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 8.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 9th
  • Race First Lap Position: 7.25
  • Race Finishes: 7.5 in Race 1, 7th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 7.5
  • Race Points: 55

Total Points: 55

Maxime Renaux

Venue Visit: 22’, 23’

  • Race Wins: 2; 22’ (1-1 in 22’)
  • Overall Win: 1; 22’
  • Race Laps Led: 31

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 4th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
  • Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Race Finishes: 1st in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 1st
  • Race Points: 50

Total Points: 50

Jeremy Seewer

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • Qualifying Race Podium: 1; 23’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 1; 22’
  • Race Laps Led: 5

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 6.5
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Points: 8
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.375
  • Race Finishes: 8.5 in Race 1, 5.25 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 7th
  • Race Points: 115

Total Points: 123

Jeffery Herlings

Venue Visits: 21’, 23’

  • 1st in Timed Practice: 2; 21’, 23’
  • Qualifying Race Podiums: 1; 23’
  • Race Podiums: 4;(Jeffrey has podiumed 100% of the races he has competed in)
  • Race Wins: 3; (Herlings has won 75% of the victories he has vied for)
  • Overall Wins: 2; (100% win rate)
  • Race Laps Led: 27

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 1st
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
  • Qualifying Race Points: 9
  • Race First Lap Position: 4.75
  • Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 1st
  • Race Points: 95

Total Points: 104

Glenn Coldenhoff

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

  • Qualifying Race Win: 1; 22’
  • Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
  • Race Podium: 1; 22’
  • Overall Podium: 1; 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 7.25
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 3.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 5
  • Race First Lap Position: 5.125
  • Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 6.5 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 5th
  • Race Points: 123

Total Points: 128

Calvin Vlaanderen

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 12th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
  • Qualifying Race Points: 2
  • Race First Lap Position: 15.625
  • Race Finishes: 11.5 in Race 1, 12.75 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 12.25
  • Race Points: 71

Total Points: 73

Valentin Guillod

Venue Visits: 20’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 18th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 19.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 12.5
  • Qualifying Race Points: 1
  • Race First Lap Position: 14.75
  • Race Finishes: 12th in Race 1, 15.25 in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 14.25
  • Race Points: 62

Total Points: 63

Ben Watson

Venue Visits: 21’-23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 14.667
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20.5
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 24.5
  • Race First Lap Position: 16.5
  • Race Finishes: 19th in Race 1
  • Overall Finishes: 22nd
  • Race Points: 2

Total Points: 2

Ivo Monticelli

Venue Visits: 20’, 22’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 12th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 24th
  • Race First Lap Position: 16.75
  • Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 13th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 13th
  • Race Points: 28

Total Points: 28

Kevin Brumann

Venue Visit: 23’

Averages

  • Timed Practice: 17th
  • Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20th
  • Qualifying Race Finishes: 20th
  • Race First Lap Position: 20th
  • Race Finishes: 14th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
  • Overall Finishes: 15th
  • Race Points: 11

Total Points: 11

Photo: KTM Group

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MX Vice Podcasts

Between The Races Podcast: Adam Sterry – MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina Recap and Spain Preview

Listen now.

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The Between The Races podcast returns with Adam Sterry, Ed Stratmann and Brad Wheeler, as they review the 2024 MXGP season opener and look ahead to Spain.

The Between The Races podcast is always available to listen to on Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Google Play. Thanks to Fly Racing, Monster Energy, Fox Racing, Parts Europe, Scott, Bell Helmets, Acerbis, AS3 Performance, Kawasaki UK, KTM UK, O’Neal and Even Strokes for supporting the show. If you would like to become a part of the show, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Lead Image: Triumph Racing/Ray Archer

Love what we do? Please read this article as we try to raise £30,000.

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