MXGP
The Teutschenthal circuit in Germany once again proved a really tough test for man and machine, with Team HRC’s fighting hard for his three-two results, giving him the second step on the podium and keeping him right in this 2024 MXGP Championship hunt.
After winning the qualification race yesterday, he had first gate-pick for the two motos today, but in vastly different conditions, he wasn’t quite able to get the starts he needed in either of the races. After there had been rain overnight and in the morning, the track was a lot heavier than yesterday and created much rougher conditions that the Slovenian wasn’t quite able to get to grips with for the majority of the first moto. He worked his way into second place but then had a tough period of the moto when he lost his rhythm and dropped down to fifth. However, like the five-time champion that he is, and knowing that every point is valuable, he fought until the very end to get back to third place as he crossed the finish line.
Working with the team to make sure that things went better in race two, he immediately looked more comfortable as he moved into third place early-on. Studying the two riders in front, he kept probing for possible passing spots on a track that was developing its traditional deep ruts on a large portion of the circuit. With just under two-thirds of the race completed he made an excellent pass on the rider in second and set his sights on the leader. Closing the gap down from 2.6 seconds to just 0.6, he looked poised to make the move, but he was forced to adapt his lines as he came into lapped traffic and had to concede a potential victory.
As it stands after eight rounds, he is just two points off the championship lead, and with 12 still to race, he is in a great position to add to his already impressive resumé. That opportunity continues next weekend in Latvia, and the sandy circuit of Kegums where Gajser has also enjoyed success in previous years.
MX2
It didn’t take long for Ferruccio Zanchi to put the disappointment of his points-streak coming to end in yesterday’s MX2 qualification race, by storming out of the gate in race one and placing himself firmly inside the top 10. The #73 then remained there for the entire moto, trying to get as high as sixth, before eventually crossing the line in eighth place.
It was a similar story in race two, with another good start on his Honda CRF250R giving him the chance to race with the top riders in the class. Once again, he stayed consistent for the entire moto, in what very were difficult conditions, receiving the chequered flag in eighth place. This was good enough to put him in eighth overall and brings him closer to the top 10 in the MX2 championship standings, an impressive feat given he missed three rounds through injury.
Race 1
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 35:07.874;
2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:03.664;
3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:25.075;
4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:54.760;
5. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:59.138;
6. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.063;
7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +1:15.887;
8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:17.707;
9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:35.788;
10. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +1:37.187;
Race 2
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 35:45.714;
2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:09.505;
3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:11.179;
4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:12.866;
5. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:26.367;
6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:42.902;
7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:59.027;
8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:09.723;
9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:14.332;
10. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +1:15.882;
Overall
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 50 points;
2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 44 p.;
3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 40 p.;
4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 33 p.;
5. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 32 p.;
6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 29 p.;
7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 28 p.;
8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 26 p.;
9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 24 p.;
10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 23 p.;
Tim Gajser 243
It was a solid weekend of racing, winning the qualification race and then going three-two here. I’m a bit disappointed in the first race, getting arm-pump and not being able to push how I wanted but I was still third. And then race two, I was able to ride a lot better and was a lot closer to the lead but I couldn’t quite get close enough to make the pass. Still, the championship is very close and I am happy, and healthy and I’m looking forward to Latvia next weekend.
Ferruccio Zanchi 73
Today was a much better day, riding consistently throughout in what were difficult conditions. Going eight-eight is a fair reflection of my speed and although I missed out on points in the qualification race, I am on a good run of form and each weekend is another chance to show everyone what I am capable of. And that starts in Latvia next weekend which will be a completely different challenge to this, as it is a lot softer and sandier but one that should be good.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
The way Tim rode in that second moto is how we always believe he can ride, with positivity and great speed. Unfortunately, lappers were in the way at critical points so he couldn’t make any pass to get into the lead but it was still an impressive performance and a good way to head into Latvia. Ferruccio also put in a mature performance on a tricky track and continues to ride really well. He is a pleasure to work with and each weekend he raises the bar to what we expect from him.
Race 1
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 25 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing 36:00.648
2 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 22 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 0:12.895
3 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 20 Team HRC – MXGP 0:14.689
4 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 18 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:17.094
5 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 16 Standing Construct Honda MXGP 0:22.867
6 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 15 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:31.524
7 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 14 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:40.501
8 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 13 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:45.931
9 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 12 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:50.795
10 Jacobi Henry GER 11 0:57.896
11 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 10 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing 0:58.469
12 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 9 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz 0:59.256
13 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 8 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz 1:00.375
14 Paturel Benoit FRA 7 1:19.360
15 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 6 Schmicker Racing 1:24.319
16 Watson Ben 919 GBR 5 MRT Racing Team Beta 1:26.930
17 Gilbert Josh 326 GBR 4 Gabriel SS24 KTM 1:32.306
18 Östlund Alvin SWE 3 1:37.969
19 Teresak Jakub 224 CZE 2 Wildcard Rider 1:46.593
20 Koch Tom GER 1 1:55.555
Race 2
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 25 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing 35:36.969
2 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 22 Team HRC – MXGP 0:03.329
3 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 20 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 0:07.378
4 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 18 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:41.166
5 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 16 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:49.615
6 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 15 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:54.007
7 Paturel Benoit FRA 14 1:11.756
8 Koch Tom GER 13 1:19.029
9 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 12 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz 1:24.930
10 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 11 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing 1:26.354
11 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 10 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 1:27.356
12 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 9 Schmicker Racing 1:29.501
13 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 8 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz 1:40.301
14 Spies Maximillian GER 7 1:42.477
15 Östlund Alvin SWE 6 1:54.977
16 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 5 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team 2:01.953
17 Ludwig Noah 300 GER 4 Wildcard Rider 1 Lap
18 Gilbert Josh 326 GBR 3 Gabriel SS24 KTM 1 Lap
19 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 2 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 1 Lap
20 Teresak Jakub 224 CZE 1 Wildcard Rider 1 Lap
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 402 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing
2 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 400 Team HRC – MXGP
3 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 336 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
4 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 327 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
5 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 274 Standing Construct Honda MXGP
6 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 267 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
7 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 263 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
8 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 231 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
9 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 161 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz
10 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 151 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz
11 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 135 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
12 Watson Ben 919 GBR 110 MRT Racing Team Beta
13 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 106 Schmicker Racing
14 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 84 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
15 Paturel Benoit FRA 82
16 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 78 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
17 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 77 JK Racing Yamaha Active
18 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 71 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing
19 Östlund Alvin SWE 65
20 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 63 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team