Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team’s Calvin Vlaanderen has claimed third overall at the MXGP of Sweden, with Maxime Renaux right behind in fourth. The teammates impressed around the rugged Uddevalla circuit, with both riders showing exceptional speed on their way to finishing inside the top five in both Grand Prix races.
Following his recent overall podium results at the sand tracks of the KymiRing in Finland and Lommel in Belgium, Vlaanderen was eager to showcase his hardpack riding skills in Sweden. Through the opening laps of Race One, he held fifth, before making two passes on lap three to move into third. From there, Vlaanderen rode a strong race to secure his position.
Vlaanderen took advantage of a strong start in the second race and quickly became embroiled in a three-rider battle for fourth with Renaux and JK Racing Yamaha’s Isak Gifting. The trio gained a position when Tim Gajser fell, and shortly after, Vlaanderen passed Renaux for fourth. On the final lap, Gifting crashed out while leading, and Renaux re-passed Vlaanderen. When the race ended, Vlaanderen finished fourth to secure third overall – his third podium appearance in the last four rounds – and he remains fifth in the championship standings.
The Swedish Grand Prix was also a positive one for Renaux. From 10th on lap one of Race One, the Yamaha YZ450FM rider crossed the line in fifth to set himself up for a strong chance of a place on the overall podium.
The second race in Sweden was arguably the most entertaining one of the season so far, with three Yamaha riders battling for position inside the top five. Of the three, Renaux ultimately fared best, claiming third and crossing the finish line just over a second behind the eventual race winner, Romain Febvre. Ahead of the final four rounds of the season, Renaux sits seventh in the series standings.
Racing at his home Grand Prix, Gifting was spurred on by his patriotic fans all weekend long in Uddevalla. After placing 17th in Race One, he came within half a lap of winning Race Two before a crash cruelly ruled him out of the running.
With an unforgettable MXGP of Sweden now complete, the team will now head to Arnhem in the Netherlands next weekend for round 17 of the 2025 MXGP World Championship.
Click here for all the results from the MXGP of Sweden.
Calvin Vlaanderen
3rd MXGP of Sweden, 38-points
5th MXGP Championship Standings, 480-points
“I’m super happy to be on the box again and make it back-to-back podiums. I really wanted to get it done on the hardpack, and that was my goal coming into this Grand Prix. I was really happy with my riding this weekend and I felt great on the bike too, so I wasn’t stressed at all, and I knew I could do it. It was a lot of fun battling with Maxime and Isak in Race Two, and it was a shame that Maxime beat me and Isak fell, but I’m still so happy to be on the podium again.”
Maxime Renaux
4th MXGP of Sweden, 36-points
7th MXGP Championship Standings, 423-points
“We have some positives to take away from today. Obviously, I’m a bit disappointed to miss the podium by just a couple of points, but I felt like we’ve made some steps in the right direction. Fourth overall, not the results we’re here for, but after the year I’ve had, we need to take it step by step, and we’re improving. So, we’ll stay positive and we’ll keep building.”
Jago Geerts
14th MXGP Championship Standings, 242-points
Photocredits – Fullspectrum Media
