MXGP World Championship
Day One: MXGP of Europe
A comprehensive look at day one.
Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass are brilliant at the sandy circuit of Valkenswaard, so it was just obvious that they were going to emerge victorious again and further cement their position at the front in their respective classes. Those words were meant to be the introduction to this feature, but then things got turned upside down in the qualifying race.
Jeffrey Herlings was poised to take another commanding victory, following a dominant showing in practice, but an untimely mistake cost him dearly. It is best if the man himself explains what happened exactly. “I was feeling really good in both practices, took a very good start behind Jeremy and then managed to overtake him and lead half the moto,” Herlings stated in the post-race press conference. “There was something not right and I went down. I thought I had a broken wheel, which obviously it was not, but at least something was not right. It does not matter though – it is racing.
“I had to restart in dead last and managed to get back to eighteenth or nineteenth, I do not know exactly. I think tomorrow should be dry and the start straight should be dry as well, then nineteenth is not that bad. Obviously I would prefer first, but nineteenth I can live.
Although Jeffrey Herlings took the early lead and was stretching out his advantage when he crashed, Jeremy Van Horebeek actually set the quickest lap of the race. The time (2:01.920) was set on lap three and Herlings did not fall until the fourth circulation. A fun fact is that Van Horebeek, Gautier Paulin and Tim Gajser all set their quickest times on the second lap. Van Horebeek was clearly not out of his depth whilst shadowing Herlings, based on that fact above, but how did their times compare towards the end of the moto? Turn your attention to the table below.
Jeremy Van Horebeek |
Jeffrey Herlings |
|
Lap 7 |
2:03.655 |
2:05.542 |
Lap 8 |
2:07.139 |
2:04.373 |
Lap 9 |
2:07.229 |
2:04.448 |
Lap 10 |
2:08.894 |
2:04.380 |
Lap 11 |
2:08.911 |
2:02.085 |
There is a particular reason why the table above has been shared. Just look at that last lap! Eight laps on from the moment that Jeremy Van Horebeek set the quickest time of the race, Jeffrey Herlings almost matched it on a rougher track and whilst in traffic. It is certainly an impressive fact and a sign of things to come tomorrow. The start will be a major factor though, just as it always is, as Herlings could end up with a lot of work to do from the nineteenth gate pick. What happens if he only begins to turn it up at the halfway mark again?
A final point to consider is this. A lot of riders have mentioned that Valkenswaard is extremely similar to how it was in 2013. Freezing temperatures struck the Grand Prix contingent that season as well and, consequently, the track did not develop in the same fashion. There is another similarity though. Jeffrey Herlings crashed out of the qualifying heat that weekend was left with a terrible gate pick for the two motos, but made it work and emerged victorious once again. Is history about to repeat itself? There is no doubt that he can make this work and establish a small advantage in the series standings.
Anyway, Jeremy Van Horebeek deserves to be discussed. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing pilot is off to a positive start to the current campaign, which is not too much of a surprise based on how he has started previous seasons, and reaching the chequered flag first will be a major boost. It has been almost four years since he won a qualifying race! The last time that he won an overall was the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic that same year. Most believe that acquiring your second win is harder than the first and Jeremy Van Horebeek is proof of that.
“The track suits me well,” Jeremy Van Horebeek said in the post-race press conference. “I feel good. You know on this kind of track you just have to enjoy and ride smooth, because if you ride too aggressive you will not go fast. It was a good day. I had a good start and I think that is the key, just to start in the top three and ride your own race.” Van Horebeek ended with an advantage of seven seconds over Gautier Paulin in second place. Tim Gajser, who finished third, was twelve seconds behind the eventual winner.
There were not too many surprises in the top ten, apart from at the head of the field, but Tommy Searle deserves props for his ride. Searle started fourteenth on a track that does not necessarily play to his strengths, but climbed forward to ninth at the chequered flag. This is the first time that he has qualified inside of the top ten in the MXGP class at Valkenswaard! How about that? Romain Febvre was two spots behind him, following a quiet ride, but had to push forward from sixteenth after a small crash in one of the endless ruts.
What is it with the FIM Motocross World Championship producing races that go down to the wire this season? There was yet another pass on the final lap in the MX2 qualification race. Jorge Prado led for the whole twenty minutes, but let the victory slip through his grasp when he dropped it on the final lap. The fall was nothing major though, as he just lost balance whilst navigating his way through the ruts on one of the downhills. There was a chance that he was going to lose pole position anyway, which will probably get overlooked, as Thomas Covington had already cut around five seconds off of his advantage.
Thomas Covington |
Jorge Prado |
|
Lap 6 |
2:05.884 |
2:05.332 |
Lap 7 |
2:03.993 |
2:06.707 |
Lap 8 |
2:05.231 |
2:05.274 |
Lap 9 |
2:09.159 |
2:09.626 |
Lap 10 |
2:08.896 |
2:10.884 |
Lap 11 |
2:12.681 |
2:21.927 |
“The starts were so important today,” Covington stated in the post-race press conference. “The track conditions were pretty one-lined and, once you get out of that one line, it is pretty deep. I got off to a good start behind Prado, then just followed him for the whole race and tried to stay with him. He was going pretty fast. Towards the end we started running into some lappers and I was able to capitalise on his mistake on the downhill. The last two weeks have not been ideal, as we have been struggling quite a bit. Even the last few days before this weekend, I was actually riding pretty bad. It was nice to turn it around today.“
Pauls Jonass was second and, although he did not really feature in the battle for the lead, was certainly a threat. The current series leader was faster than Thomas Covington on four of the six laps that are highlighted above. This was actually the first time that Jonass has not ended a session on top this year, which is rather remarkable. KTM certainly appear to be in a good position to extend their ten-year streak of wins in the MX2 class at Valkenswaard! The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing duo will be their greatest threat – no Japanese bikes appeared towards the front at all during the day.
Calvin Vlaanderen struggled to find intensity aboard his Team HRC machine, mainly because he is feeling a little under the weather, but still salvaged an eleventh in the qualifying heat. Sickness was a bit of a theme, funnily enough, as Darian Sanayei has been battling that since he returned from that incredible ride at the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina. How about the Kemea Yamaha trio? Ben Watson had a terrible start and crashed twice whilst en route to fourteenth. It was a respectable ride with all things considered. Jago Geerts crashed countless times and could only manage to cross the line in twenty-second, then Vsevolod Brylyakov failed to advance further forward than fifteenth.
Everyone wants to know what happened to Conrad Mewse, as the television crew showed an image of him trudging back to the paddock without his machine. It turns out that there are no health issues there at all though. “Crashed out of the quail race today and bent the bike up so couldn’t finish, ready for battle tomorrow,” Mewse wrote on his social media. Some good news to complete our wrap up from day one at the Grand Prix of Europe!
Words: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: Sean Ogden
MXGP World Championship
2024 Spain Intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos – MXGP Results
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 Qualification Race
MXGP Timed Practice
MX2 – Qualification Race
MX2 Timed Practice
WMX Race 1
EMX 250 – Race 1
EMX 250 – Timed Practice
MXGP World Championship
//PEARCY Stats Preview MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
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
MX Vice Podcasts
Between The Races Podcast: Adam Sterry – MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina Recap and Spain Preview
Listen now.
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.
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