Pauls Jonass and the Standing Construct Honda MXGP team won the fifth round of the MXGP World Championship on Sunday in Agueda, Portugal. Jonass rode two strong motos in the mud and managed to take the Grand Prix victory with a 2-2.
The Portuguese Grand Prix was the toughest in ages. Due to the heavy rainfall, the normally beautiful circuit of Agueda was transformed into a true mud ballet. Rider and machine had to be in the best possible shape here and this was Jonass and the Standing Construct Honda MXGP team.
On Saturday morning, the circuit of Agueda was still in good shape, but during the day it became heavier and heavier due to the rainfall. Jonass set a ninth fastest time in time practice and managed to finish in a strong fifth place in the qualifying heat. On Saturday evening it was clear that Sunday would be even harder because it was going to rain a lot.
Just before the start of the first moto, the rain came pouring down and this made the circuit even harder. Jonass got off to a good start and was able to start the race in the top five. During the race, he worked his way up to third place. In the last lap he was also able to take over second place and he managed to hold on to this until the finish flag.
The start in the second moto was better and this was very important in these tough conditions. Jonass had a very consistent race in which he again managed to cross the finish line in second place.
Two second places in the motos was enough to win his first ever Grand Prix victory in the MXGP class. With this good result, Jonass consolidates his fifth place in the world championship standings. This weekend, the championship continues in Lugo, Spain.
Overall MXGP Portugal:
1 Pauls Jonass 44 Pnt
2 Romain Febvre 38 Pnt
3 Tim Gajser 36 Pnt
4 Brian Bogers 30 Pnt
5 Cornelius Toendel 29 Pnt
World Championship MXGP Standings:
1 Tim Gajser 252 Pnt
2 Jorge Prado 238 Pnt
3 Romain Febvre 220 Pnt
4 Jeffrey Herlings 198 Pnt
5 Pauls Jonass 192 Pnt
