Honda HRC PETRONAS’s Tom Vialle won his first MXGP overall in just his third attempt, after storming through the field in the second moto to back-up his victory in the first moto. Starting from 18th gate-pick, the Honda CRF450RW rider powered away to lead the whole of race one, showing his speed on a tricky Frauenfeld track.
He wasn’t able to repeat that in race two though, and instead had to come from outside the top 20 to power his way to sixth place. It was a remarkable comeback that surprised even the Frenchman as he didn’t know he’d won the Swiss GP until he got behind the podium. It was a crazy turn of events, which showed that the rookie MXGP rider is already a force to be reckoned with, especially as he can make the necessary passes on what is traditionally a difficult track to move through the field. This victory now sees him to within seven points of the title-lead and after three completely different terrains, he is proving he will be a threat at every round.
At one stage of the second MXGP moto, Ruben Fernandez looked like he might join his teammate on the podium, but the Spaniard wasn’t able to keep his momentum in race two and instead finished just three points shy of third. It was a shame for the #70 because he looked so good in race one, when rode to a very impressive third and after another good start in race two, he was well-placed for a first appearance on the box. Instead he’ll be hoping to make another challenge in Sardinia in a couple of weeks’ time.
Jeffrey Herlings will also be hoping for better fortune after falling foul of a treacherous corner that took the chain off three GP riders in that race. It was unfortunate because the #84 was in second place at the time, and combined with a third in the second moto, it would have been enough to see him win the GP. While he disappointed with the end result, the Dutchman is still just 12 points behind the championship leader and with more favourable tracks coming up, he will be hoping to close that gap.
In the MX2 class, Valerio Lata came into this weekend with confidence after a good moto result in Spain, and he carried that on with excellent five-four moto scores for fifth overall. Both races saw the Italian take strong starts on board his Honda CRF250RW, and he rode a consistent pace, avoiding any mistakes and keeping pace with the guys in front. He has now improved in each GP and will be looking to maintain that streak the next two races, which are a double-header in his home country.
Now though, there is a weekend off, which gives the riders a chance to prepare themselves for the deep sand of Riola Sardo, and the hard-pack rocky terrain in Trentino, before they get an unprecedented four week break.
MX2 Race 1
- Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 35:05.114; 2. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:04.545; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:09.916; 4. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:36.476; 5. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:41.381; 6. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:43.606; 7. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:49.573; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:56.614; 9. Maxime Grau (FRA, Honda), +1:25.672; 10. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Kawasaki), +1:39.128;
MX2 Race 2
- Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), 34:50.386; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:00.332; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:11.850; 4. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:13.813; 5. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:14.431; 6. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:25.810; 7. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:47.433; 8. Julius Mikula (CZE, KTM), +0:53.373; 9. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:59.441; 10. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), +1:02.785;
MX2 GP Overall
- Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 45 points; 2. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 43 p.; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 42 p.; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 34 p.; 6. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 30 p.; 7. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 26 p.; 8. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KAW), 21 p.; 9. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), 20 p.; 10. Cas Valk (NED, TM), 19 p.;
MX2 Championship
- Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 149 points; 2. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 127 p.; 3. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 124 p.; 4. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 121 p.; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 121 p.; 6. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 105 p.; 7. Mathis Valin (FRA, KAW), 98 p.; 8. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 90 p.; 9. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 88 p.; 10. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), 60 p.;
Ruben Fernandez 70
Very happy with race one, but not very happy with race two. I think I showed I am capable of riding with the top guys and I felt pretty comfortable at that pace. Unfortunately in race two, I just couldn’t get that same rhythm going and struggled with lines and fell back from the people I should be fighting with. It is disappointing, but now I have a weekend off to try and put that right in Riola Sardo.
Tom Vialle 16
I really didn’t know that I had won when I crossed the line. I thought I’d be on the podium because other riders didn’t have two good scores, but I just wanted to try and pass as many guys as possible in that second moto. Still, it is a very cool to have won the GP, my first in the MXGP class and my first with this new team and hopefully the first of many. It was a very tricky circuit and not something I’m used to, but I kept fighting until the end and while I did make a couple of mistakes, it is good to know that I have been at the front in three different types of track.
Jeffrey Herlings 84
Getting the 10 points on Saturday was a good start to the weekend, but I definitely don’t seem to have the best of luck right now. I picked the same rut in the corner as a couple of other people and suffered the same DNF because my chain came off and I couldn’t get it back on. It’s never great to watch a race continuing without you, especially when I was running second at the time, but I tried to rectify it in the second moto. I got a good start and tried to stick with the leader, but couldn’t so just tried to score good points. Annoyed with the small crash at the end in race, so overall, not really a positive weekend and I’m glad this circuit is only on the calendar once.
Valerio Lata 18
My best weekend of the year and I felt comfortable right from the first session. Even with all the rain and snow, I still had good speed on the track and with my good starts, I was able to fight with the top guys. There are a couple of moments which I’d like to have done better, but overall, I was consistent and it is nice to score a lot of points ahead of two home GPs in a row.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
This round is always difficult, with the paddock and the track so far away from each other, and just the tight, tricky nature of the circuit layout. For Tom to come in and win his first time riding it, in just his third GP with the team is amazing, especially in the manner that he did it. Leading the whole of race one after another great start is something we know he can do, but his charge through the field in race two was extremely impressive and he thoroughly deserved his victory. Ruben also rode well for the majority of the weekend, but a couple of moments cost him a podium spot. Jeffrey also seems to have some bad luck at the moment, but it is credit that his still in the championship hunt with three zero-point races. Valerio is showing good signs now and we hope to keep that going in Riola and Trentino in front of his home fans, after this weekend off.
Race 1
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Vialle Tom 16 FRA 25 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 35:18.303
2 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 22 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:10.335
3 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 20 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 0:13.705
4 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 18 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:29.134
5 de Wolf Kay 74 NDL 16 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing 0:38.988
6 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 15 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:46.149
7 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 14 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:55.826
8 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 13 Honda SR Motoblouz 0:57.854
9 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 12 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 1:00.958
10 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 11 Ducati Factory MX Team 1:11.499
11 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 10 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team 1:45.567
12 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 9 Ducati Factory MX Team 1:50.370
13 Adamo Andrea 80 ITA 8 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2:02.735
14 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 7 Venrooy KTM Racing 2:04.639
15 van de Moosdijk Roan NDL 6 1 lap
16 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 5 MRT Racing Team Beta 1 lap
17 Ludwig Noah GER 4 1 lap
18 Sterry Adam 811 GBR 3 Chambers Racing 1 lap
19 Tonus Arnaud SWI 2 1 lap
20 Oliver Oriol 83 SPA 1 Gabriel SS24 KTM 1 lap
Race 2
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Coenen Lucas 5 BEL 25 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 34:32.905
2 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 22 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:12.557
3 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 20 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 0:15.996
4 de Wolf Kay 74 NDL 18 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing 0:18.649
5 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 16 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:35.231
6 Vialle Tom 16 FRA 15 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 0:57.562
7 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 14 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 1:02.191
8 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 13 Ducati Factory MX Team 1:06.121
9 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 12 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 1:10.167
10 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 11 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 1:15.718
11 Oliver Oriol 83 SPA 10 Gabriel SS24 KTM 1:25.091
12 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 9 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team 1:27.651
13 van de Moosdijk Roan NDL 8 1:29.154
14 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 7 Venrooy KTM Racing 1:41.072
15 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 6 Honda SR Motoblouz 1:51.403
16 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 5 Ducati Factory MX Team 1 lap
17 Koch Tom GER 4 1 lap
18 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 3 MRT Racing Team Beta 1 lap
19 Sterry Adam 811 GBR 2 Chambers Racing 1 lap
20 Watson Ben 919 GBR 1 Wildcard Rider 1 lap
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Coenen Lucas 5 BEL 136 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2 Vialle Tom 16 FRA 129 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
3 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 124 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
4 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 117 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
5 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 116 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
6 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 113 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
7 Adamo Andrea 80 ITA 84 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
8 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 83 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
9 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 73 Ducati Factory MX Team
10 de Wolf Kay 74 NDL 63 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing
11 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 57 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
12 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 56 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
13 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 52 Venrooy KTM Racing
14 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 48 Honda SR Motoblouz
15 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 32 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
16 Oliver Oriol 83 SPA 32 Gabriel SS24 KTM
17 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 29 Ducati Factory MX Team
18 van Doninck Brent 32 BEL 28 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
19 Benistant Thibault 9 FRA 24 Honda SR Motoblouz
20 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 23 MRT Racing Team Beta
21 Watson Ben 919 GBR 21 Wildcard Rider
22 van de Moosdijk Roan NDL 14
23 Lopes Enzo 166 BRA 7 Wildcard Rider
24 Sterry Adam 811 GBR 7 Chambers Racing
25 Butron Jose 173 SPA 5 Wildcard Rider
26 Poli Joaquin ARG 5
27 Koch Tom GER 4
28 Ludwig Noah GER 4
29 Van Berkel Lars NDL 3
30 Tonus Arnaud SWI 2
