The Van Venrooy KTM Racing Team enjoyed a positive weekend during the twelfth round of the FIM MXGP World Championship at Foxhill in Great Britain. Jeremy Seewer took another clear step forward by securing sixth overall, while Rick Elzinga showed great determination despite still dealing with the after-effects of a knee injury, earning valuable championship points.
Seewer’s weekend got off to a promising start with the ninth-fastest time in timed practice. The Swiss rider finished fifteenth in the qualifying race, but on Sunday he demonstrated his true pace. Two strong starts allowed him to finish eighth and seventh in the two motos, which earned him sixth overall for the day.
Elzinga also battled through a challenging weekend. The Dutch rider qualified twentieth in timed practice and crossed the line eighteenth in the qualifying race. He finished nineteenth in the opening moto before producing an impressive recovery in race two, where he claimed thirteenth place.
Next weekend, the Van Venrooy KTM Racing Team heads to Loket for the MXGP of the Czech Republic.
Jeremy Seewer: “I finally found the enjoyment on the bike again, and that felt amazing. I was able to play with the bike a little more and even throw a few nice whips for the fans. On Saturday morning, the speed already felt good in practice, and I was really proud of that, especially considering everything that has happened over the past period. In the qualifying race, I started suffering from arm pump. That’s understandable because I’m simply no longer used to riding at this speed and intensity. After all, it was my first Grand Prix since making my comeback, and I immediately realized that this is a return to the highest level.
I’m very happy with Sunday. To be honest, I’m quite proud of myself. Two solid motos earned me sixth overall. I had two good starts, but I’m still missing some race rhythm. That’s only natural with a completely new bike, a new team, and very little preparation time. Now the goal is to get both my body and my mindset back to the level they were a few years ago.
We’re heading to Loket now. I’ve regained a bit more rhythm, I believe in myself again, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity the team has given me. I’d also like to thank everyone around me for all their support.”
Rick Elzinga: “It was a weekend of highs and lows at Foxhill. Saturday wasn’t my day, but things improved significantly on Sunday. In the first moto, I aggravated my knee injury while running in fourteenth place, which caused me to lose a few positions towards the end of the race. Despite my knee, I still managed to salvage a solid result in the second moto by finishing thirteenth.
I’ve made progress on the hard-pack surface, but I’m still looking for more consistency throughout the entire weekend. There’s still work to be done.”
Our MX2 rider Noel Zanocz is still recovering from a knee injury but hopes to be back at this weekends Grand Prix in the Czech Republic.
Photocredits – Juan Pablo Acevedo
