MXGP World Championship
Saturday Report: MXGP of Portugal
Reflecting on day one.
Returning to Agueda, a track that last hosted a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship four years ago, was fairly peculiar. Conditions were far from what most riders expected, but prompted some breath-taking racing and intriguing talking points.
It is honestly difficult to know what point to dissect first, but it is only right that we acknowledge a man who was not even a Grand Prix rider twelve months ago. Arminas Jasikonis has gone from strength to strength since he first joined the Suzuki World MXGP team in Loket last year. There have been flashes of brilliance and raw speed in recent weeks, hence why this victory is not a complete shock, but just take a moment to appreciate where he has come from. Scoring points was an achievement prior to this year!
Jasikonis has led multiple laps this season, but maintaining that pace has proven to be a stumbling block. That is why most presumed that he would hand the lead over to Max Nagl, who was enjoying his best ride in more than a month, when he lost almost two seconds in a single lap. Jasikonis recovered after that and stopped the bleeding somewhat.
Arminas Jasikonis |
Max Nagl |
Difference |
|
Lap 6 |
1:51.787 |
1:52.156 |
-0.369 |
Lap 7 |
1:52.446 |
1:50.576 |
+1.870 |
Lap 8 |
1:53.373 |
1:52.351 |
+1.022 |
Lap 9 |
1:51.957 |
1:53.076 |
-1.119 |
Lap 10 |
1:52.555 |
1:52.723 |
-0.168 |
Lap 11 |
1:52.429 |
1:52.774 |
-0.346 |
Lap 12 |
1:52.765 |
1:56.372 |
-3.607 |
Why did Nagl struggle to maintain his charge? The answer is quite obvious, I believe, as Antonio Cairoli was closing at an alarming rate and forced Nagl to focus on what was going on behind him, rather than race forward. Nagl was suddenly worried about defending the inside lines and could not flow as he was earlier in the race. Just how quickly did ‘222’ close in though?
Max Nagl |
Antonio Cairoli | Difference | |
Lap 6 | 1:52.156 | 1:51.994 |
+0.162 |
Lap 7 |
1:50.576 |
1:52.536 |
-1.960 |
Lap 8 |
1:52.351 |
1:52.095 |
+0.256 |
Lap 9 |
1:53.076 |
1:50.715 |
+2.361 |
Lap 10 |
1:52.723 |
1:51.073 |
+1.650 |
Lap 11 |
i1:52.774 |
1:51.444 |
+1.330 |
Lap 12 |
1:56.372 |
2:00.424 |
-4.052 |
Before we get ahead of ourselves here, back to Arminas Jasikonis. “The start was not great, but at the top of the hill I took the lead,” he recalled in the press conference. “All of the moto I was just riding, but trying to stay calm and not make many mistakes. It was really amazing, but I’m working to make sure that it was not the last one. I’m really happy.
“It was tough for my head, not physically,” he continued. “I had to just reset myself, as I started to make little mistakes. I just reset and again pulled a little gap. I don’t put too much pressure on my shoulders [for tomorrow] – I’ll just try to do what I did today. I’ll fix my start to make it a little better, to really get a good jump and everything. I’ll just do my thing and enjoy my riding.”
The speed that Antonio Cairoli showcased drops him into the position of favourite ahead of tomorrow, but Romain Febvre appears to be on the verge of his first podium of the season. Arm pump restricted the Frenchman in the qualifying heat, as he made set-up changes ahead of the heat that did not work as well as expected, so it is reasonable to expect more from him. It has been three hundred and twenty-nine days since he last stood on the podium.
Glenn Coldenhoff deserves props for a ride that was much better than it may appear. ‘259’ was briefly caught in the first turn after running into Clement Desalle, who slid out on the exit of the corner, and charged to ninth. Most of the competitors struggled to move forward at all and labelled the circuit as one that is tough to pass on, but Coldenhoff seemingly had no issues. Perhaps this will be the start of a resurgence?
Ken De Dycker featured inside of the top ten for a majority of the race, which has not happened in around two years, but a crash destroyed his front brake and forced him to settle for a poor gate pick. Finally, why was Arnaud Tonus buried outside of the top fifteen? A small issue halted his progress, unfortunately, but he’ll be ready to go tomorrow.
The MX2 riders completed their qualifying race before the MXGP class and consequently dealt with conditions that were much more treacherous. The track was watered heavily, which caught Jorge Prado and David Herbreteau out on lap one, but also prompted some alternative lines to be used. That is a point that Thomas Covington discussed in the press conference, whilst reflecting on his impressive victory.
“I felt really good in the first free practice,” Covington stated. “The track has a pretty cool layout and some nice jumps, but it is a slipperier than I was expecting. I got off to a pretty good start in the race, just behind [Pauls] Jonass, and then on pretty much every part of the track I was taking different lines. He ended up making a mistake, so I got by and after that I pushed for a few laps.”
It was not that battle for the lead that caught my eye, however, as a furious fight for seventh raged on slightly further back. Ben Watson and Anthony Rodriguez featured heavily in that and swapped positions on many occasions. Just much did the pendulum swing between the two riders? The table below should give you an idea. Remember to take note of the fact that the equipment that Rodriguez is on is far superior to Watson’s machine!
Ben Watson |
Anthony Rodriguez |
Difference |
|
Lap 6 |
1:56.609 |
1:54.756 |
+1.853 |
Lap 7 |
1:54.627 |
1:56.224 |
-1.597 |
Lap 8 |
1:55.768 |
1:56.224 |
-0.456 |
Lap 9 |
1:56.830 |
1:56.043 |
+0.787 |
Lap 10 |
1:55.169 |
1:56.845 |
-1.676 |
Lap 11 |
1:54.673 |
1:55.027 |
-0.354 |
Lap 12 |
1:54.954 |
1:55.901 |
-0.947 |
That battle dominated headlines in the MX2 division, as the rest of the action was fairly mundane. Jorge Prado (twelfth) and David Herbreteau (fifteenth) did well to move through the pack after that crash on lap one. Benoit Paturel and Bas Vaessen faced tougher challenges though, as separate incidents left them half a lap behind the rest of the field and in desperate need of a miracle. Neither rider cracked the top twenty.
That’s all from day one at the Grand Prix of Portugal, an event that most are happy to see back on the calendar. Do you have a question or want to discuss anything about the qualifying heats? Hit us up on social media.
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 Championship
MXGP Overall
MXGP Race Two
MXGP Race One
MXGP Qualification Race
MXGP Timed Practice
MX2 Championship
MX2 Overall
MX2 – Race Two
MX2 – Race One
MX2 – Qualification Race
MX2 Timed Practice
WMX Race Two
WMX Race One
EMX 250 Overall
EMX 250 – Race 2
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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