News 20 Jun 2016

Gajser and Herlings perfect in MXGP at Matterley Basin

Reed 13th overall in guest return to European motocross.

Source: Supplied.

Source: Supplied.

Matterley Basin’s 11th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship saw both red plate holders Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings extend their points leads.

Class rookie Gajser continues to excel with yet another double moto victory, which sealed the deal on his sixth grand prix win of the season.

Since Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre didn’t race today and will be sitting out next weekend at the MXGP of Lombardia-Italy as well, Gajser now has a commanding lead in the championship.

He 74 points ahead of Febvre who took a massive blow to his title defence this weekend and is now only three points clear of Antonio Cairoli.

On Gajser’s raw speed, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl is one of the most puzzled. Even his trademark ‘holeshot and head-down’ tactic isn’t working.

It’s almost getting to the point where finishing second place to Gajser is as good as a win and that means Nagl had a pretty sweet day in the office since he stood on the second step of the podium.

Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin bounced back with vengeance today from his home GP crash a fortnight ago for third overall, his second podium appearance this season.

Kemea Yamaha MX Official Team’s Valentin Guillod was ridiculously fast here last year in MX2 and was almost equally as impressive in the MXGP class with his great performance for fifth overall, despite crashing in race two.

Eight-time world champion Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli seems to be riding out of character at the moment and making more mistakes than we are used to seeing from him.

Because of the errors, Cairoli only managed to finish sixth today, so it’s back to the drawing board for the Sicilian that is running third place in the championship standings.

Australia’s Chad Reed made his return to Europe with a pair of moto finishes on board the Monster Energy Yamaha, 14th in the opener and 14th in the second. He was credited 13th overall.

Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Ben Townley rode to a second moto position of 12th on his factory RM-Z450, bouncing back after an early incident in moto one put him out of the running.

Matterley Basin is almost everyone’s favorite track, except Jeffrey Herlings. There is just something about this place that Herlings doesn’t gel with.

He was beaten here fair and square last year and yesterday he only finished fifth in qualifying, which is by far his worse qualifying result.

Regardless of the adversity he has faced around this track, he knows what it takes to get the job done and The Bullet used his unprecedented talent to wrap up his tenth double victory of the season to remain unbeaten in grand prix overalls in 2016.

When Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis returned from injury a few rounds back, he came out all guns blazing and stole a race win from the otherwise undefeated Herlings.

Ferrandis rode solid today for two second place finishes and second overall, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass took home third overall.

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