Herlings crowned MXGP champion with dominant Assen win
Prado inches closer to MX2 title as Lawrence winds up eighth.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has lifted the 2018 MXGP World Championship after securing yet another dominant overall victory at Assen’s penultimate round in The Netherlands.
In front of a home crowd, the Dutchman put on a phenomenal display as he charged his way to two commanding race victories over rival and teammate Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
Cairoli wound up with a pair of second place finishes for second overall, while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie closed out the podium in third.
Fourth and fifth were credited to Glenn Coldenhoff (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Tim Gajser (Honda HRC), as Australian Todd Waters (Team Honda Redmoto Assomotor) was 29th overall in what was a challenging grand prix.
In the MX2 category, Jorge Prado reigned supreme and inched closer to claiming his first world championship in the professional ranks. Another impressive performance from Thomas Covington (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) saw him earn second overall ahead of teammate Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).
Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda HRC) and Ben Watson (Kemea Yamaha) were fourth and fifth respectively, as Aussie contender Hunter Lawrence (114 Motorsport Honda) was credited eighth overall despite challenging for victory all weekend long, mistakes ultimately costing him in the end.
The Women’s Motocross World Championship saw Kiara Fontanesi earn the red-plate with a dominant triumph over Nancy Van De Ven (Yamaha) and Stephanie Laier (KTM), with former points leader Courtney Duncan (Yamaha) forced to relinquish the championship lead after a training injury ruled her out of the weekend.
Australian Jett Lawrence (Team Suzuki Germany) put in a stellar performance in the EMX250 class of Motocross European Championship with a commanding 1-1 scorecard, while compatriot Caleb Grothues (Yamaha) lodged an incredible ride to end up in fifth overall.
The MXGP World Championship will now head to Imola in Italy on 30 September for the final stop of the series.