France victorious in MXoN, Australia fourth at RedBud
Another glowing performance from Lawrence with second in MX2.
Image: Supplied.
France has risen to a glorious fifth-consecutive victory in the 2018 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at RedBud in the United States, with Australia claiming fourth overall.
The French squad of Gautier Paulin (MXGP), Jordi Tixier (Open) and Dylan Ferrandis (MX2) lifted the Chamberlain Trophy on 35 points, ahead of Italy and Netherlands.
Race one (MXGP and MX2) saw world champion Jeffrey Herlings (Netherlands) win ahead of Paulin and MX2 world champion Jorge Prado (Spain), as Australia’s Hunter Lawrence and Kirk Gibbs finished eighth and 14th respectively.
The second race (MX2 and Open) was won by Glenn Coldenhoff (Netherlands) in another strong result for the Dutch team, leading Australian star Lawrence – top of the MX2 riders this time out – and Prado. Second of the Aussies Mitch Evans was 10th across the line, placing Australia atop the overall standings at that point.
Race three (MXGP and Open) proved to be the decider, as Coldenhoff led Herlings across the line, with Paulin finishing third. Australia’s Evans was 14th and Gibbs 33rd to complete a difficult day in mud-soaked conditions.
Individually, Herlings won MXGP ahead of Paulin and Antonio Cairoli (Italy), as Gibbs was credited P13. The Open class was topped by Coldenhoff with his 1-1, over Alessandro Lupino (Italy) and Jeremy van Horebeek (Belgium), with Evans eighth. Prado won MX2 from Lawrence and Ferrandis.
It was the consistency of France that enabled them to regain the Nations crown however, two points clear of Italy and a further four ahead of the Netherlands team. The Dutch’s MX2 entry Calvin Vlaanderen encountered bike problems for 36th in moto one, but was declared unfit for the second outing after being struck by a rock in the eye.
Australia was fourth on count-back after tying on points with Great Britain in an exceptional effort, able to drop Gibbs’ final moto score for position. As for the home squad, Team USA, they wound up sixth overall after Eli Tomac (MXGP), Justin Barcia (Open) and Aaron Plessinger (MX2) endured a difficult weekend altogether.
Recent
