Image: Supplied.

Delivering success for Monster Energy Yamaha at the third round of the 2023 MXGP World Championship, Maxime Renaux claimed the overall victory in the premier class as Thibault Benistant stood tall in MX2 in Switzerland.

Victory in the second moto was decisive in Renaux scoring the round win, the Frenchman going 2-1 on the day to take the overall honours.

Red plate-holder Jorge Prado (Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) emerged on top in the opening moto, but P3 in the final encounter saw him miss out on the overall by two points. Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre completed the podium with consistent 3-2 scores.

Round two winner Jeffrey Herlings (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was P4 in Switzerland courtesy of 6-4 finishes, as Calvin Vlaanderen (Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha) rounded out the top five thanks to 5-8 results.

Notably, Jeremy Seewer (Monster Energy Yamaha) was cross jumped in the opening moto and only scored a single point from the outing, later rebounding to finish fifth in the second bout.

Australia’s Mitch Evans (Kawasaki Racing Team) did not contest the third round, the number 43 sidelined since the opening round of the season where he attempted to compete but had too much pain in his thumb after breaking it in the pre-season.

In terms of the MXGP Championship standings, Prado – who won the qualifying race in Switzerland – leads on 155 points, with Herlings second on 134 and Renaux third with 131.

Image: Supplied.

After recovering from a fall in the opening MX2 moto and finishing fourth, Benistant delivered in the final encounter to secure the overall with a 4.929s victory ahead of Andrea Adamo (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Adamo finished second for the round with 3-2 scores, as Kay de Wolf (Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing) went 2-4 to complete the top three. Teammate and race one winner Roan Van De Moosdijk concluded the round P4, managing eighth place in race two.

Red plate-holder Jago Geerts (Monster Energy Yamaha) rounded out the top five with 7-3 results, suffering a sizeable fall in the opening moto.

Geerts leaves Switzerland still in possession of the MX2 red plate, as Benistant – who was also victorious in the qualifying race – moves up to second, 20 points behind the lead, with de Wolf in third a further three points back.

The second round of the Women’s Motocross World Championship also took place at Frauenfeld, as Courtney Duncan (Kawasaki) took the overall honours ahead of race two winner and points leader Lotte Van Drunen (Kawasaki). Daniela Guillen (GasGas) completed the top three with 3-4 scores.

Australia’s Charli Cannon (JK Racing Yamaha) landed fifth overall thanks to 4-8 scores. Cannon’s 31-point haul from Switzerland elevates her to fifth in the championship standings.

Detailed results