Form of Febvre continues with Lommel MXGP victory
Geerts closes in with perfect MX2 scorecard at round 13.
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre scored a fourth-straight overall victory in the 2023 MXGP World Championship at Lommel, as Monster Energy Yamaha’s Jago Geerts closed in on the MX2 red plate with a perfect scorecard at round 13.
Febvre’s 1-2 scorecard was enough for him to secure the overall ahead of red plate-holder Jorge Prado, the Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing rider going 3-1 for P2 on the day.
Third at the MXGP of Flanders was qualifying race winner Glenn Coldenhoff (Monster Energy Yamaha), with teammate Jeremy Seewer (5-4) and Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha’s Calvin Vlaanderen (4-5) completing the top five.
Australian’s Mitch Evans (Kawasaki Racing Team) concluded the event 13th overall with 8-16 finishes, as reigning champion Tim Gasjer (Team HRC) was 15th in his second round back from injury, an incident or mistake in both races limiting his score on the day.
Prado still holds a healthy lead in the 2023 MXGP World Championship standings, his advantage 99 points ahead of Febvre as six rounds remain in the season.
It was an MX2 sweep for Geerts at Lommel, winning the qualifying race and then notching a 1-1 scorecard on his way to a commanding overall victory.
Lucas Coenen (Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing) delivered more podium results with 2-2 finishes on his way to P2, as Simon Laengenfelder (Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) was third with 3-3 scores.
Fourth overall Liam Everts (Red Bull KTM Factory), notching 5-4 results, as Kevin Horgmo (F&H Kawasaki Team) rounded out the top five thanks to 7-6 finishes.
Red plate-holder Andrea Adamo was seventh overall, completing race one fourth before a fall in the second moto set him back, ultimately taking the checkered flag 13th in that bout.
Kay de Wolf (Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing) was forced to withdraw from the event prematurely, meaning the only points he scored from the weekend were in the qualifying race where he was P6.
Due to complications following a fall in the qualifying race at the MXGP of Czech Republic a week ago, Monster Energy Yamaha MX2’s Thibault Benistant made the tough decision to withdraw from the 13th round, notably finishing 13th in the qualifying race prior.
Looking at the 2023 MX2 World Championship standings, Adamo leads on 564 ahead of Geerts closing in on 551. Third is De Wolf on 501 points, as the next round at Vantaa, Finland, on 29-30 July.