For the third GP out of the last four, wet weather affected the conditions for the gladiators of the MXGP World Motocross Championships this weekend, but the Liqui Moly MXGP of Germany provided more fantastic confrontations between the leading contenders in both classes at the Talkessel!
Words and Images by Infront Moto Racing
What the weather could not affect, however, was the enthusiasm of the German fans, who created an incredible atmosphere in the tight valley of the Teutschenthal venue. The hosting MSC Teutschenthal clubalso worked very hard with the MXGP track crew to keep the circuit in the best racing condition possible.
After struggling more than most in muddy conditions so far this season, reigning World Champion Jorge Prado took his sixth Grand Prix win of the season in MXGP, with two race wins for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, achieved in his customary style of getting out early and holding off all challengers, although he certainly had challenges to contend with! He leaves Germany with the red plate back on his machine, and a slender two-point lead in his pocket heading to Latvia.
In MX2, the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing duo of series leader Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen battled hard, with the Belgian teenager coming out on top to make it three straight GP wins for the #96 rider. This moves him up to second in the Championship table, 59 points behind his teammate.
Tim Gajser took to the starting line first for Team HRC and knew that the start would be more vital than ever on the sticky circuit, which still had a hard base to affect traction amongst all the ruts. The Slovenian led the championship by six points over Jorge Prado after winning the RAM Qualifying Race .
For the first time this year, Glenn Coldenhoff took the Fox Holeshot Award for Fantic Factory Racing, with Henry Jacobi again getting involved on his Sarholz Racing KTM with the front runners, as Prado ran the German hero wide, allowing Gajser to briefly grab 2nd from the reigning Champ! However, Prado was having none of it and the pair got aggressive with each other in the first few corners! Just after completing the move on Gajser, the Spaniard made a decisive move up the inside of Coldenhoff to take the lead halfway around the first lap!
Gajser took some time to get past Coldenhoff, and when he finally did on lap four, Prado was already eight seconds down the track. Leading as well as usual and setting the fastest lap on lap four to immediately squash Gajser’s hopes of catching, it was the 9th GP race win of the year for the #1 plate holder.
There was more battling going on behind him, though, as Calvin Vlaanderen worked his way forward for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, along with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, who was outside of the top ten around the first corner! Romain Febvre, meanwhile, started touring, and pulled out of the weekend’s racing, turning straight into the Kawasaki Racing Team paddock on the third lap.
Gajser seemed to not have his full speed available to him, and later confessed to suffering with intense arm-pump issues. Herlings fought past both the Slovenian and, on lap 14 of 17, Vlaanderen to take what would be a solid second place. Calvin passed Tim, but fell in a right hander by the start straight and gifted the position back. They swapped places twice more, a loss of traction on a jump costing the Dutchman third position, and keeping the Honda man in the Championship lead by a single point going into race two!
Standing Construct Honda man Pauls Jonass made a late move on Coldenhoff to claim 5th, but ultimately no-one could touch Prado who took a win by 13 seconds from Herlings after backing off for the last few easy laps.
The rain held off and let the track dry out, making it around five or more seconds per lap faster than race one, and with the confidence to move to a slightly more outside gate, Prado grabbed his 9th Fox Holeshot Award of the season, but he had company this time in the shape of “The Bullet” as Herlings held an inside line in turn two to pass the Kawasaki Racing Team rider Jeremy Seewer for 2nd. Gajser and Vlaanderen also got past the Swiss veteran to give chase to the flying Prado.
It looked like Herlings had got his claws into the reigning Champ with a series of faster laps that put him just a second shy of the leader. Then he hit a rut a little too hard and although he didn’t crash, it hurt his momentum and he was almost immediately under attack from Gajser!
On lap twelve the Slovenian made his move in the middle of the valley, and took up the chase to Prado! Vlaanderen and Coldenhoff held on to fourth and fifth, and Seewer made a late move to grab sixth from TeamShip To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR veteran Valentin Guillod.
Gajser, just as Herlings before him, got to within a second of Prado, but the Spaniard simply would not crack and kept up his pace to break the pursuit, eventually winning by just over three seconds. The Spaniard moves onto 44 Grand Prix wins for his career, two behind Gajser for sixth in the all-time win list.
Jorge Prado: “It was overall a perfect weekend. I’m super happy with my riding. Getting back to hard pack with more normal conditions for me. It was good with good starts too. Not much to say, I’m just very happy to get another win! We keep going like this with Latvia next,, which is a good track for me so let’s get some sand riding next week!”
Tim Gajser: “With my first race I’m a bit disappointed you know, because I had a good start and was just behind Jorge (Prado) and Glenn (Coldenhoff) but couldn’t pass immediately so I lost a little bit of rhythm so I used wrong line and got arm pump and survival mode until the end. Race two was much better, we got a very pace with Jorge and Jeffrey (Herlings). I managed to make a pass toward the end but had to settle for second but riding was good and I’m happy to leave Germany with a podium. A big thank you to all my team.”
Jeffrey Herlings: “It was not easy in the second race. It was really unlucky twice for me to come back on Tim (Gajser) with some lappers in between us and I couldn’t get close enough to Tim. But anyway 2-3 and third on the day which is not that bad. I got injured a couple of times on this track so I’m very happy to come back home safe and keep fighting for the championship as it’s still a long season. Proud of my day! “
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 36:00.648; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:12.895; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:14.689; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:17.094; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:22.867; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:31.524; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:40.501; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +0:45.931; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:50.795; 10. Henry Jacobi (GER, KTM), +0:57.896
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 35:36.969; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:03.329; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:07.378; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:41.166; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:49.615; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:54.007; 7. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:11.756; 8. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), +1:19.029; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:24.930; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +1:26.354
MXGP Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 36:00.648; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:12.895; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:14.689; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:17.094; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:22.867; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:31.524; 7. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:40.501; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +0:45.931; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:50.795; 10. Henry Jacobi (GER, KTM), +0:57.896
MXGP – World Championship – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 50 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 42 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 42 p.; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 31 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 27 p.; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 23 p.; 8. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 21 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 21 p.; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 21
MXGP – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 402 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 400 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 336 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 327 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 274 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 267 p.; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 263 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 231 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 161 p.; 10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 151 p
The MX2 class held the main hopes of the German crowd for some home success as their man Simon Laengenfelder, second in the points standings for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, took the fastest lap in Time Practice, before a fall cost him a shot at the RAM Qualifying Race, which was won by Kay de Wolf.
It was the man in form, Lucas Coenen, who took his first Fox Holeshot Award of the year to lead immediately in race one, but crowd favourite Laengenfelder was in second, and after disposing of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Andrea Adamo around the first lap, so too was De Wolf – the top three in the series briefly in reverse order!
It didn’t take the Dutchman long to get around the German, though, and took up the chase to Lucas Coenen. The top five stayed in their order throughout the race, with Adamo fourth, and Rick Elzinga fifth for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2. After carving past the Fantic Factory Racing MX2 machine of Kay Karssemakers on the third lap, Quentin Prugnieres was sixth for F&H Racing, despite holding off several attempts from Team HRC rookie Ferruccio Zanchi. Liam Everts had one of those races to forget for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, with a poor start and a further crash, just to nip past Zanchi on the final lap to salvage 7th.
De Wolf made several runs at Lucas, but this time the Belgian did not crack, and in fact it was Kay who made the mistakes as he chased, ultimately having to settle for second despite claiming the fastest lap of the race. It was Lucas’ fourth straight GP race win and left him just a point behind Laengenfelder for second in the series.
A fired up Laengenfelder took the Fox Holeshot Award ahead of Adamo and Elzinga, but De Wolf and Lucas Coenen battled past the Dutch Yamaha star and the reigning World Champion to try and chase down the crowd favourite as the valley vibrated to the sound of horns, hooters, and revving chainsaw engines encouraging their man to greater heights!
Despite this, De Wolf was through into the lead on the second lap, and Lucas got through on lap six. Adamo also took advantage of a mistake by the German to grab third, but a few corners later he was on the ground after over balancing on a corner jump. He would recover to finish sixth. Just in front of the pit lane a lap later, De Wolf tipped over in a deep rut and handed the lead to his teammate! As Mikkel Haarup moved up to take a fine fourth place finish for Monster Energy Triumph Racing, so a pitched battle between the leading two men in the series took place. De Wolf had issues in several deep ruts just as he was looking to attack, then in front of a bank of spectators on a long left-hander made a stunning move around Laengenfelder on lap 15!
It wasn’t over there though, as the red plate holder again made a mistake in a rut and allowed the German back past, only to repeat his earlier move to the anguish of the crowd and finally clinch second place!
It was all too late to stop Lucas Coenen, however, who cruised to a win that buried the memories of a broken chain denying him his first GP win here 12 months ago. It was a 9.5 second win that builds his streak to five straight race wins and three Grand Prix wins, and it moves him ahead of Laengenfelder to second in the Championship, 59 behind De Wolf.
Now the teams and crews head 1,400 km north-east to the sandy terrain of Kegums in Latvia, where The Bullet took his most recent Grand Prix win, and the battle will be joined in both classes once more!
Lucas Coenen: “That’s three in a row, it’s amazing to see how everything can go perfectly let’s say. During the last few laps, I was quite nervous because of what happened last year but I can now get over it finally with winning Teutschenthal. I saw Kay crash which is a bummer as I wanted us to do the same as in the first race but I got the win so I’m happy. I can’t thank enough everybody around me.”
Kay de Wolf: “In general I had a very great weekend and I showed great speed all weekend long. I was really happy with my riding. I just did a small mistake and tipped over and got my leg stuck under the bike but in the end it went okay. It was hard to pass in the second race and all of a sudden, I found this outside line that helped me to pass Simon twice in a row. Now, we’ll go to Latvia where I had my first GP win so I’m really looking forward to it!”
Simon Laengenfelder: “I’m happy to be on the podium for my home GP but for sure I want to be more in front of course. It’s a 2-3 today after some mistakes yesterday. I’m happy with my starts and also my riding that I think was great. I feel also good physically and my fitness is getting where I want it to be so let’s keep going for the next races”
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 35:07.874; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:03.664; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:25.075; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:54.760; 5. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:59.138; 6. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.063; 7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +1:15.887; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:17.707; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:35.788; 10. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +1:37.187
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification : 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 35:45.714; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:09.505; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:11.179; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:12.866; 5. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:26.367; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:42.902; 7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:59.027; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:09.723; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:14.332; 10. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +1:15.882
MX2 Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 50 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 44 p.; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 40 p.; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 33 p.; 5. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 32 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 29 p.; 7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 26 p.; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 23 p
MX2 – World Championship – Top 10 Classification: . Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 396 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 337 p.; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 333 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 304 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 299 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 252 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 249 p.; 8. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 226 p.; 9. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 178 p.; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 152 p
MX2 – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Husqvarna, 432 points; 2. KTM, 387 p.; 3. GASGAS, 340 p.; 4. Yamaha, 307 p.; 5. Triumph, 277 p.; 6. Kawasaki, 176 p.; 7. Honda, 158 p.; 8. Fantic, 112 p.; 9. TM, 29 p.;
