(VILLARS SOUS ECOT) Pays de Montbéliard, France, 17 September 2017–The final round of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship is complete from the Villars sous Ecot circuit in France. Thousands of French fans braved the weather to see the gladiators of MXGP and MX2 race the MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard. The best of the Grand Finale were Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington. The celebrations didn’t end there, though, as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass was crowned the 2017 MX2 World Champion after the only Race 1.
MXGP
MXGP raced into the first corner Sunday and Saturday’s qualifying winner, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie, took the Fox Holeshot. Almost immediately Team HRC’s Tim Gajser took the lead followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Glenn Coldenhoff on the first lap.
By lap two Anstie found his way back past Coldenhoff as Gajser and Febvre rode away out front. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin ran fifth early and held off Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings for two laps before the Dutchman made it past him.
Herlings continued his charge forward, passing his teammate and countryman Glenn Coldenhoff. Paulin followed suit and also passed Coldenhoff on lap six. Back at the front the crowd vibrantly cheered on their french hero, Romain Febvre, as he tried to catch up enough to make a pass attempt on Gajser. Febvre would get close but never close enough to make the move.
On lap 12 of 16 Herlings found his way around Anstie after following the Brit for eight laps. Anstie tried to retaliate toward the end, but he would come up short. Gajser took the race win ahead of Febvre, Herlings, Anstie, and Paulin.
Race 2 kicked off with another good start from Anstie, and though Herlings took Fox Holeshot, Anstie had the better line afterward and took the lead. Herlings and Anstie stayed together while Gajser followed them the entire race.
Behind Gajser was where the early action was seen as Wilvo Yamaha MXGP’s Arnaud Tonus fought to hold off the recently crowned 2017 MXGP World Champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, and later Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev.
Cairoli later pulled off and did not finish, but Bobryshev kept hounding Tonus, eventually taking the position. FOur laps later, Febvre, who fell off at the start, took the fourth spot from Bobryshev. Bobryshev fell one lap later and would finish 23rd.
Back up front Herlings was looking for a way past Anstie after recovering from a mistake, and at first had no luck. Several tries later, Herlings found his way by Anstie, who wasn’t in the mood to back down from the fight. The two riders had one of the best battles of the season, giving the fans a proper finale. In the end Herlings held the spot and took the overall win. It was his sixth MXGP win of the season and his third in a row, coming on the heels of the MXGP of the Netherlands in his home country.
“In the second race I got my first FOX Holeshot of the year, and that was a big surprise for myself,” Herlings said. After the holeshot Max actually passed me straight back as he was on the inside. I had some good lines, and I wanted to overtake him. I was next to him a couple of times in easier lines, but then he changed the lines, and he was actually riding perfect so it was hard to get past him… But I eventually passed him, and we made it.”
Gajser took third in Race 2, but when combined with his Race 1 win he finished second overall, tied in points for the day with Herlings. Gajser also took fifth in the championship.
“I’m glad to finish the season so strong, to be on the podium,” Gasjer said. “Today I rode really good in the mud.”
Third overall was Max Anstie adding to his recent success in his rookie season.
“I think last year, riding MX2, I was good, but I’m a lot stronger now,” Anstie said. “In the second race I got good drive down the first turn, got past Jeffrey, had my lines and was sticking to them. I felt like I was just banging in lap after lap and felt good, but I knew Jeffrey made a mistake. At that point I didn’t really relax, but it kind of changed my mindset a little bit… Jeffrey got to me again, and then I got back on it, tried to be smooth in my ruts, and we had a good race to the end.”
Paulin finished in fifth overall but took third in the final championship standings.
“This season went well,” Paulin said. “I want more-we always want more. Still, third is a good achievement, and we look forward to next year and putting the program together. We know where we need to work, my weak points and where we want to improve the bike.”
Cairoli stated that he is very happy about the season.
“We worked very hard to win, and we made it,” Cairoli said. “I really enjoy riding, and already now I’m looking forward to next year because I know where we can improve.”
MX2
When the MX2 racing started many looked to the #41 of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass as he had the chance to clinch the 2017 MX2 Championship in Race 1. However, the race started out challenging for Jonass when after taking the FOX Holeshot he collided with another rider and went down. Jonass struggled to get his bike up and going again, and just when he did he fell once again in the next corner.
As Jonass picked up his bike again the field was gone, and it was led by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Covington and Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer. Covington and Seewer were first and second respectively, followed by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen. Olsen, however, had a pair of falls drop him back to a seventh-place finish.
Jonass, meanwhile, was recovering from his errors, and though he only needed a 12th to win the title, he made his way up to fifth, behind Covington, Seewer, HRC MX2’s Jed Beaton, and Team Suzuki World MX2’s Hunter Lawrence.
Race 2 started with a Fox Holeshot for Covington over HSF Motorsports Brian Bogers and Lawrence, the latter passing both Bogers and Covington on the second lap to take the lead. HRC MX2’s Jed Beaton had another good race and was fifth the first laps while Jonass again had a bad start, this time spinning off of the gate. Jeremy Seewer started the race fourth but by lap five was second behind Lawrence.
Covington found his rhythm again three laps later, and he made it back by Seewer. On the next to last lap, Seewer fell and dropped to fifth behind Beaton as Jonass, who started in ninth, made his way to third. Covington finished second in the race but won his second MX2 GP of the year. Covington also won the MXGP of Leon in Mexico on April 2.
“It is good way to top off the year with a race like this,” Covington said. “it gives me some more motivation through the off-season and to be ready for next year. The last few weeks the starts have been really good, and I think that is one of the biggest improvements I have made towards the last part of the season. The bike is just a rocket ship out of the gate, and we saw that today. The start is so important in conditions like this, and I made the most of it.”
Lawrence took his first career race win and second overall.
“It was good to get the first pole position yesterday because normally my Saturdays are terrible, so it was good to get that monkey off my back,” Lawrence said. “I made some passes (in Race 1) and then backed up my (pole position) result with a win in Race 2.”
Jed Beaton took his first career podium while filling in on the HRC bike.
“I’m just thankful to be able to fill in and have the opportunity to race MX2,” Beaton said. “I got a bit lucky with Jeremy (Seewer) crashing on the last lap to get on the podium, but I’m all in all happy with this weekend and how my season went.”
Jonass took fifth overall, but he locked up the 2017 FIM MX2 World Championship in season that has been demanding physically, and mentally he has proven to be the strongest.
“It has been my dream since I started riding to be a World Champion,” Jonass said. “It was a special moment when I accomplished that after the first race actually. I made it pretty tough for myself, crashing in the second corner of the first race, and then I got up, cleaned everything, then crashed again in the next corner. I started from dead last and finished fifth, which was enough for the championship, and I was really happy about that.”
Jonass came into the season after missing the end of 2016 with injury, and since has matured into not only a fast rider but a consistent and smart one. Jonass reached the podium 15 of the 19 rounds in vastly different conditions around the globe, and is well deserving of the World Champion title, with seven pole positions, 14 heat wins and six GP wins, with the last coming at the MXGP of Czech Republic.
Coming away with a hard fought and well deserved second in the championship was Jeremy Seewer.
“I am looking forward with a big smile,” Seewer said. “You know I’m really excited about the 450. I’m really looking forward to next Wednesday to ride and just have fun on another bike, go to the Motocross of Nations, and accept a new challenge.”
Third in the 2017 MX2 title chase was the rookie, Thomas Kjer Olsen.
“It is pretty incredible to be third in my rookie season,” Kjer Olsen said. “I tried to do the best I can, and I came out third so I’m pretty happy with that.”
2017 FIM Motocross World Championship
MXGP of Pays de Montbéliard
La Versenne MX Track
Villars Sous Ecot, France
Results: September 17, 2017 (Round 19 of 19)
MXGP Race 1 Top 10: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 36:11.477; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:11.247; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:39.593; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:50.557; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +2:02.538; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 9. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s).
MXGP Race 2 Top 10: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:48.664; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:05.272; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:36.515; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +1:02.368; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:38.161; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +1:40.996; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +1:46.297; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +1:56.974; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +2:05.011; 10. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s)
MXGP Overall Top 10: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 45 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 45 p.; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 40 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 40 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 31 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 28 p.; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 27 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 16 p.
MXGP Championship Top 10: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 722 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 672 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 602 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 544 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 530 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 519 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 443 p.; 8. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 439 p.; 9. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 436 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 424 p.
MXGP Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 834 points; 2. Husqvarna, 698 p.; 3. Yamaha, 659 p.; 4. Honda, 631 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 584 p.; 6. Suzuki, 440 p.
MX2 Race 1 Top 10: 1. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), 36:11.422; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:08.614; 3. Jed Beaton (AUS, Honda), +0:20.237; 4. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Suzuki), +0:53.472; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +2:11.199; 6. Julien Lieber (BEL, KTM), +2:16.250; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 8. Ben Watson (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 9. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 10. Magne Klingsheim (NOR, Kawasaki), -2 lap(s).
MX2 Race 2 Top 10: 1. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Suzuki), 34:29.429; 2. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:06.026; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:31.358; 4. Jed Beaton (AUS, Honda), +0:32.182; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:36.050; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:46.028; 7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), +0:48.764; 8. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +1:04.132; 9. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.619; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +1:14.259.
MX2 Overall Top 10: 1. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 47 points; 2. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, SUZ), 43 p.; 3. Jed Beaton (AUS, HON), 38 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 38 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 36 p.; 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 23 p.; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 21 p.; 8. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 21 p.; 9. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 20 p.; 10. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 20 p.
MX2 Championship Top 10: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 771 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 732 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 579 p.; 4. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 532 p.; 5. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 504 p.; 6. Julien Lieber (BEL, KTM), 490 p.; 7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 460 p.; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 407 p.; 9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, SUZ), 395 p.; 10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 309 p.
MX2 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 848 points; 2. Suzuki, 766 p.; 3. Husqvarna, 728 p.; 4. Yamaha, 623 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 414 p.; 6. Honda, 370 p.; 7. TM, 156 p.
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