Tim Gasjer appeared to have things well in hand as he sped toward his second MXGP moto win of the day at the MXGP of the Czech Republic in Loket, Czech Republic, Sunday, but the final result was proof that anything can happen in motocross—just ask Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Max Nagl.
For it was Nagl of Germany who stood on the top spot of the victory rostrum when the dust settled on the second MXGP moto. Just six laps from the finish, Gasjer crashed, allowing Nagl, who had beaten Gasjer in Moto 1 but appeared well on the way to a second-place overall finish, to inherit the lead. Although the rookie sensation from Slovenia did his best to retake the top spot from the veteran Nagl, a series of mistakes on the final lap saw Gasjer lose more time, and Nagl flashed across the finish line for the moto and overall win.
It was his first win of the 2016 MXGP season, and it vaulted him to third in the FIM MXGP World Championship series standings behind Gasjer and Red Bull KTM’s Antonio Cairoli with five rounds remaining.
“It was a great GP for us,” Nagl said. “Despite only having the 14th gate pick, I managed to get two great starts in the final motos.”
Nagl got off the line second, behind Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin of France, but he was able to make pass for the lead on lap two, and he was never headed after that. Gasjer moved up to second place, with reigning MXGP World Champion Romain Febvre finishing third for the Monster Energy Yamaha squad in his first ride back after missing two rounds due to a concussion.
“In the first race I quickly passed Gautier Paulin for the lead and started pushing hard as I knew Tim Gajser was following me,” Nagl said. “I wanted to avoid being passed by any means, so I gave it all to remain out front until the end.”
Rain fell on the Loket circuit in Moto 2, making the conditions more challenging. Nagl once again got a decent start. Gasjer took the early lead but Nagl needed little more than a lap to pass Jose Butron for second place. Nagl then spent the next 12 laps trying to catch Gasjer, but the gap between them changed very little until Gasjer hit the ground all by himself. Nagl took the lead and was able to maintain enough of a gap on Gasjer to ensure the win.
“In the second race Tim got the lead right after the start and I was third behind Butron,” Nagl said. “I quickly passed him and started putting in fast laps to close the gap to Tim. My plan was to put pressure on him, and that’s exactly what happened. He made a mistake a few laps before the end, and when I got the lead I just went for it. Getting two race wins for my first overall victory this season is just great. It’s so good for the team and a great confidence booster for me as well. I want to enjoy the moment and this victory, and I’m looking forward to the next GP in Lommel.”
Febvre once again finished third, landing a solid third place overall.
The MX2 field was left wide open after series points leader Jeffrey Herlings elected to sit out the round and let his recently broken collarbone heal. The man to fill the void turned out to be Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Dylan Ferrandis, who stormed to 1-1 moto finishes at Loket.
Red Bull KTM’s Pauls Jonass claimed the holeshot in Moto 1, but his lead was short-lived as he suffered a grinding crash on a step-down jump and was knocked out of the race. Ferrandis was there to pick up the pieces, and he scored a handy win. In moto two, Ferrandis quickly got out front, and although Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Max Anstie tried to keep up, there was no stopping the Frenchman as he ran away to claim the win.
It was more of the same in Moto 2 as Ferrandis moved into the lead and stayed there, outrunning Team Suzuki’s Jeremy Seewer and Anstie. As Seewer had finished third in Moto 1, his runner-up finish netted him second overall. Anstie finished third in moto two and third overall.
2016 FIM Motocross World Championship
MXGP of Czech Republic
Loketske Serpentiny
Loket, Czech Republic
Results: January 24, 2016 (Round 13 of 18)
MXGP Overall
1. Max Nagl (GER)-Hus/1-1
2. Tim Gajser (SLO)-Hon/2-2
3. Romain Febvre (FRA)-Yam/3-3
4. Clement Desalle (BEL)-Kaw/5-4
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL)-Yam/4-5
6. Jordi Tixier (FRA)-Kaw/8-6
7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA)-KTM/7-7
8. Tommy Searle (GBR)-Kaw/9-9
9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS)-Hon/12-7
10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL)-Suz/11-11
2016 FIM MXGP World Championship Series Points Standings (after 13 of 18 rounds)
1. Tim Gajser-576
2. Antonio Cairoli-467
3. Max Nagl- 451
4. Romain Febvre-448
5. Evgeny Bobryshev-419
6. Jeremy Van Horebeek-385
7. Valentin Guillod-286
8. Glenn Coldenhoff-248
9. Clement Desalle-244
10. Shaun Simpson-225
MX2 Overall
1. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA)-Kaw/1-1
2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI)-Suz/3-2
3. Max Anstie (GBR)-Hus/2-3
4. Benoit Paturel (FRA)-Yam/4-5
5. Petar Petrov (BUL)-Kaw/6-7
6. Brian Bogers (NED)-KTM/5-8
7. Samuele Bernardini (ITA)-TM/10-6
8. Thomas Covington (USA)-Hus/15-4
9. Conrad Mewse (GBR)-Hus/9- 9
10. Adam Sterry (GBR)-KTM/7-17
2016 FIM MX2 World Championship Series Points Standings (after 13 of 18 rounds)
1. Jeffrey Herlings-597
2. Jeremy Seewer-470
3. Pauls Jonass-403
4. Benoit Paturel-359
5. Dylan Ferrandis-358
6. Aleksandr Tonkov-320
7. Max Anstie-316
8. Petar Petrov-282
9. Samuele Bernardini-279
10. Brian Bogers-246
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