Jeremy Van Horebeek and Jordi Tixier each earn their first career GP wins in their respective classes at round 14 of the FIM World Motocross Championship.
Team Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek and Red Bull KTM’s Jordi Tixier enjoyed memorable outings at this weekend’s Grand Prix of Czech Republic in Loket, Czech Republic, as both men captured their first career MXGP victories in their respective classes on Sunday.
Van Horebeek of Belgium earned his win in the premier MXGP class only after an intense battle with reigning World Champion Antonio Cairoli of Italy during round 14 of the 17-round FIM Motocross World Championship series. Van Horebeek’s win gave Yamaha its first MXGP win since Lierop (Netherlands) in 2013, and it was the first win for the factory team since 2011.
Van Horebeek and Cairoli weren’t the only players in what would be an all-decisive second moto in the MXGP class. Kevin Strijbos had won Moto 1, with Van Horebeek second and Cairoli third. In Moto 2, Cairoli took up his familiar position at the front of the pack, but Van Horebeek kept pace with Cairoli and capitalized when Cairoli bobbled and missed a rut on the entry to a corner at one of the lowest parts of the hillside track. Van Horebeek took over the lead and held it to the finish to secure the overall win via 2-1 moto scores. Van Horebeek also cut Cairoli’s points advantage to 57 points with 150 points still available.
“It is difficult to explain how this feels,” Van Hoprebeek said. “I think this is one of my best days ever. It is a special one but it won’t be my last one. The first moto was pretty good but the start wasn’t great and I had to come through the pack and Kevin had already gone. In the second I was second right away with Tony. I had to fight the whole moto and we were both sliding around and losing control. We were on the limit. With two laps to go I knew I had a great chance but I wanted to do it cleanly. I showed my front wheel once on the uphill just to let him know I was there and then did it. I’m so stoked. It is unbelievable.”
In the MX2 class, Red Bull KTM’s Jordi Tixier also captured his first career GP win, answering the question as to whether or not he could step up his performances in the absence of injured teammate and series points leader Jeffrey Herlings.
Tixier got away well in the first moto and was in the lead by lap two. His smooth technique on the hard and slick Czech tracks served him well as he went on to win the moto by 8 seconds. He didn’t enjoy as fine a start in Moto 2, however, and he was forced to work his way up from sixth place on the opening lap. He worked his way up to fourth place in the first 10 minutes but then a fierce four-way battle ensued for third. With Christoph Charlier and Dylan Ferrandis comfortably out in front, Tixier had to fend off attacks as Spain’s KTM rider Jose Butron, Romain Febvre of France, Swiss Standing Construct KTM rider Valentin Guillod and Alexandr Tonkov. Guillod went on to finish third, but Tixier’s fourth-place finish was just enough to earn the MX2 overall win.
“I’ve been waiting for this GP win since I was a kid,” Tixier said. “Now I did it, and it was my goal. I tried not to think about it but it crept into my head, and that’s why I didn’t ride so good in the second moto. Now we go to Lommel and there is no pressure on me.”
Herlings still has a dominant lead in the championship points with 594 but Sunday’s victory moves Tixier up to 492. He is second in the standings.
The next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship is scheduled for August 3 in Lommel, Belgium.
FIM Motocross World Championship
GP of Czech Republic
Loket, Czech Republic
Results: July 27, 2014 (Round 14 of 17)
MXGP
1. Jeremy van Horebeek-Yam/2-1
2. Kevin Strijbos-Suz/1-3
3. Tony Cairoli-KTM/3-2
4. Gautier Paulin-Kaw/6-6
5. Shaun Simpson-KTM/5-8
FIM Motocross World Championship MXGP Standings (After 14 of 17 rounds)
1. Antonio Cairoli-619 points/8 wins
2. Jeremy Van Horebeek-562/1 win
3. Clement Desalle-484/4 wins
4. Strijbos-469
5. Steven Frossard-333
MXGP Manufacturers Standings (After 14 of 17 rounds)
1. KTM-619
2. Suzuki-587
3. Yamaha-566
MX2
1. Jordi Tixier-KTM/1-4
2. Valentin Guillod-KTM/3-3
3. Christophe Charlier-Yamaha/7-1
4. Romain Febvre-Hus/2-6
5. Jose Butron-KTM/5-5
FIM Motocross World Championship MX2 Standings (After 14 of 17 rounds)
1. Jeffrey Herlings-594/12 wins
2. Jordi Tixier-492/1 win
3. Romain Febvre-453
4. Dylan Ferrandis-425
5. Tim Gajser-420
MX2 Manufacturers Standings (After 14 of 17 rounds)
1. KTM-669
2. Kawasaki-530
3. Husqvarna-469
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