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Febvre and Prado - Loket Story Geoff Meyer images Ray Archer
The iconic world famous circuit of Loket hosted the 13th round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship where Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre had a brilliant performance winning his first GP after St.Jean d’Angely 2016 while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado took again the occasion to show his dominance in MX2 in front of thousands of amazed Czech fans. At the Gate drop of MXGP Race 1 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Seewer took the FOX Holeshot ahead of his teammate Romain Febvreand Team HRC’s Tim Gajser, but Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP rider Gautier Paulin pushed the HRC rider to the side and moved into third place. Gajser moved back past Paulin to get back into third place, and behind him came Paulin and Team HRC’s Brian Bogers. Febvre made gains with a pass on Seewer for first place at the opening lap. After three laps Febvre held just over a second to Seewer, followed by Gajser, Paulin and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Arminas Jasikoniswho moved past Bogers for fifth. A lot happening mid pack as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass was all over Bogers for sixth place while Jasikonis was doing the same to Paulin for fourth position.
Paulin and Jasikonis.
After eight laps it was still Febvre leading with around four seconds between himself and Seewer, with Gajser losing ground on the two Yamaha riders. Gajser started pushing harder at the end of the race and closed up on Seewer for second place.
Race 2 started nearly identicalfor Seewer who again took the FOX Holeshot and led the way ahead of Gajser, Paulin, Febvre and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Arnaud Tonus. Febvre was quickly into third place and passed Paulin. Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tommy Searle also pushed hard as he moved into fifth place while Febvre moved forward in the early going of the race and
After 13 laps Febvre held a four-second lead over Seewer with Gajser all over the Yamaha riders in third, then came
Gajser moved into second place after passing Seewer and added a few points to his championship lead. Gajser then easily pulled away from Seewer and seemed to be going after Febvre for the race win. Febvre though was too good and Gajser found himslef settled for the second place. Febvre won race 1 in Loket from Gajser and Seewer finishing third.
looked to get to the front; the French moved into second place while Gajser seemed to back it down a little as both Seewer and Febvre were riding on the edge and very close. On lap three Febvre tried to make a pass on Seewer but couldn’t get past. Gajser, after taking a little rest started pushing again and was back onto the two front guys. A brilliant battle for first place between the two Monster Energy Yamaha riders was set leaving Gajser sitting back watching it all. Febvre managed to move into first place on lap six. Gajser started putting massive pressure on Seewer for second and pushed to get past but had to wait. Gajser rode past Seewer to move into second and started chasing after the leader. Back in 9th position Searle crashed into the wire fence and his
bike was stuck dropping himself into 21st. Top ten after seven laps was Febvre, Gajser, Seewer, Paulin, Tonus, Honda SR Motoblouz’ Jeremy Van Horebeek, Jonass, Standing Construct KTM’s Glenn Coldenhoff, Jasikonis and Standing Construct KTM’s Max Anstie in 10th. After nine laps suddenly Gajser was onto Febvre with just two seconds separating them two front guys. Febvre settled and took command of the race, winning his third race of the season from Gajser and Seewer. Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre has won the MXGPof Czech Republic at the Loket circuit with a brilliant 1-1 performance and scored his first Grand Prix victory in three years. Second overall was Team HRC’s Tim Gajser with 2-2 scores and third Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer with 3-3 results. Tim Gajser goes to Lommel with 177 points ahead of Seewer and with a change to gain the title at the MXGP of Belgium. Roman Febvre: “I’m really happy about it. The road was long but I really had a perfect weekend. This means everything. A victory you can’t describe, I stalled the bike in the second race and Tim closed the gap and I opened the gap. We had a good start in the first race, was second behind my team-mate and I passed him quickly, he was following me, but I was comfortable, and I didn’t take pressure from them. I am happy to win for my team.” Tim Gajser: “I am happy overall. Yesterday I struggled because the bumps were hard. I finished second both times and Romain was quick on this track, so I am happy for him. Also, thanks to the fans and my team, I’m looking forward to Lommel now” Jeremy Seewer: “Romain was on another level all weekend and how relaxed he was. From my side I struggled in free practice and timed practice and we made some changes. Three in a row and I try and be better and better. It is a tough competition with Romain and Tim. Now I look forward to Lommel and some sand.” In MX2 Class Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado scored the 27th Grand Prix win of his short career with a perfect 1-1 result at the Grand Prix of Czech Republic. The win also extended Prado’s points lead in the series points, with 90 points separating Prado from second placed man Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen. Second overall at Loket was F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Henry Jacobi and third Olsen. Just as he does so often Prado took the FOX
Holeshot in the opening MX2 race followed by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen, Jacobi, and Marchetti Racing Team KTM’s Iker Larranaga in fifth place. Vlaanderen battled hard with Vialle and was looking to get past the French teenager. After a lap the lead was one second and further back in the pack Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Jago Geerts moved into eight position. F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Adam Sterry was into the top ten as he was in ninth place. Two laps in and Prado was still just a second ahead and Vlaanderen looked desperate to get past Vialle and get a crack at the leader. Not a lot of position changes in the top ten and the lead went to nearly three seconds as Prado led Vialle and Vlaanderen. Olsen moved into fifth position as he passed Larranaga, and Vialle continued to keep Vlaanderen from the leader. Beaton went past Larranaga and began his chase of his team-mate Olsen while Geerts was also looking to pass Larranaga. Prado continued to lead Vialle by three seconds, and the second placed man had moved away from Vlaanderen. Sterry was pushing hard to get past Larranaga, and the two nearly collided on a couple of occasions. After seven laps it was Prado, Vialle, Vlaanderen, Jacobi, Olsen, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton, Geerts, Larranaga, Sterry and Bud Racing’s Kawasaki’s Brian Moreau in 10th. Vialle and Vlaanderen collided and both went down hard. Vlaanderen picked himself up in 10th place, but Vialle was out of the race as he cruised back to the mechanics area with a busted bike. With the accident for second and third positions Prado suddenly had a big lead over Jacobi, then came Olsen, Beaton and Geerts in fifth. Prado eventually won it from Jacobi and Olsen. Prado’s FOX Holeshot power was shown also in race 2 as he led the second MX2 race from Vialle, Jacobi and Vlaanderen. Sterry was also in amongst the leaders in fifth place and Olsen was back in seventh place. After four laps the lead by Prado was more than two seconds with Vialle in safe second ahead of Jacobi, Vlaanderen and Sterry. Olsen continued to struggle a little in sixth place. Jacobi moved past Vialle for second place and Vlaanderen started to put pressure on the young Frenchman. Vlaanderen and Sterry also moved past Vialle and then Ol-
sen started to push for a passing move on Vialle. Prado in the meantime was miles ahead up front. After 10 laps Prado held a 13 second lead over Jacobi, then came Vlaanderen, Sterry, and Olsen in fifth. Vlaanderen slipped over and was passed by Sterry, Olsen and Vialle. Geerts was also all over Vlaanderen for sixth position. Vlaanderen came back on Vialle and was looking for a way past and on lap 13 he managed to pass the KTM rider. Geerts also passed Vialle as the Frenchman’s disappointing day continued. Sterry started to close up on Jacobi for second place, and further back Olsen was fourth, Vlaanderen fifth, Geerts sixth and Vialle seventh. Prado remained in command as the race closed down, holding a 15 second lead over Jacobi and Sterry, with Olsen and Vlaanderen continuing to remain inside the top five. Great move by Sterry to move into second place as he blasted past Jacobi in a corner. Prado won his 22ndrace from Sterry and Jacobi. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado won the MX2 class overall, with 1-1 results, with F&H Racing Kawasaki Henry Jacobi second overall and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen third overall. Jorge Prado: “It was unbelievable. Another two solid races and I enjoyed getting back to Europe and winning after the Asian rounds. I felt way better in the second race, got a good gap and pushed to get it home. Last year I got the red plate here, so it was nice to come back. Now I am looking forward to the Grand Prix in Lommel. Henry Jacobi: “I got a third in the qualification race on Saturday, and I was lucky with the second in the first race and then third in the second race was enough for a podium finish. Adam (Sterry) was too quick in the second one, and the team did a great job today.” Thomas Kjer Olsen: “Last weekend was tough after the crash in the second race and I am happy to be on the podium. I started the weekend slow but made some changes with the bike. I struggled with the start but made the most of it. I want to thank the team and my family and everyone who supports me.”
Tim Gajser and the HRC Statistics Story Geoff Meyer images Bavo Swijgers
Sitting watching television last night after arriving home from Indonesia and just wanting to chill for a night I got a text from David Bulmer the media guy from HRC. With Paul Malin giving us the information, that Tim Gajser is the Honda rider with the most GP wins in a row, both of us wondered other Honda statistics. I had in fact wanted to check most Honda GP wins in a row, but a lot lazier than Maler, I was going to wait until I got home from Indo to check. As always Paul Malin continues to bring us information from the GP scene as only, he could. Anyway, Bulmer was looking for some stats on the Honda riders from past glories, and he knew I have all the FIM Motocross World Championship results from the very beginning, and he also knows I love statistics myself.
worked out that Gajser needs another four GP wins to become the winningest (sorry Paul) GP rider of all time on a Honda. Gajser presently has 23 and Malherbe 27. Job done, Bulmer could write his history story on Gajser for HRC, and I could write this article for mxlarge. What he needed to know was how But then, after I started watching many GP wins Andre Malherbe had, television again, and Bulmer went and I had written in an article that on his merry way, I started wonhe had 28, but when Bulmer went dering how many GP wins Stefan to Wikipedia, they said the Belgian Everts had on a Honda. Having great had 41. Well, as they often are raced the brand in 1996, 1996 and Wikipedia were wrong, as Malherbe 1998, he won a bunch of GPs. I does in fact have 28 GP wins, 27 in texted Bulmer back and said hold the 500cc class on a Honda and a the fort, as Everts must be close to single GP wins in the 250 class on a both Gajser and Malherbe in the KTM. My guess is Wikipedia added Honda all-time list. his European championship wins, before the 125 class was a World As it turned out, Everts won 23 in championship, because from mem- the 250cc class and his one-off wild ory, he won a bunch of “GPs� in that card ride at Namur in the 500cc class before it was a World title. class in 1998. So, in fact, Tim Gajser didn’t just become the Honda rider So, once we sorted that out, we had
with the most wins in a row last weekend in Semarang, but moved a step closer to Stefan Everts to become the second most successful Honda rider in Grand Prix of all time. Andre Malherbe with his 27 in the 500cc class, Stefan Everts 24 in the 250 and 500 classes and Tim Gajser 23 in the MX2 and MXGP class. Tim has put himself in amongst some pretty good company didn’t he. Can he pass both in 2019 and become the greatest Honda rider of all time with three championships and more than 27 GP wins for the red rockets. I wouldn’t mind also adding, when Malherbe won his Grand Prix’s, he did it in an era that Honda dominated. Sure he had come fierce competition in Eric Geboers, Dave Thorpe and Georges Jobe, just two name a few, but the Honda machine back in the 1980s was levels ahead of another thing else and while Gajser has had to deal with Antonio Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings and the Red Bull KTM Factory team, his 23 GP wins is damn impressive when you consider KTM are considered similar to that amazing HRC effort of the 1980s. However, you look at it, WOW, just WOW, and Tim Gajser continues to impress not only in his friendly manner and happy attitude, but his climb up the all-time winners list. Just makes me want 2020 as soon as possible. Can you imagine, Gajser vs Herlings vs Cairoli vs Prado vs the rest. MXGP might be a bit of a tamed animal at the moment with so many rider injuries, but heaven help us when it awakes in 2020, with four riders all vying to move closer to Stefan Everts and his long list of records.
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South African Transplant Interview Geoff Meyer Images Bavo Swijgers
HRC factory rider Calvin Vlaanderen surprised maybe himself and many in the GP paddock when he made his second race return after being out injured and picked up a podium finish in the second Indonesian race in Semarang.The South African/Dutchie had been working hard while away from the races and it paid off when he arrived in the warm conditions of Indonesia. Like so many of the riders, Vlaanderen also knows the situation he is in, being able to travel the World and see cultures he probably wouldn’t see had it not been for his motocross career. We caught up with him and asked him about the whole two-week experience in Asia.
MXlarge: Your second Grand Prix back and you get a podium. You could never expect that, but why do you think it happened so quickly? Vlaanderen: I put in the work when I was injured. I flew my trainer over from South Africa and we had a good three-week training block. I think that helped me to get back where I needed to be to get this type of result. MXlarge: In saying that, you couldn’t ask for two tougher races to come back to with the heat and the different circumstances compared to Europe. Are you used to that heat when you were racing in South Africa? Vlaanderen: In South Africa yes, but I live so long in Europe now, so I am not used to the heat anymore. In Palembang I struggled with the heat and with all the travel and time difference, it hit my hard during the Sunday races. I also wasn’t used to the two days of racing, because in training you have one hard day, and then you take a day off. It hit my hard, but it helped me this weekend (in Semarang). I felt better on the bike, I could push more, the week before I was just riding around and following the guy in front. I felt like the real Calvin was back and that is what I told the team. MXlarge: You will obviously improve on where you were, due to experience and all that type of thing, but nobody can really match Jorge (Prado) this year, at least not in two motos. Is that the goal, to get to his speed? Vlaanderen: It isn’t in my mind, but I would love to battle with him up front. Everyone knows he is a good starter and he is fastest in those early laps, in that first 15 minutes, and he pulls a good gap. That is what kind of what everyone struggles with, because he gets away, he has a good flow, a good rhythm, but take nothing away from him, he is a great talent and he is doing well. I would like to start with him, and he does get tired at the end of the races, so maybe I can capitalize on that, catch him and make a pass. Last year in Loket I caught and passed him, so I just need to get good starts. I know I have the speed, the same as he does, maybe not one sprint lap speed, but during the races, I think I can have that speed too. MXLarge: Saying that, you caught and passed him in Loket, it’s a nice track to have coming up next? Vlaanderen: Yes, Loket is one of my favourite tracks. The first track I raced when I
arrived in Europe and maybe that is why I enjoy that track a lot. A lot of riders think it is sketchy, really technical, which suits my style. I ride smooth there and I suit the track, so I am looking forward to going there. It should be a good one. MXlarge: What about the break between Palembang and Semarang. You went to Bali, what did you get up to there? Vlaanderen: It was sick, I loved it. Last year I chilled in a beach resort, and it was cool, but a bit boring, so this year I flew my girlfriend with my and we spent three days in Bali. We had a nice villa, did some surfing, which was fun, because I really enjoyed surfing when I was in South Africa as a small boy. It was nice to be in the Ocean for a few days, and we also did some sightseeing. Also did my training and did the rest that I needed. So, I came into Semarang strong and ready. MXLarge: I am not a surfer, but I grew up in a surfing area in Sydney, and always lived on the ocean, and those waves in Bali looked really good, very consistent, but also a lot of surfers. How did you find them? Vlaanderen: I went to a few beaches. I am not a great surfer, and in Holland they don’t have surf, but I do surf when I go back to South Africa. I just love the ocean. The first day the waves in Bali were massive and I was like damn, I am not ready for this, and I got dumped a few times by the shore break, but then I told my girlfriend I needed to take a rest and a couple of days later we went to a smaller place and that was much better. MXLarge: The whole Indonesian experience, some people are negative about it, some people like it, I know I love it. How did you find the whole experience? Vlaanderen: To be honest, I enjoy it. It is something different than the normal European GPs, and it is good for the sport in some way. The tracks are not always great, although I think in Semarang, they did all they could and I spoke to Rui (Goncalves) about it, and he said they are trying really hard. It was good racing and some riders had big crashes, but it was good racing. I really enjoyed the Indonesian experience; the people are so friendly, and you know you don’t see one person without a big smile on their face. I enjoy the whole culture and even Bali reminded me a little like South Africa. I am happy to go home, but also a little sad, because I enjoy it here.
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