FOXHOLESHOT COMPLETELY RELAUNCHED COMPETITION

IN MOTOCROSS, MORE THAN IN OTHER SPORTS, NOTHING IS EVER A FOREGONE CONCLUSION. INDEED, THE LEADER OF THE RACE HAS NO GUARANTEE OF WINNING UNTIL THE LAST CORNER. THAT’S EVEN LESS THE CASE WHEN IT’S TIME TO LEAVE THE GATE AND ENTER THE FIRST BEND IN THE LEAD. THAT’S WHY THE FOX HOLESHOT IS A MUCH MORE COMPLICATED ACHIEVEMENT OF WHAT IT LOOKS.

In MXGP, all the certainties of yesterday have turned into questions today. The first of these concerns Jorge Prado’s domination in the Fox Holeshot. Indeed, at the end of the Trentino Grand Prix, the Spaniard seemed to have a comfortable lead on this exercise. But then, three rounds later, he was caught by Jeremy Seewer, who was keen to make up for his rather mixed start to the season. So, at the Grand Prix in Latvia in Kegums, the GasGas rider had to work hard to regain his lead in the competition. The result: two races and two white lines crossed first for Prado, who was once again expected to dominate the discipline. But Glenn Coldenhoff and Jeremy Seewer, both Yamaha riders, were determined to prove the speed of their bikes. At Teutschenthal, Seewer took the first black plate; his 7th of the season, which placed him just one point behind JP61 before the trip to Indonesia. Coldenhoff followed in his teammate’s footsteps in the 2nd German round.

At the arrival on the island of Sumbawa, all the eyes were turned towards the two leaders of the exercise, but that wasn’t the place to look. One man made the show all by himself, winning the Grand Prix and crossing the white line first twice in a row: it was Romain Febvre. The Frenchman shone like never before on Indonesian soil and the following week on the island of Lombok, although he couldn’t snatch another Fox Holeshot, he nevertheless confirmed that he was back to his best by winning this 11th round of the season. Valentin Guillod, one of the men in form now, took the Holeshot in the first race, while Glenn Coldenhoff added a third black plate to his record this season at the start of the second. So, at the time of returning to the old continent, any good master of the discipline that he may be, Jorge Prado is more threatened than ever by Jeremy Seewer. It remains to be seen how the Galician will manage the pressure of the competition in the next Grand Prix, as he has never really suffered from competition since 2017.

In MX2 it is not easy to predict the outcome of the season, both in terms of the World Championship title and the Winner of the Fox Holeshot. Indeed, 11 riders have acquired at least one black plate, for as many rounds already completed: that’s one new rider per Grand Prix. For a time, Jago Geerts’ leadership seemed almost acquired, at least until the Grand Prix of Trentino. But in the following GPs, it was Simon Laengenfelder who was rather comfortable in the Holeshot exercise, especially at Agueda and Arroyomolinos. In Villars-sous-Ecot, Geerts had to deal with an injury which completely revived the debates. Roan Van de Moosdijk and Lucas Coenen honored the Fox brand at the Latvian Grand Prix, and then, in exceptional form, Liam Everts completed a remarkable hat-trick of victories at the German Grand Prix, taking both Holeshots and winning the first GP of his young career. Achievements to which Geerts had to react when he landed in Indonesia. This was partially the case as he managed to take the black plate in Race 1 at Sumbawa, and Red Bull KTM rider Sacha Cohen took second one. A week later, the number 93 distinguished himself this time in Race 2, while his teammate Rick Elzinga was the best starter in the first run. Is this a sign that the Belgian Yamaha rider is feeling better and that he’s back on track? Only time will tell.