Round 14 of the World Championship in Loket, Czech Republic, turned out to be a very difficult one for Kemea Yamaha. Ben Watson crashed out in the second heat and Anthony Rodriguez wasn’t able to ride because of a hand injury. Jago Geerts finished ninth.
The World Championship returned to Europa after two back-to-back grand prix in Indonesia. Round 14 was hosted in Loket, a small town in the western part of the Czech Republic. Loket is famous for its 12th-century gothic castle, its annual opera festival, its part in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royal and of course for its motocross track. An old school, hard-pack circuit with a lot of natural elevation.
The Kemea Yamaha riders started well in the first moto with Geerts in 3rd and Watson in 5th position in the first corner. Unfortunately, both Kemea boys quickly dropped back into 8th and 9th position. Watson regrouped halfway the race and managed to gain some places, finishing 6th. Geerts got stuck in 9th position all race long.
The start of the second moto was pretty good with Geerts in 4th and Watson in 5th position. Geerts lost five places in the first lap, while Watson passed Renaux. The Briton seemed to join the leading group, but made a mistake on lap four. He crashed on the take-off of the finish jump and couldn’t continue the race because his bike was bent. Meanwhile, Geerts was in tenth position. In the final lap the Belgian teenager managed to move up one more place after passing Renaux.
Bad luck is haunting Anthony Rodriguez this season. The Venezuelan couldn’t avoid a crash in front of him during the qualifying race on Saturday, got the bike of another rider over him and cut his hand. A Rod had to go to the hospital to get two fingers stitched and wasn’t able to start in the motos.
#919 Ben Watson
13th overall
“I touched something in a rut at the takeoff of the finish jump. I slipped away and had no other option than letting the bike go. It was a big crash. I’m really lucky to escape without an injury. Unfortunately, my bike was completely bend. Otherwise, I would have continued. This is my first real deception of the season. It’s frustrating, but I have to accept it. That’s also part of motocross. Now I have two weeks time to work towards the next Grand Prix in Lommel.”
#193 Jago Geerts
9th overall
“The qualifying race on Saturday was great with that second place. But overnight rain changed the track a lot. The circuit was more difficult with a lot of ruts. I couldn’t really find my rhythm. I took two good starts, that is something positive to remember. But I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning of both motos. Anyway, two times 9th on a track I’ve never been before: that’s still okay. I’m already looking forward to Lommel, one of my favourite tracks and close to home.”
#127 Anthony Rodriguez
Hand injury
“Bad luck, again. Somebody crashed in front of me, his bike flipped over and hit my right hand. I immediately felt that something was wrong. I had a deep cut in two fingers and needed stitches. I tried to race in free practice on Sunday, but couldn’t hold my handlebars and had to withdraw from both motos. It was sad, disappointing and frustrating to watch the race from the sideline. My hand now needs four or five days to heal. I will be ready for the next GP in Lommel.”
Marnicq Bervoets
Team manager
“Jago second and Ben fourth in the qualifying race: that was very promising. Unfortunately, they couldn’t deliver the same results on Sunday. This turned out to be our most difficult Grand Prix of the season so far, with Rodriguez gets injured and Watson crash out. For sure, this is a disappointment, but it’s not the end of the world. We were very solid and regular until this Grand Prix. We just need to get that momentum back for the Grand Prix in Lommel, in two weeks time.”
RESULTS MX2
First moto
1. Calvin Vlaanderen (Ned/Hon)
2. Thomas Covington (USA/Hus) +0:02.429
3. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM) +0:03.000
4. Pauls Jonass (Lat/KTM) +0:04.957
5. Hunter Lawrence (Aus/Hon) +0:06.680
6. BEN WATSON (GBR/YAM) +0:16.661
9. JAGO GEERTS (BEL/YAM) +0:43.039
ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ (VEN/YAM) DNS (hand injury)
Second moto
1. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM)
2. Thomas Covington (USA/Hus) +0:01.736
3. Calvin Vlaanderen (Ned/Hon) +0:10.271
4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) +0:14.561
5. Pauls Jonass (Lat/KTM) +0:20.793
9. JAGO GEERTS (BEL/YAM) +0:53.877
BEN WATSON (GBR/YAM) DNF
ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ (VEN/YAM) DNS (hand injury)
Overall
1. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM) 45
2. Calvin Vlaanderen (Ned/Hon) 45
3. Thomas Covington (USA/Hus) 44
4. Pauls Jonass (Lat/KTM) 34
5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) 32
9. JAGO GEERTS (BEL/YAM) 24
13. BEN WATSON (GBR/YAM) 15
World championship classification (14/20)
1. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM) 595
2. Pauls Jonass (Lat/KTM) 584
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) 454
4. BEN WATSON (GBR/YAM) 427
5. Calvin Vlaanderen (Ned/Hon) 414
7. JAGO GEERTS (BEL/YAM) 310
17. VSEVOLOD BRYLYAKOV (RUS/YAM) 127
19. ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ (VEN/YAM) 103
Next race: August 5, GP15 in Lommel (Bel)
Images by CDS