The penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship took place at the famous Dutch TT circuit in Assen, which had been transformed into a motocross track, full of sand. Ben Watson finished fifth (4+5 in motos), while Jago Geerts took the tenth spot in his comeback race after his broken collarbone. Unfortunately for Kemea Yamaha, Anthony Rodriguez dislocated his shoulder in the first moto.
Watson was the only Kemea Yamaha rider with a good start in the first moto. The Briton was in sixth position in the first corner, while Jago Geerts was in the middle of the pack and Anthony Rodriguez way back behind. Watson was able to gain two more positions after passing Jacobi in lap 5 and Lawrence in lap 13. Geerts had difficulties to find a good rhythm and finished 13th. Rodriguez crashed at the end of the race, dislocated his shoulder and had to withdraw from the second moto.
Geerts took a decent start in that second moto (6th), just in front of Watson. The Briton quickly passed his teammate and had a great and long battle with reigning world champion Pauls Jonass. In the end Watson needed two aggressive attacks to take the fifth place out of the hands of the Latvian. Meanwhile, Geerts had dropped a few places but was able to finish in ninth position.
With only one Grand Prix to go (Imola in two week time), Watson is still fourth in the world championship, with a 20 point bonus on Thomas Covington. Geerts is still in seventh position, with… only one point advantage on Cervellin.
#919 Ben Watson
5th overall
“In general the two races have been positive. I had a good start in the first race and did a very solid first lap. I was in fourth and I pushed to the line for third, but came two seconds short. But I was satisfied with my riding. In the second race I didn’t have such a good start and got boxed in at the first corner, which gave me a little bit more work to do. But I came to five, after two nice passes on Jonass. It’s nice to be running with the top guys again.”
#193 Jago Geerts
10th overall
“I had a bad start in the first moto and it was very difficult to come back to the front, to find a good rhythm. We changed the suspension for the second moto and it felt better. Also, my start was much better, which made the job a bit easier. Half way the race I had some slight problems, but regrouped and finished ninth. Tenth overall, not bad for my first race after my broken collarbone.”
#127 Anthony Rodriguez
Dislocated shoulder
“It was a slow crash, but I landed on my shoulder. It popped out immediately. I went aside the track and pulled it to his place again. I went to the doctor afterwards, he told be that it was not possible to ride in the second moto. I’m getting sick of all the bad luck this season. It’s really frustrating. Now I need to rest a week and work hard together with our physiotherapist to be ready for two more races: the GP in Imola and the Motocross of Nations.”
Marnicq Bervoets
Team manager
“A solid Grand Prix for Kemea Yamaha. Watson was fifth after two decent races. But he still lacks that little bit extra to fight for the podium. But I’m sure that he will make that next step next season. Geerts seemed to be a bit disappointed with his tenth place, but he shouldn’t be. He had surgery, was three weeks out and mad his comeback on a tough track, on a new bike. Not so easy. Tenth place is nice. Finally, Rodriguez had bad luck. Again. A dislocated shoulder this time. But he will be back in Imola.”
RESULTS MX2
First moto
1. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM)
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) +0:06.207
3. Thomas Covington (USA/Hus) +0:10.027
4. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) +0:12.331
5. Calvin Vlaanderen (Ned/Hon) +0:23.068
13. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) +1:10.338
ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ (Ven/Yam) DNF
Second moto
1. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM)
2. Calvin Vlaanderen (Ned/Hon) +0:07.591
3. Thomas Covington (USA/Hus) +0:15.909
4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) +0:18.212
5. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) +0:19.609
9. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) +0:50.004
ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ (Ven/Yam) DNS
Overall classification
1. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM) 50
2. Thomas Covington (USA/Hus) 40
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) 40
4. Calvin Vlaanderen (Ned/Hon) 38
5. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) 34
9. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) 20
World championship classification (19/20)
1. Jorge Prado (Esp/KTM) 823
2. Pauls Jonass (Lat/KTM) 777
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) 633
4. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) 585
5. Thomas Covington (USA/Hus) 565
7. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) 366
16. ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ (Ven/Yam) 189
21. VSEVOLOD BRYLYAKOV (Rus/Yam) 127
Next race: September 30, GP20 Imola (Italy)
Images by CDS