The complete Kemea Yamaha Team – Ben Watson, Jago Geerts and Anthony Rodriguez – represented their countries at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations in Red Bud, USA. Or was it Red Mud? The rain changed the iconic track into a tricky and muddy track.
Ben Watson – a rookie at the Nations – impressed with a fantastic fourth place in the second race. A result that helped team Great-Britain to finish fifth overall. The other rookie from the Kemea Yamaha Team – Jago Geerts – was asked to get one good result for team Belgium. And the teenager did not disappoint his team manager Johan Boonen. He finished 13th in his first race (fifth MX2-rider), starting from the outside at the gate.
Anthony Rodriguez, who was riding his third Nations, led team Venezuela to the A-final at the most prestigious event of the year. The Venezuelans finished 15th overall.
Ben Watson
5th with Great-Britain
“My first Motocross of Nations was a great experience. I really loved the atmosphere of this race. I had two completely different motos. In the first one I had to start on the outside, in 27th position. I got stuck in a pile up in the first corner and was way back behind. In the second moto I had the inside position, took a perfect start and finished fourth. Super! A big thanks to my mechanic who did a great job between the races.”
Jago Geerts
7th with Belgium
“We can’t be happy with our seventh place overall. Nevertheless, my first Motocross of Nations was a nice experience. I struggled a bit on Saturday, maybe because I was a bit nervous. On Sunday I felt a lot better. My first race was a pretty good one. I think that I did what they expected me to do. The second race was difficult, because I was without goggles from the fourth lap. My eyes were hurting a lot, but I refused to give up.”
Anthony Rodriguez
15th with Venezuela
“My first goal was to get in the A-final with Venezuela. We managed to do that. That’s the good news. But I wasn’t really happy with my races. Riding in the mud is my weakness. I haven’t done it enough, so I struggled a lot. Especially in the first moto. I tried to pass somebody, but got stuck in the deep mud and couldn’t start the bike immediately. My second moto was a lot better. That was a relief.”
RESULTS NATIONS
First moto (MXGP+MX2): 1. Herlings (Ned/KTM); 2. Paulin (Fra/Hus); 3. Prado (Esp/KTM); 4. Tomac (USA/Kaw); 5. Desalle (Bel/Kaw); 6. Cairoli (Ita/KTM); 7. Ferrandis (Fra/Yam); 8. Lawrence (Aus/Hon); 9. Facciotti (Can/Hon); 10. Cervellin (Ita/Yam);… 13. GEERTS (Bel/Yam); 15. WATSON (GBr/Yam); 26. RODRIGUEZ (Ven/Yam).
Second moto (MX2+Open): 1. Coldenhoff (Ned/KTM); 2. Lawrence (Aus/Hon); 3. Prado (Esp/KTM); 4. WATSON (GBr/Yam); 5. Seewer (Swi/Yam); 6. Van Horebeek (Bel/Yam); 7. Kullas (Est/Hus); 8. Ferrandis (Fra/Yam); 9. Barcia (USA/Yam); 10. Evans (Aus/KTM);… 18. GEERTS (Bel/Yam); 19. RODRIGUEZ (Ven/Yam).
Third moto (MXGP+Open): 1. Coldenhoff (Ned/KTM); 2. Herlings (Ned/KTM); 3. Paulin (Fra/Hus); 4. Cairoli (Ita/KTM); 5. Lupino (Ita/Kaw); 6. Anstie (GBr/Hus); 7. Tomac (USA/Kaw); 8. Nagl (Ger/TM); 9. Roczen (Ger/Hon); 10. Searle (GBr/Kaw).
Nations classification: 1. France 35; 2. Italy 37; 3. Netherlands 41; 4. Australia 48; 5. Great-Britain (Watson) 48; 6. USA 49; 7. Belgium (Geerts) 53; 8. Spain 63; 9. Estonia 71; 10. Germany 78;… 15. Venezuela (Rodriguez) 129.
Image by CDS