Defending 250cc champion Jago Geerts finished second (4+2) in Oss, at the first round of the Dutch Masters 2019. His Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Team mate Ben Watson had bad luck during the second race and finished seventh (2+DNF).

Geerts almost took the holeshot in the first race, but Jacobi was just a split second faster. The Belgian teenager put a lot of pressure on the German and took the lead in the second lap. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Geerts went down twice after two mistakes. Jago had to start over again from sitxth position and crossed the line in fourth place. Meanwhile, Ben Watson went the opposite way. The Brit missed his start (10th), but immediately found a good speed and rhythm. Watson made up lost ground lap by lap and passed his rivals to finish second.

Watson had a good start in the second race, but was the victim of a crash in front of him. Ben went down hard and his bike lost a lot of oil. DNF for our Brit. Geerts reacted a bit too slow at the start of that second race, but was already in fifth position after the first lap. Jago showed great speed on his YZ250F and made some nice passes. The Belgian even tried to catch leader Jacobi in the last lap, but the German withstood his attack.

#193 Jago Geerts

2nd overall

“Second place: not bad at all. Although it could have been better. I made two stupid mistakes in the first race. I was also struggling with arm pump again. The second moto was much better. My start was mediocre, but I came through the pack really fast. The race was shorter (only 20 minutes, plus 1 lap) because of problems with the start gate. A pity, because I just couldn’t catch leader Jacobi in the last lap.”

#919 Ben Watson

7th overall

“I was pretty happy with my riding in the first race. Only my start was poor. I was about tenth in the first corner. But I felt really comfortable on the bike, made some good passes and finished second. Nice. Bad luck stopped me in the second race. Vialle hit a big stone or something at the start, went down and I couldn’t avoid him. I had a big crash and I was a lot of oil on the ground. Game over. Luckily, I didn’t get injured.”

RESULTS

First race

1. Henry Jacobi (Ger/Kaw)

2. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) +2.196 

3. Tom Vialle (Fra/KTM) +13.126

4. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) +21.163

5. Adam Sterry (GBr/Kaw) +35.011

Second race

1. Henry Jacobi (Ger/Kaw)

2. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) +1.340

3. Roan van de Moosdijk (Ned/Kaw) 6.585

4. Kevin Horgmo (Nor/KTM) 19.378

5. Jed Beaton (Aus/Hus) 47.169

BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) DNF

Overall

1. Henry Jacobi (Ger/Kaw) 50

2. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) 40

3. Adam Sterry (GBr/Kaw) 31

4. Jed Beaton (Aus/Hus) 27

5. Kade Walker (Can) 26

7. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) 22

Next race: May 5, Axel (Dutch Masters)

Images by Yamaha Racing/Eric Laurijssen