Ben Watson dominated the last pre-season international race at Lacapelle Marival. The Brit won both motos in France and gave the Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha MX2 Team its second victory of the season. Jago Geerts, who won in Hawkstone Park last week, finished fifth (5+5). The Kemea Yamaha-boys seem to be ready for the start of the FIM world championship, next weekend in Argentina.
Watson took a great start in the first moto, but made a small mistake in the first lap and dropped to third place. He regrouped quickly, took the lead after ten minutes and kept a good rhythm till the end. Meanwhile Geerts – who was struggling with arm pump – came back from eighth to fifth place.
Watson took another good start on his YZ250F in the second moto and came in the lead pretty quickly. Like in the first moto, the Brit found a good pace and won pretty easily. Geerts felt better and was fighting for third position when he was hindered by a lapped rider and lost a few places, but managed to finish in fifth position.
Watson also showed his talent in the Superfinal, together with the best MXGP-riders on their 450’s. Ben took a great start in fifth and followed Seewer almost the whole race. Geerts started in the middle of the pack and stayed there the entire race.
#919 Ben Watson
1st overall
“First in qualifying, two wins in the MX2 motos and a fifth place – as best MX2 rider – in the Superfinal. And three good starts. This was a pretty good day. It is nice to feel how smooth everything went today. Especially after a few tough weeks, when things didn’t really go the way I wanted. But the whole team kept working hard. And finally today I could ride to my real potential. This is a mental boost. I’m looking forward to Argentina, to the start of the world championship. My goal? Simple: try to do better than last year, when I finished fourth.”
#193 Jago Geerts
5th overall
“I’m pretty satisfied with my riding in Lacapelle. I didn’t want to take too many risks one week before the start of the world championship. I was risky, especially with the sun in the Superfinal. Most important: the feeling on the bike is good, the riding smooth. My starts have been already a bit better, but I still need to improve on that aspect. That’s one of my attention points during practice. I can’t wait to go to Argentina. A nice track, lots of jumps and a good crowd. My ambition? Top five.”
RESULTS
First moto MX2
1. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam)
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus)
3. Mitch Evans (Aus/Hon)
4. Mathis Boisrame (Fra/Hon)
5. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam)
Second moto MX2
1. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam)
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus)
3. Mitch Evans (Aus/Hon)
4. Tom Vialle (Fra/KTM)
5. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam)
Overall MX2
1. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam) 50
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Den/Hus) 44
3. Mitch Evans (Aus/Hon) 40
4. Tom Vialle (Fra/KTM) 33
5. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) 32
Superfinal (MX2+MXGP)
1. Romain Febvre (Fra/Yam)
2. Max Anstie (GBr/KTM)
3. Gautier Paulin (Fra/Yam)
4. Jeremy Seewer (Swi/Yam)
5. BEN WATSON (GBr/Yam)
14. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam)
Next race: March 3, GP1 Neuquen (Argentina)
Images Yamaha Racing