Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 rider Jago Geerts took his fourth consecutive podium finish – after a great catch-up race and a race win – at round 4 of the FIM World Championship in Agueda, Portugal. Team mate Thibault Benistant celebrated his comeback with a solid 7th place overall.

The FIM World Championship returned to the Crossodromo Internacional de Agueda, with its distinctive orange clay, for the first time since 2019. Jago Geerts started his weekend well by winning the qualifying race on Saturday, his third consecutive pole position this year. Thibault Benistant, who made his comeback in Portugal after an ACL surgery and a long rehabilitation, qualified in 12th place.

Big crash
The track was fluffed up and freshly watered before the start of the first MX2 race, which made it very tricky in the first laps. Geerts was third in the first turn, but had to avoid the falling Guadagnini and dropped to fifth place. On lap 2 it went wrong. The Belgian was caught by surprise, lost the front and was thrown over his handlebars. A big crash. Luckily Geerts was able to continue the race. Although he had a lot of work ahead of him, from 22nd place. The championship leader quickly moved up to thirteenth place, but was then held up by Gifting. It took him four laps to pass the Swede. The Belgian kept pushing for every single point and still managed to finish ninth. All in all a strong catch-up race by Geerts.
Team mate Benistant rode a very regular and smart race. The Frenchman started in seventh place and kept that position until the end, despite a lot of pressure behind him. A solid first performance after his knee injury.

Race win
Geerts was eager to set something straight. The vice world champion got off to another decent start (fourth) in race 2 and didn’t waste time to move up. His first victim: Gifting, with a nice passing on the outside line. Next up: Horgmo, with a great move on the whoops. Geerts wanted more, the race win, and immediately went for Vialle. His first attack was the right one. Geerts passed the Frenchman – who won the Grand Prix – and immediately made a gap. Race win – his fourth of the season – and the third spot on the box. Geerts remains in the lead in the FIM World Championship, but Vialle narrowed the gap to 16 points.
Thibault Benistant’s race was almost a copy of his first race. The former European champion 125 and 250 was eighth after the first lap and held that place till the end. A solid comeback that should give a lot of confidence for the future.

#93 Jago Geerts
3rd overall – 1st in championship
“I still don’t know what exactly happened in the first race. Suddenly my hand came off the handlebar and I was thrown of the bike. It was a big cash. I’m glad I didn’t get injured and still managed to finish ninth. I was disappointed about the crash, but happy with my catch-up race. I knew I had the speed to win, which I proved in the second race. I felt good and had some great lines to pass. My fourth podium finish in a row, a nice streak. All in all I’m happy with the podium and with my riding. The only downside this weekend: Vialle came 10 points closer in the championship classification.”

#198 Thibault Benistant
7th overall – 18th in championship
“I’m really happy with my first race of the season. Seventh overall, that’s a good way to start. However, I was struggling on Saturday. The track was too fast and I was suffering from arm pump. But I built up my weekend pretty well. My Yamaha was good, my starts too. I was aggressive in the first laps, but had to slow down after a while because of arm pump. Anyway, I found a good rhythm and could hold my position. Although I have to admit that the last minutes of the race were tough. Normal, after such such a long periode without racing. Overall, this is a decent comeback.”

Race 1

  • 1. Tom Vialle (Fra/KTM)
  • 2. Mikkel Haarup (Den/Kaw) +0:01.422
  • 3. Kay de Wolf (Ned/Hus) +0:17.796
  • 4. Conrad Mewse (GBr/KTM) +0:18.771
  • 5. Andrea Adamo (Ita/Gas) +0:20.506
  • 7. THIBAULT BENISTANT (Fra/Yam) +0:27.380
  • 9. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) +0:34.855

Race 2

  • 1. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam)
  • 2. Tom Vialle (Fra/KTM) +0:05.476
  • 3. Kevin Horgmo (Nor/Kaw) +0:07.587
  • 4. Mikkel Haarup (Den/Kaw) +0:10.050
  • 5. Mattia Guadagnini (Ita/Gas) +0:25.019
  • 8. THIBAULT BENISTANT (Fra/Yam) 0:41.595

Overall

  • 1. Tom Vialle (Fra/KTM) 47
  • 2. Mikkel Haarup (Den/Kaw) 40
  • 3. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) 37
  • 4. Kay de Wolf (Ned/Hus) 35
  • 5. Kevin Horgmo (Nor/Kaw) 33
  • 7. THIBAULT BENISTANT (Fra/Yam) 27

World championship classification (4/20)

  • 1. JAGO GEERTS (Bel/Yam) 174
  • 2. Tom Vialle (Fra/KTM) 158
  • 3. Mikkel Haarup (Den/Kaw) 132
  • 4. Simon Längenfelder (Ger/Gas) 130
  • 5. Andrea Adamo (Ita/Gas) 115
  • 18. THIBAULT BENISTANT (Fra/Yam) 27

Next race: April 10, GP5 Pietramurata (Ita)