Cycle News Staff | August 6, 2018
The Red Bull KTM duo of Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado extended their championship leads after round 15 of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship, which was played out at the sandy Lommel Circuit in Belgium, August 5. Herlings coasted to victory in both MXGP motos, as did Prado in MX2.
Jeffrey Herlings Wins Again
Jeffrey Herlings dominated both MXGP motos at Lommel. Photo: Ray Archer/KTM Images
Already the top rider in the MXGP class, the sand specialist, Herlings, dominated both MXGP motos pretty much as expected. He led the pack after the first lap of both motos and never looked back, as all of the racing action took place well behind him. Herlings did have one scare though when he crashed late in the second moto, but he had built up enough of a cushion that he easily was able to maintain his lead and go on to win the race.
It was Herling’s 23rd moto win of the season and his 10th 1-1 sweep.
“The weekend was really good,” the Dutchman, Herlings, said. “I am very pleased, I took three good starts and won the qualifying, both races and was fastest in each practice. It is one of my favorite tracks on the calendar anyhow but I’m happy to extend the championship by six points.”
Herlings extended his points lead to 36 over his teammate Antonio Cairoli, who finished out the day second overall with a pair of second-place finishes. Even the veteran and defending champion couldn’t keep Herlings in sight, the Italian finishing 13 seconds behind the Dutchman in the first moto and 33 seconds behind in the second moto, and that also includes Herling’s crash.
Great Britain’s Max Anstie (Husqvarna) was third overall with 4-4 moto scores, and Romain Febvre (Yamaha) was fourth with 3-5 results.
The Netherlands’ Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM) rounded out the top five overall with 6-3 moto scores.
Despite finishing ninth overall on the day with 10-8 results, Belgium’s Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) is still third in the championship, well clear of fourth-place Tim Gajser (Honda), who wasn’t a whole lot better with seventh overall on the day.
Jorge Prado Extends MX2 Points Lead
Jorge Prado went 1-1 in MX2 at Lommel. Photo: Ray Archer/KTM Images
After taking over the championship lead in the MX2 class at the last round, Spain’s Jorge Prado extended his points lead over his teammate Pauls Jonass, who had a tough day in the Belgium sand with a couple of crashes.
Prado was unbeatable at Lommel. The KTM rider won both motos and is now 28 points clear of his championship rival Jonass, who was fifth overall on the day with 4-6 results.
American Thomas Covington Strong In Lommel Sand
American Thomas Covington was strong in the Lommel sand and came away with second overall. Photo: Jaun Paublo Acevedo/Husqvarna Images
American Thomas Covington (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) was fast in the sand and came away second overall with 2-3 moto scores.
“I’m really happy with second overall at this tough GP,” Covington said. “A few years ago, I couldn’t even think this would be possible over here in Lommel. There’s been a few weekends where I felt I should have won the GP, but this weekend Jorge [Prado] was just better. I could push him during the first part of the motos, but after that I decided to keep it steady and ride safely for the overall podium. I just can’t thank the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team members for all their hard work. We’ve been able to get some great results during the last few GPs and it’s onwards and upwards from here.
“This weekend I’m really happy to be up here on the podium in Lommel,” Covington added. “I really struggled here my first few years in Europe so to come away with a podium is pretty big for me, I think it has been a long time since an American was on the podium at Lommel so it is a pretty cool accomplishment.”
Covington is closing in on the top five in the championship. He now trails fifth-place Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda) by 27 points.
Covington’s teammate Thomas Kjer Olsen was third overall with 3-4 moto scores and Belgian Jago Geerts (Yamaha) was fourth with 7-2 moto results. CN
2018 FIM Motocross World Championship
Lommel, Belgium
RESULTS: August 5, 2018
MXGP
MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:45.618; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:13.091; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:51.594; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +1:04.034; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:11.944; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +1:19.765; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +1:27.384; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +1:38.816; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:49.886; 10. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:59.284.
MXGP Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:34.847; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:33.050; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:47.722; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:54.030; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +1:15.523; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:35.515; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +1:44.319; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +2:13.053; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), -1 lap(s).
MXGP Overall Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 36 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 35 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 31 p.; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 28 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 24 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 20 p.
MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 683 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 647 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 503 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 478 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 468 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 435 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 388 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 350 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 337 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 267 p.
MXGP Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 747 points; 2. Kawasaki, 522 p.; 3. Yamaha, 516 p.; 4. Honda, 493 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 479 p.; 6. Suzuki, 241 p.; 7. TM, 227 p.
MX2
MX2 Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:59.736; 2. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:11.439; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:21.141; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:31.144; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:33.899; 6. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:45.443; 7. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:56.360; 8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:02.821; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:07.739; 10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Husqvarna), +1:11.923.
MX2 Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:51.222; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.083; 3. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:12.715; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:21.133; 5. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:24.378; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:39.784; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:52.172; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:59.965; 9. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:06.985; 10. Marshal Weltin (USA, Kawasaki), +1:21.222.
MX2 Overall Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points; 2. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 42 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 38 p.; 4. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 33 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 30 p.; 7. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 26 p.; 9. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 25 p.; 10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HUS), 21 p.
MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 645 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 617 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 492 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 453 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 444 p.; 6. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 417 p.; 7. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 346 p.; 8. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 291 p.; 9. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 261 p.; 10. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 218 p.
MX2 Manufacturers: 1. KTM, 723 points; 2. Husqvarna, 611 p.; 3. Honda, 512 p.; 4. Yamaha, 511 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 351 p.; 6. TM, 119 p.
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