Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings are the big winners at the MXGP in France! In the first race the Honda rider was the winner, while the Dutch KTM rider was the highlight of the second. With a 1-4 Gajser scored the most points, but Jorge Prado is still trailing him in the overall standings.

Team HRC’s Slovenian was fastest in the first MXGP race at Saint Jean d’Angely and beat reigning world champion Prado (Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing GASGAS) by 6.468s, while Romain Febvre (Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Team) was third, ahead of his Swiss team-mate Jeremy Seewer. Pauls Jonass (Standing Construct Honda) was fifth, ahead of Herlings (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

And it was precisely the #84 who managed to improve substantially and thus win Sunday’s second race on French soil by beating Febvre, with Jonass also making very positive progress that earned him a place on the podium.

Gajser was fourth and beat Prado again to fifth.

In the overall standings, Gajser remains leader and ahead of Prado by five points (348 vs 343 points), Febvre is third with 319, Herlings fourth and Jonass fifth.

Race 1:

Race 2:

O conteúdo Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings win race 1 and 2 of the MXGP of France aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Lucas Coenen is in great form, and today, in the return of MX2 to Saint Jean d’Angely, he left no chance for the competition by winning both races.

In the first race, the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing rider beat Andrea Adamo (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM) by 10.145s, while Kay de Wolf, the championship leader and his teammate, finished third.

Within the top five were Simon Laengenfelder (Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing GASGAS), ahead of Mikkel Harrup (Monster Energy Triumph Racing).

In the second race of the day, Coenen once again outperformed all his competitors, but this time with an even larger margin. His teammate was the closest competitor, finishing second but more than 24 seconds behind. Laengenfelder made it to the podium this time with a 29.849s deficit to the Belgian, with Adamo just missing the podium spots and Liam Everts (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM) rounding out the top five.

In the championship standings, de Wolf remains in the lead with 342 points, 52 points ahead of Laengenfelder, while Coenen, with 50 points today, totals 283 and is getting closer to the #516.

Here are the results of both races on French soil.

Race 1:

Race 2:

O conteúdo Lucas Coenen takes double win at MX2 in Saint Jean d’Angely and is closer to the second place in the championship aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Thibault Benistant has withdrawn from round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship, in Saint Jean d’Angely, following a heavy fall during the MX2 Timed Practice yesterday, Saturday 18th May.

Benistant fell on a steep decent two laps into the Timed Practice session and went over the handlebars. The 22-year-old Frenchman, who holds fourth position in the MX2 Championship Standings, took a hard impact and was immediately taken to the on-site medical center where he was initially cleared of any fractures or serious injury. However, upon closer assessment, a small fracture in his C5 vertebra has been detected.

Over the next few weeks, Benistant will work closely with a team of medical experts in Lyon, France, who will monitor his progress and adjust his treatment plan as needed. An update on his potential return to action will be shared in due course.

Stay with the scary crash from the french in the following video:

Thibault Benistant massive and ugly crash in MX2 pic.twitter.com/3z398oT35M

— Motorcycle Sports (@MotorcycleSp) May 19, 2024

O conteúdo Video: The brutal and scary crash from Thibault Benistant at home, in the MX2 – Miracle how there were no serious injuries aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The MXGP world championship continues this weekend at St Jean d’Angely, in France, and Tim Gajser is excited to return to the track and is certain that this will be a good round, in a place where he already got to win.

Gajser didn’t have the best round in Spain, a week ago, but is sure that it will all go better, hoping that the weather conditions are favourable:

– I’m excited to go to St Jean again. With the way that France does its GPs in rotation, it is good that we don’t go to the same track all the time and after a year off, I’m sure this weekend will be another good one. I’ve won there in the past and I know the track well, and hopefully the weather won’t affect it too badly as I’ve heard the forecast hasn’t been great leading up to the race and it isn’t so good over the weekend either. Still, we showed in Portugal we can cope with whatever happens so now the aim is to get back on the podium and enjoy the action.

The slovenian is currently second in the world championship just two points away from Jorge Prado.

O conteúdo Tim Gajser excited to race in St. Jean d’Angely looking at the podium: ‘We showed we can cope with whatever happens’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

RJ Hampshire is the new West Zone AMA Supercross 250 Champion! The last race of the year, in Salt Lake City, was the one that crowned the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider as the winner of his region, with him beating Levi Kitchen, in the end, on a day in which both could have reached the title in the category.

The #24 ended up not even being the fastest on the track in the main event at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the final title decisions for both zones were discussed but, compared to second place in the race, which finished 0.802s after Haiden Deegan (East), Hampshire gained the points needed to finish the championship at the top.

Kitchen needed more points but was fifth in the race, thus adding 17 points, while Hampshire, with 22 points, finished the championship with precisely 5 points ahead of #47 and proved that, at the round in Nashville, where he only scored 8 points, it would be decisive for the final classification and showed, once again, that regularity to win was key, with Hampshire finishing at the top.

In the direct confrontation there was even a draw, with both drivers winning three main events each but regularity determined the winner in the end, with this being Hampshire with a total of 208 points, five more than Kitchen.

Jordon Smith, third overall with 185, also beat Jo Shimoda who could have also achieved a place on the podium in the end but, on “D-day”, ended up not being better than #31.

Top 20 in the West zone:

O conteúdo Down to the wire to become champion: RJ Hampshire is the new AMA 250SX King, of the West region aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Last weekend was rich in competitions and Tom Vialle had many reasons to celebrate, with him becoming the winner in the AMA Supercross 250, in the East.

In the final round of the competition, where both riders from the West and East were battling at the Rice-Eccles Stadium, the fastest was Haiden Deegan who still had the mathematical possibility of becoming champion in the East region but it wasn’t just up to him.

However, he did his part and won, leading all 18 laps in the main event and thus had to wait for a defeat on the part of Vialle which… almost didn’t happen: the Frenchman was eighth and thus did almost the «minimum services» to win his first title in the category, he is doing his second year in America after having shone in Europe, in MX2.

Vialle ended up becoming champion despite being more than 25 seconds behind Deegan, who was 4 points behind his opponent in the championship, with Coty Schock securing third place in the general classification by beating Pierce Brown by just one point, also this result. especially the performance in the last race of the season.

Results in Salt Lake City:

Championshop Top 20:

O conteúdo From Europe, with love: Tom Vialle wins AMA 250SX East aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Last weekend saw the MXGP of Galicia, the sixth round of the MXGP and MX2 Motocross World Championships season. Lugo hosted more thrilling races with the elite of global motocross.

In the premier category, MXGP, Jorge Prado (Red Bull GasGas) competed at home and strived to make a perfect performance: he won both races, thus climbing to the top of the championship standings ahead of Tim Gajser (Team HRC).

In the MX2 category, there were two winners. Andrea Adamo (Red Bull KTM) and Lucas Coenen (Nestaan Husqvarna) won the races, with Coenen emerging victorious in the MXGP of Galicia overall.

Watch the highlights of this Spanish round in the official recap video below.

O conteúdo Video: The highlights of the thrilling moments from the MXGP of Galicia aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Cooper Webb, a key contender in the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross series, has undergone surgery for ligament damage in his thumb, an injury sustained during a tumultuous season marked by intense competition and physical setbacks. Webb expects a recovery period of six to eight weeks following the procedure, which took place just two days after the season’s finale in Salt Lake City.

Webb’s thumb issues began after an incident with Jett Lawrence at Round 9 in Birmingham and were exacerbated during a collision with Jason Anderson in Philadelphia at Round 15. Despite the injury, Webb demonstrated remarkable resilience. “I felt like I did a really good job,” Webb stated during the pre-race news conference ahead of the finale. “I didn’t feel like it hindered me whatsoever, but like the last race at Philly, I think when I got together with Jason, that finally finished it off.”

From Rounds 11 through 13, Webb impressively closed a 21-point gap to Lawrence, even briefly sharing the championship lead. However, his momentum faced challenges in subsequent rounds. After failing to secure a podium finish in Nashville for the first time in four races, Webb managed a fifth-place finish in Denver and rebounded to clinch his ninth podium of the season in Salt Lake City.

The surgery and ensuing recovery period mean Webb will miss at least the first four rounds of the outdoor season, significantly impacting his campaign in the SuperMotocross World Championship. Currently ranked second in combined points, Webb’s absence could reshape the standings, though he is likely to remain within the top 10.

The loss of Webb adds to the challenges faced by his team, as teammate Eli Tomac, who is fourth in points, also underwent thumb surgery just before the Supercross finale. Additionally, their fellow competitor Ken Roczen, currently seventh in points, is dealing with a tibial fracture that will limit his participation in the outdoor races.

The timing of Webb’s return is crucial, as the SuperMotocross World Championship awards seeding points equivalent to those won in individual rounds. His team and fans are hopeful for a swift and effective recovery, allowing him to return to competition as early as possible and defend his standing in the fiercely competitive championship.

O conteúdo Cooper Webb Sidelined Following Thumb Surgery After Gritty Supercross Performance aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Monster Energy Supercross Series season wrapped up in Salt Lake City with a dramatic finale that not only concluded the racing calendar but also ignited a flare-up of tensions that had been building throughout the season. The AMA issued penalties following aggressive maneuvers involving Jason Anderson and the Lawrence brothers, Hunter and Jett, highlighting the intense rivalry and physical racing that marked the event.

Jason Anderson was given a written warning for “Aggressive/Reckless Riding” by the American Motorcycle Association after an incident where he aggressively rode Hunter Lawrence wide on Lap 2, resulting in Lawrence crashing into the Tuff Blox. Anderson’s move, which seemed to disregard the proximity of other riders, particularly Hunter’s brother, Jett, who was immediately behind them, stirred significant controversy.

During the post-race news conference, Jett Lawrence commented on the incident, suggesting that Anderson might have forgotten that two Lawrences were in the race and noting, “Guys like him need a hit in the mouth sometimes… so it is what it is.” The rivalry escalated further when, on the following lap, Jett retaliated by making contact with Anderson as they vied for fourth place. This maneuver saw Jett nearly losing control, although he managed to continue without crashing.

Despite the heated exchange, Jett Lawrence was not penalized for his actions. He subsequently moderated his pace and finished seventh, securing the Supercross championship in his rookie season—a remarkable achievement amidst the intense competitive environment.

Hunter Lawrence, too, found himself in the stewards’ notes when, late in the race on Lap 19, he collided with Anderson while being lapped. Though this action did not result in a crash, it led to Hunter being fined and receiving a written warning for a “Code of Conduct Violation,” underscoring the ongoing tension between him and Anderson.

Reflecting on his actions and the public perception, Anderson took to Instagram to voice his stance, stating, “I could give you more insight into my life and more interviews to persuade you I’m a good person but screw that, that ain’t me. On the track, I try my hardest and I don’t take s*** from nobody so if the sport needs a villain then f*** it I’ll play that character. But for me, I leave the race with close ones, crush some drinks, get a little fried to celebrate a healthy season and the successes we had!”

The unfolding drama sets the stage for a highly anticipated Pro Motocross season, with all eyes on the upcoming races at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, on May 25, 2024. The continued rivalry between Anderson and the Lawrence brothers promises to add an extra layer of intrigue and excitement as the motocross season gets underway.

O conteúdo VIDEO – Supercross Finale Sparks Controversy: Penalties Issued After Aggressive Riding in Salt Lake City aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Monster Energy AMA Supercross season wrapped up in Utah with a spectacular finale that saw three championships decided amid thrilling action. Former pro and NBC pit reporter Jason Thomas provided in-depth insights into the weekend’s races, offering a unique perspective on the track conditions, rider performances, and strategic moves that defined the event.

Track Conditions and Performance

The Utah track presented unique challenges due to its soil conditions, which changed significantly from the dry and slippery conditions during practice to slightly tackier conditions during the race, thanks to unexpected rain. Chase Sexton and Jason Anderson were noted by Thomas as riders who particularly excelled in these evolving conditions. Anderson, had he started closer to the front, could have been a significant factor in the race outcome.

Rhythm Lane Strategy

Thomas discussed the critical choice between going inside or wide in the first corner, affecting the entire rhythm lane sequence. Riders who drifted wide could carry more momentum, although sticking to the inside was safer but slower. This strategic decision was crucial for setting up overtakes in subsequent sections, although the track’s layout made passing particularly challenging.

Track Nature and Rider Adaptation

Describing the track in Salt Lake City as difficult for overtaking due to its slick nature, Thomas highlighted that the corners following the whoops section were among the few opportunities for making a move. However, this was also a predictable spot where riders would defend aggressively, making successful passes rare.

Championship Pressure and Opportunities

The finale often reduces pressure for some riders, allowing them to perform without the stakes of the championship affecting their choices. Justin Cooper, as Thomas noted, seized this opportunity, performing exceptionally well as he knew top contenders like Jett Lawrence were avoiding risks. Conversely, Levi Kitchen showed signs of pressure during qualifying, though he managed to regain composure later in the races.

Handling Pressure and Securing Titles

Tom Vialle, despite a shaky heat race, managed to secure his first AMA Championship by focusing on getting a crucial good start in the main event. His ability to handle pressure during critical moments was evident and pivotal for clinching the title.

Controversial Moves and Sportsmanship

Thomas also commented on Jason Anderson’s aggressive racing style, particularly an incident involving Hunter Lawrence. Anderson’s move was in line with his assertive approach, leading to an understandable retaliation from Hunter, though it might draw penalties.

Chase Sexton’s Victory and Confidence

The finale was particularly important for Chase Sexton, who needed a strong finish to boost his confidence for the upcoming series. His victory, while not directly contested by Jett Lawrence, was a crucial morale booster.

The AMA Supercross finale in Utah not only concluded the season but set the stage for the forthcoming outdoor series, leaving fans and riders eagerly anticipating the next challenges in the world of competitive motocross.

O conteúdo VIDEO EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS – AMA Supercross Finale in Utah Concludes with Spectacular Racing and Championship Decisions aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.