Round four of nineteen in the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship landed on the scarred hard-pack of Leon in Mexico. In windy and hot conditions and in front of a generous crowd packed around the cactus-lined circuit inside the Metropolitan Park setting, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek rode to fifth position overall and in MX2 Kemea Yamaha’s Benoit Paturel secured the same ranking.
MXGP continues to rack-up the miles and for the second time in two weeks ventured from Europe to the Americas. For the fourth year in a row Leon was the focal point for fans across Mexico and provided another technical challenge for the teams and riders due to the high altitude having an effect on machine and athlete performance.
The event was won by World Champion Tim Gajser with his second ‘shut-out’ (Pole Position and both moto victories) in succession after triumphing at the Grand Prix of Argentina a fortnight previously. American Thomas Covington walked the top step of the MX2 podium to repeat his 2015 feat at the same venue.
MXGP now hurries onto a long European phase of the calendar, starting with the Grand Prix of Trentino at the Pietramurata circuit in Arco di Trento, northern Italy, on Easter weekend.
Jeremy Van Horebeek: “I didn’t get the best starts but I managed to get through the first lap really clean and into the top five straight away. It was like a battle all the way, and there was only one good line on the track. In the first moto I was okay with the altitude but in the second moto I struggled a bit.”
Clement Desalle: “I didn’t take any risks as the season will be long; my feeling was not so good and I had no fun riding here. Now we go back for the European rounds of the series; I’m third in the standings and we’ll continue to work hard with the team.”
Benoit Paturel: “My speed is there but, like in Argentina I should have been on the podium, and just like there, I had some bad luck and it’s disappointing.”
Words: Monster Energy Press Release
Photos: Monster Energy Press Release
