Read what a host of MXGP riders had to say about their weekend at the MXGP of Switzerland.

MXGP

Lucas Coenen: “Really special: I just won two motos and the GP! Saturday wasn’t that great because I had arm pump and the start was just ‘OK’, but today gave me two holeshots, and I led every single lap! I had to deal with a bit of pressure from behind, but there is not that much more to say today. I still don’t like this track though! With the 450, you had to respect it. No mistakes and it feels like a perfect day. I’m still learning, and we still go step by step.”

Romain Febvre: “I was again fast and felt good both days, but it was a track where you needed to take a good start, as it was tough to pass. I was riding well, but with starts like today, it’s not enough to fight for the victory. I think I was one of the few guys who could make passes, but it was also a track where you had to really take care. You could make a huge mistake if you lost it for a split second and many riders crashed, particularly in the second moto; I almost hit Guillod’s bike when he had a big one right in front of me, and there were a lot of rocks, as you can see by my nose. For sure I was pleased to take another podium, but I want one more step!”

Jeremy Seewer: “It’s insane – Ducati’s first podium is huge! We worked so hard, starting from zero, and these guys have reached such a high level. It’s amazing! And to do it here at home, my first MXGP podium on Swiss soil, with all these fans and in this beautiful weather – I think it’s the best day of my life! The second moto didn’t start well for me. I got hit by a rock in the leg and lost all feeling for over a lap, so I dropped back, but then the race came to me. I’m so happy, and I want to thank everyone at Ducati!”

Andrea Bonacorsi: “Fourth overall, tied on points with third – I have mixed feelings about it, but we need to focus on the positives. I made a good step forward on hard pack and improved my starts. I want to thank my Fantic Factory Racing MXGP team, because in the week between Arco and Frauenfeld we made a change to the bike that helped me feel much more comfortable here in Switzerland. So, I have to be happy with the progress I am making, even if another fourth place wasn’t exactly what I was aiming for. We will go for it again in Portugal in two weeks!”

Glenn Coldenhoff: “It was a tough weekend – I didn’t feel great out there, and my starts were a little off. In race two, my start was better, but I lacked a bit of pace in the first few laps and got passed by a few guys. I felt the track was quite sketchy this weekend, but we made it through, and we will take the fifth overall. I think I need to work a bit more on these kinds of conditions, and we will focus on some sprints in the next couple of weeks to find some extra intensity. Portugal is one of my favourite rounds, so I am looking forward to it.”

Kevin Horgmo: “P6 overall at Swiss GP (8-8). Not the best riding this weekend, but came out with a decent result in the end. Should have been a sixth in race two, but I crashed two corners from the finish.”

Jeffrey Herlings: “Quite an OK weekend. In the first moto I had a really bad start and the track was really tough for passing. I didn’t manage to make many places. The second start was better and I was in 3rd for a long time. A shame to have some contact with a lapped rider otherwise it would have been P3. It’s just my fourth week back on the bike so 4th is quite decent. 7th is not where we want to be but the others have a lot more race time. Portugal is a difficult track for me so we’ll keep pounding, keep working and get better every week. We’ll work on some more race rhythm before Portugal and hopefully we’ll try and sneak our way into the top five. That will be the aim.”

Calvin Vlaanderen: “Today was OK. I didn’t get the results I wanted, but I had two consistent results. For today, we made some changes with the bike, and they made a positive difference on track. So, that’s good. and there are a few other small things to work on between now and Portugal.”

Tim Gajser: “I am very frustrated with how it turned out and can not help but feel it could have been avoided. After initially being treated trackside, I was forced to wait 30 minutes with unknown injuries and in a lot of pain! After finally making it to the medical centre, x-rays were clear, but my shoulder was dislocated the whole time. I hope this incident is the last of its kind, as our sport is dangerous enough without additional hazards so close to the track.”

Jan Pancar: “P10 overall. First moto – huge arm pump and wrong choice of rear tyre. P12 in the second moto – very good speed, but unfortunately not a good enough start for a better result. Keep building.”

Image: Ducati

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