Read what a host of MXGP and MX2 riders had to say about their weekends at the MXGP of France.
MXGP
Tim Gajser: “The circumstances aren’t how I’d like to win a GP, but I’m happy to take the overall as I felt my riding was good in what were extremely difficult conditions. The early-race passes in race one were very important as this track isn’t easy to make moves on, but once I got out front I was able to control the race and won with a nice gap. Then in race two, I felt confident about my skills in the wet, but I just wasn’t able to get the same passes done and instead ate a lot of roost trying to pass the rider in front. I thought that my mistake had cost me the overall, but as it turns out, I still was able to take the win and the red-plate. A big thanks to the whole team for their help as it wasn’t an easy one but I’m very happy and excited to go to Germany now.”
Jeffrey Herlings: “We finished 6-1 for 3rd and it could have been better, could have been worse. The results changing after the race meant I lost a few points to the others but I’m pretty satisfied with my second moto. The bike worked well, and ran clean all moto in those conditions, so the team did great. I’m looking forward to Teutschenthal now after a practice race in the UK next week. Difficult this weekend, and we need to think about the health of the riders and think professionally. That’s my opinion.”
Calvin Vlaanderen: “It’s been a so-so weekend for me here in France. Obviously, the results are not what I want – my goal coming into the weekend was to be closer to the podium. I think my speed was good here all weekend but unfortunately, I didn’t get a great start in the first race and it’s really difficult to pass on this track. In the second race, with all the rain, it was more like survival out there and I didn’t want to take any risks. I finished eighth in Race Two for seventh overall, which isn’t where I want to be.”
Andrea Bonacorsi: “Today was a really mixed day. On the first moto, the track was perfect. I was riding well, especially towards the end of the race, and I finished 10th, so I was pretty happy with that. I still have some improvements to make on the starts – I’m slowly getting used to the 450. And then the second moto was just like my other races – rain and full gas. I took my time and tried to relax because I knew it would be a long race. With all the rain, you need to be consistent and not crash. My start was ok, Jeffrey (Herlings) passed me from the outside and I had to brake, and from there I just rode my own race and worked my way up to ninth. It’s been a consistent weekend, which is good in this class. I’m learning all the time and I think the results show I am progressing. Thanks to Yamaha and all the team for an amazing job this weekend as well.”
MX2
Andrea Adamo: “A pretty solid weekend and we’ve made a step compared to the beginning of the season because I am able to be decent every moto. It was a strange weekend because we had good conditions where it was almost dry, and then storms that made it very muddy. A strange feeling…but the second moto was pretty good. I have to be happy…and I have to keep consistent while looking for another step these coming races.”
Liam Everts: “Difficult weekend and a bit up and down. I won’t give my opinion on what happened on Saturday. Moto one, I was a bit behind Sacha and I crashed with Kay [De Wolf]: a racing incident. They can happen. Something went wrong for me at the start of the second and I struggled in the first fifteen minutes to pass the slower guys but once I got free air I had good pace…obviously it was too late. I’ll come back better in Germany.”
Ferruccio Zanchi: I’m really happy with my riding over this weekend. There were some really difficult conditions over this weekend and to come away with race results of nine-seven-eight is something I’m very proud of. I just tried to keep a good pace throughout every race and minimise the mistakes when it was wet. I wasn’t perfect but overall, it was a good pace and a confidence boost for wet-weather riding. I’m also happy with my starts and we’ll continue to build-upon those as the season progresses.”
Rick Elzinga: “It’s been a difficult weekend for me here in France. I’ve been feeling off colour all week and so I found it hard to focus, which is never good on a race weekend. Saturday was tough with lots of drama, and so then on Sunday, I tried to turn it around. The first race went ok considering how I felt – it could have been a little better but I lost my flow towards the end. It could have been P7 or P8 on that one, but I made some mistakes and struggled to pass one rider. I had a good start in the second moto and was feeling really strong. But then in one turn, my shifter hit the edge of a berm and the bike went into neutral. I fell over and got stuck and then was dead last on track. After that, I was riding really well and managed to get back up to 11th. I’m happy to end the weekend with good speed – when it was dry, I was riding fast, and in the wet, I had really good pace. A bit of an off weekend, but overall, I’m happy with how I rode.”
Sacha Coenen: “I had a really good start from the 35th gate pick! I was not so comfortable on the track and slowed my speed a bit but then had a fall, and after that struggled to see the ruts and went down again. I didn’t really know my position but finished the moto. Second race, I had the holeshot. I had the pace in the first laps and was 2nd for a long time. I made some mistakes again and lost the front after a jump and then hit the fence on the downhill. Not so nice to have two more stupid crashes. I’m healthy, and we’ll just look forward to Germany now.”
Image: Red Bull KTM / Ray Archer
