Read what a host of MXGP riders had to say about their weekends at the MXGP of Germany.
MXGP
Jorge Prado: “It was a perfect weekend. I felt great all weekend long – the bike was great, and I enjoyed the track. We had so much rain on Saturday that track conditions were actually quite tough. It was easy to make mistakes; Tim and Jeffrey were always right behind me, so I couldn’t afford any errors. I worked on my starts and just tried to push to the end of the race. I’m super happy and want to give a big thank you to the whole Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing Team. The championship lead is back, and the red plate is back! Latvia next – let’s get some good sand riding done there!”
Tim Gajser: “It was a solid weekend of racing, winning the qualification race and then going three-two here. I’m a bit disappointed in the first race, getting arm-pump and not being able to push how I wanted but I was still third. And then race two, I was able to ride a lot better and was a lot closer to the lead but I couldn’t quite get close enough to make the pass. Still, the championship is very close and I am happy, and healthy and I’m looking forward to Latvia next weekend.”
Jeffrey Herlings: “My speed is getting better and better. We changed my set-up today and it was an improvement. I got unlucky with the lapped riders twice today but I guess they were having their own race! Anyway, 2-3 for 3rd: not bad. In the past I’ve left here a few times straight to the hospital and now I’m going home! It’s not my favourite track and there are some better ones for me coming up. We’re 3rd in the championship and it’s still a long season ahead. I’m proud of today but I’m hoping for a GP win at some point.”
Glenn Coldenhoff: “The weekend started well but I didn’t feel so good in Saturday’s qualifying race and I struggled quite a bit because of the rain. Sunday was better, I was able to take the holeshot in the first moto and stay with the front guys but I made a few mistakes and other riders overtook me. I could have taken another holeshot in the second moto but there was a contact and that affected my performance. Next week we will be at one of my favourite tracks where I won at in the past so I am really looking forward to the upcoming GP in Latvia.”
Jeremy Seewer: “Luckily it wasn’t quite as muddy this weekend as in Portugal and France but it was not easy in the conditions; the track was different every session with the weather continually changing – rain, no rain, and they were always out there with the bulldozer. All those tight corners made it tricky with the set-up; there was no flow. I was simply not satisfied with my first race, but the second was better; it was just a shame I had that small crash. Mentally it was frustrating because I am normally really strong on this type of track when the weather doesn’t play tricks, but that’s life.”
Brian Bogers: “There were a lot of ups and downs this weekend. The speed was good but I had a lot of problems in the qualifying race when I crashed and struggled all moto long. That made it hard for Sunday’s races as my starting position was tough but I managed it well in both motos. Unfortunately, I crashed in the second heat but I am pretty happy with my riding despite not yet being in perfect physical conditions.”
Mattia Guadagnini: “I can be quite happy with today! I didn’t feel great yesterday and couldn’t find my flow, but I took the holeshot in the qualifying race and did my best to finish in a respectable 10th place. Today was much better; unfortunately, I had two really bad starts, but I managed two solid comebacks and can be satisfied with my riding and determination. Things are getting better and better, and soon we’ll be closer to the front.”
Andrea Bonacorsi: “Besides Race Two, it’s been a good weekend. I got my first Qualifying Race points of the year yesterday and then seventh in Race One today. I had a really good jump off the line in Race Two but then there was a big crash in the first turn, and I couldn’t avoid it. I did what I could to get back in the points and now my focus will be to recover quickly for next weekend.”
Ben Watson: “The German GP did not go as I had planned and the heavy rain made the track heavy all weekend. I arrived at this race not at 100% because of some bumps I got in the previous races that I have not yet fully recovered from. In the first heat I started in the middle of the group and, after suffering quite a bit in the first ten minutes, I recovered at the end and finished 16th. In the second heat I crashed at the start. When I got up I realised that the bike was damaged and at that point I had to retire. Now I have to think about recovering physically, reset myself mentally to resume riding at the level I am capable of.”
Image: Red Bull KTM / Ray Archer
