Read what a host of MXGP riders had to say about their weekend at the MXGP of Sweden.
Jorge Prado: “I’m so happy to finally get back on top of the box, especially going 1-1. Two solid motos, the first one was so tough coming from behind. I felt super good on track, it was sketchy but I made it happen. So happy, let’s go for the championship. I knew I had to be on my 100% to get the overall here and that’s what I did. Let’s move onto the sand and hopefully get another win there.”
Tim Gajser: It was still a good weekend for the championship, going two-three after winning the qualification race yesterday. I would to like to have won that first moto but I was close when we crossed the line so I was still happy with my riding. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the same rhythm in the second race but it was still okay and I’m looking forward to these next few rounds.”
Jeffrey Herlings: “This wasn’t an easy one. I had nowhere to go at the start on Saturday and this is definitely not the easiest of tracks for passing. I got back some points. I had work to do in the first moto after being pushed out: this did not help. A good start finally arrived in the second moto. I was behind Jorge [Prado] and I kept the distance but then had a pretty big one on the last lap. I still managed to finish on the podium and we have ten in a row now so I hope to keep the streak going. Next up is Arnhem. I hope my hand will be OK and it doesn’t feel too bad. The home GP always gives you the extra little boost usually and I hope I can use that to my advantage.”
Romain Febvre: “I had a really good start in the first race; I lost two positions but I stayed with the leading group so I was happy with my pace. My start in the second race wasn’t good and I was thirteenth at the second corner; on a track like this one that’s a real problem! At the same time Prado, Gajser and Herlings were in front from the start so I knew that the best I could expect was a fourth, and that’s what I achieved. I’m happy with that, but of course for the podium result it was not quite enough. I had to ride the second half of the race without the visor on my helmet as I took two big rocks when I was behind Vlaanderen; luckily they didn’t hit my goggles but particularly on the finish jump it was not easy to see with the low sun in my eyes.”
Calvin Vlaanderen: “It wasn’t the best day today. I’m feeling a little beat up after crashing yesterday so my goal for today was to finish in the top five in both races. I didn’t quite get that by going 6-5 but I ended up fifth overall so that’s not too bad. Ahead of next weekend I’ll be resting up the best I can to be ready for Arnhem.”
Jeremy Seewer: “The real Jeremy Seewer was back for the first twenty minutes of race one with good pace after a good start but I have not been used to racing at that pace this year so eventually I lost my rhythm and started fighting the bike. It’s been a tough season so at least I was happy to show that my skills and potential are still there. I had another great start in race two but I just didn’t “go” in the first few laps. I don’t know why; I just felt strange already on the sighting lap. I came back to eighth and if I had had the ride of my life I could have been P6 but if you are in pack here it’s so hard to come back; it would have been a lot of risks for those two points and I preferred to stay safe. But I keep the positives from those first twenty minutes of race one and keep looking forward.”
Isak Gifting (team quote): “Uddevalla delivered PURE excitement this weekend. Leading the MXGP pack for 10 thrilling minutes was a true highlight. The support from the crowd was unreal, pushing Isak Gifting to power through with two great performances – P7 and P10 in the races for P8 O/A.”
Andrea Bonacorsi: “I struggled a lot all weekend and today wasn’t the best day really. I found it difficult to put laps together and just couldn’t get into a good rhythm. Next weekend we’re back on the sand so I’m looking forward to that. We have some new settings for the bike for sand tracks so I think it will be a good one for me.
Mattia Guadagnini: “I knew it was going to be a tough weekend, but I gave it everything I had. I was missing some speed, and being on the ground so many times didn’t help. Yesterday in qualifying wasn’t too bad – even though I crashed on the first lap. In the first race on Sunday, I was fighting around 15th, but then I had a crash. In the second moto, I crashed on the first lap with some other riders. We’ve got six races left, and I’m taking everything I learned here into the next round in the Netherlands, hoping to do better.”
Image: Kawasaki MXGP
