Cycle News Staff | October 5, 2021
A round after losing the red plate to KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings, Honda’s Tim Gajser snatched it back at the MXGP of Germany at Teutschenthal, October 3, round 11 of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
A 3-1 netted Gajser the overall win, while a 2-3 handed Herlings second overall. The two championship rivals went into the race with Herlings leading Gajser by one point, but Gajser, who is still recovering from a broken collarbone, leaves Germany leading Herlings by two points.
A wild moment happened in moto one when Red Bull KTM teammates Herlings and Jorge Prado collided in midair over the finish line jump. The two battled for much of the race and were going at it fiercely for the win when the two crashed spectacularly. Prado, who was credited with the win by just two-tenths of a second, got the worst of it, and did not return for the second moto, needing stitches to his upper torso. Herlings staggered off the track with a sore knee but came back to get third in the second moto.
“What can I say? As good as it starts, as bad as it ends,” Herlings said. “I’m lucky to still be racing today. I made some mistakes in the first 15 mins of the first moto but was then able to catch Jorge. We know he is not the easiest rider to pass; he defends his line and there is nothing wrong with that but jumping? My knee had a big impact and it’s 100 percent okay, but the trauma of the bang meant it was really sore in that second moto.”
Kawasaki’s Romain Febvre was third overall with a 4-2, while Pauls Jonass (GasGas) and Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) rounded out the top five overall.
“In both races I got good starts and that put me in a position to challenge for victory,” Gajser said. “I had good lines and although I felt I was fast enough to finish further forward in race one, third was still a good result.
“In race two, I had another good battle, but this time I could make the pass for the lead and win the race, and it was just amazing to cross the line in first. I knew I was feeling better after two weeks of recovery [broken collarbone] since Sardinia.”
In MX2, Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle won both motos but was later docked two positions for not heeding a yellow flag during the second moto.
“I don’t know what to say about the yellow flag decision,” said Vialle, “except that I didn’t see them and watching the video back you needed to be lucky to see them.”
Yamaha’s Maxime Renaux was later declared the overall winner with a 3-1, while Vialle was credited second overall with a 1-3.
Rene Hoffer (KTM), Jago Geerts (Yamaha) and Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) rounded out the top five overall.
Renaux still enjoys a commanding points lead over Geerts, 448-363.
KTM’s Mattia Guadagnini is third with 351 points, with Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) fourth with 324 points.
Vialle is right behind Beaton in fifth, just two points behind the Australian. CN
VIDEO | 2021 FIM MXGP of Germany Highlights
MXGP
- Tim Gajser (Hon) 3-1
- Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 2-3
- Romain Febvre (Kaw) 4-2
- Pauls Jonass (GG) 6-4
- Jeremy Seewer (Yam) 8-5
MX2
- Maxime Renaux (Yam) 3-1
- Tom Vialle (KTM) 1-3
- Rene Hoffer (KTM) 2-4
- Jago Geerts (Yam) 5-2
- Jed Beaton (Hus) 4-5
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