2022 MXGP of Charente Maritime Results
Cycle News Staff | August 22, 2022
The FIM MXGP World Championship headed to France at the iconic Saint Jean D’Angely circuit for the penultimate round of the series. The MXGP crown has already been clinched by Tim Gajser, but the rest of the points, along with the MX2 title, are still wide open. After another tight weekend of racing, fans saw Gajser and Tom Vialle go fastest in France.
MXGP
After winning the MXGP world title just one week prior, Tim Gajser theoretically had no pressure to perform on Sunday’s race day. He started just outside the top five in race one while Jeremy Seewer ran up front looking to lock down second in the overall points chase. Late in the race, the two were wheel to wheel with Seewer ultimately taking the win just one second clear of the newly crowned world champ. France’s Romain Febvre crossed the line in third.
Jeremy Seewer won race MXGP race one. Photo: Yamaha
Jorge Prado looked back to form as he kicked off race two with a holeshot. The Spaniard led nearly the entire race while the rest of the field shuffled for position behind him. Maxime Renaux, Seewer, Febvre, and Gajser all duked it out in the second through fifth spots. Prado held them off until the final lap as Seewer and Gajser closed in. The Honda rider felt the urgency and dropped the hammer on the last lap, passing from third to first to claim the moto win. Prado finished second and Seewer crossed third. 2-1 for Gajser earned him the overall ahead of Seewer and Prado.
Tim Gajser came from behind to win race two and the overall. Photo: Honda
MX2
Going into France, only two rounds were left to decide the MX2 World Championship, as Jago Geerts and Tom Vialle continue to slug it out in the final few races. Geerts maintained the edge at just 15 points coming into Saint Jean. Race one saw France’s own Thibault Benistant and Vialle lead the way ahead of Geerts. These three maintained even gaps throughout the race and finished 1-2-2, respectively.
Frances own Thibault Benistant struck first with a win in race one. Photo: Yamaha
After cutting two points from Geerts’ championship lead in race one, Vialle quickly jumped to the lead in race two. Geerts, meanwhile, rounded the first lap in fifth place. He worked up to fourth but two crashes during the moto eventually dropped him to seventh. Vialle cruised to victory, going 2-1 for the day’s overall. Benistant traded wins with Vialle and came home second overall with two French riders on the podium. A 3-7 still gave Geerts third overall while his points lead is cut to just two. CN
Tom Vialle won the second moto and the overall. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
OVERALL RESULTS
MXGP
- Tim Gajser (Hon) 2-1
- Jeremy Seewer (Yam) 1-3
- Jorge Prado (GG) 4-2
- Romain Febvre (Kaw) 3-5
- Maxime Renaux (Yam) 5-4
MX2
- Tom Vialle (KTM) 2-1
- Thibault Benistant (Yam) 1-2
- Jago Geerts (Yam) 3-7
- Tom Guyon (KTM) 9-3
- Liam Everts (KTM) 7-6
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