MXoN Race 1: Team Spain takes the lead, problems for France and the USA

MXGP/MX2 opening races at the Motocross of Nations in Ernée: The Slovakian team won the B Final and qualified for the final races as the 20th team. Sweden’s Isak Gifting took the holeshot in the MXGP/MX2 opening race, but he crashed on the first lap and fell back. Jorge Prado (KTM) took the lead ahead of Romain Febvre (Kawasaki), Lucas Coenen (KTM) and Mathis Valin (Kawasaki).

Drama for France

French MX2 rider Mathis Valin (Kawasaki) was leading the MX2 field, but on the first lap, following a downhill jump, he landed on the side of the track, was thrown violently into the air and wrecked his motorbike. The Frenchman was forced to retire from the race in disappointment, putting the favoured French riders under immense pressure.

Prado’s crash, Febvre takes the lead

In lap 6, Jorge Prado crashed. Romain Febvre took the lead. After this incident, Prado had to settle for second place.

Levi Kitchen’s crash

The American riders were in 9th and 10th places and on course for a good result, but with one lap to go, Levi Kitchen crashed, bending the handlebars of his Kawasaki so badly that he fell hopelessly behind.

Switzerland in 8th place, Germany only 15th

Team Switzerland is in 8th place with 37 points. German MXGP rider Tom Koch finished in 19th place, whilst MX2 rider Valentin Kees (KTM), a lap down, managed only 18th. This leaves the DMSB team in 15th place after the first round. The Austrian team finished in 31st and 33rd places and are ranked 19th.

Belgium solidly in 3rd place

Belgian MX2 rider Sacha Coenen got through the race without crashing and steadily worked his way up from the middle of the field to 12th place. That’s the way to success.

Summary after Round 1

Spain leads, but their Open rider Francisco Garcia will have to withstand the pressure in the next race. France cannot be written off just yet, but they have already used up their discard after the first race and cannot afford any more mistakes. Belgium made a very solid impression with a cohesive and strong team performance.

Standings after Race 1 of 3

1. Spain, 6 points: Jorge Prado (2nd), Guillem Farres (4th)

2. Belgium, 15 points: Lucas Coenen (3rd), Sacha Coenen (12th)

3. Netherlands, 23 points: Roan van de Moosdijk (9th), Glenn Coldenhoff (14th)

4. Australia, 32 points: Jed Beaton (11th), Alex Larwood (21st)

5. Latvia, 33 points: Karlis Alberts Reisulis (13th), Janis Martins Reisulis (20th)

6. USA, 35 points: Julien Beaumer (10th), Levi Kitchen (25th)

7. Denmark, 35 points: Mads Fredsoe (17th), Nicolai Skovbjerg (18th)

8. Switzerland, 37 points: Jeremy Seewer (15th), Valentin Guillod (22nd)

9. Italy, 38 points: Alberto Forato (6th), Ferruccio Zanchi (32nd)

10. Great Britain, 39 points: Taylor Hammal (16th), Ben Mustoe (23rd)

11. France, 41 points: Romain Febvre (1st), Mathis Valin (40th)

12. South Africa, 41 points: Camden Mc Lellan (7th), Slade Smith (34th)

13. Slovenia, 42 points: Jan Pancar (5th), Jaka Peklaj (37th)

14. Estonia, 44 points: Jörgen-Matthias Talviku (8th), Sebastian Leok (36th)

15. Germany, 47 points: Tom Koch (19th), Valentin Kees (28th)

16. Brazil, 55 points: Fabio Santos (26th), Guilherme Bresolin (29th)

17. Sweden, 62 points: Alve Callemo (24th), Isak Gifting (38th)

18. Slovakia, 62 points: Tomas Kohut (27th), Jaroslav Katrinak (35th)

Individual results, Race 1, MXGP/MX2

1. Romain Febvre (F), Kawasaki, 35:15.189

2. Jorge Prado (E), KTM, 35:25.019, (-9.830)

3. Lucas Coenen (B), KTM, 35:31.578, (-16.389)

4. Guillem Farres (E), Triumph, 35:42.547, (-27.358)

5. Jan Pancar (SLO), KTM, 35:48.527, (-33.338)

6. Alberto Forato (I), Fantic, 35:50.401, (-35.212)

7. Camden Mc Lellan (ZA), Triumph, 35:57.456, (-42.267)

8. Jörgen-Matthias Talviku (EST), Fantic, 36:00.852, (-45.663)

9. Roan van de Moosdijk (NL), KTM, 36:24.733, (-1:09.544)

10. Julien Beaumer (USA), KTM, 36:28.499, (-1:13.310)

11. Jed Beaton (AUS), Yamaha, 36:30.937, (-1:15.748)

12. Sacha Coenen (B), KTM, 36:37.531, (-1:22.342)

13. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT), Yamaha, 36:46.024, (-1:30.835)

14. Glenn Coldenhoff (NL), Yamaha, 36:47.404, (-1:32.215)

15. Jeremy Seewer (CH), KTM, 36:51.516, (-1:36.327)

16. Taylor Hammal (GB), Kawasaki, 37:00.679, (-1:45.490)

17. Mads Fredsøe (DK), KTM, 37:02.466, (-1:47.277)

18. Nicolai Skovbjerg (DK), Husqvarna, 37:04.833, (-1:49.644)

19. Tom Koch (D), KTM, 37:07.298, (-1:52.109)

20. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT), Yamaha, 37:09.425, (-1:54.236)

21. Alex Larwood (AUS), Honda, 1 lap down

22. Valentin Guillod (CH), Yamaha, 1 lap

23. Ben Mustoe (GB), GASGAS, 1 lap

24. Alve Callemo (S), Husqvarna, 1 lap

25. Levi Kitchen (USA), Kawasaki, 1 lap

26. Fabio Santos (BR), Yamaha, 1 lap

27. Tomas Kohut (SK), KTM, 1 lap

28. Valentin Kees (Germany), KTM, 1 lap

29. Guilherme Bresolin (BR), Kawasaki, 1 lap

30. Tanner Ward (CDN), Husqvarna, 1 lap