Afyon: Drama for Sacha Coenen (KTM), race win for Simon Längenfelder (KTM)

The drama for Sacha Coenen (KTM) began right at the start of the first MX2 race in Afyonkarahisar (Turkey). The Belgian was aiming for the holeshot, but he got off to a false start, hit the starting gate and had to drop back whilst the rest of the field got away. Sacha had to begin a chase from the back of the field. Fuelled by determination, he had already made it into the top eight by the end of the first lap. Title contender Guillem Farres (Triumph) had taken the lead with great intensity.

Holeshot for Längenfelder

Defending champion Simon Längenfelder (KTM) had taken the holeshot, but Guillem Farres went for it with great determination, moving up from 4th to 2nd place and overtaking Längenfelder to take the lead on the very first lap. Janis Reisulis (Yamaha) crashed on the first lap. He, too, had to mount a comeback, but finished the race in 6th place.

Drama for Sacha Coenen

After his botched start, Sacha Coenen wanted to get back up the field as quickly as possible, but in doing so he pushed too hard and crashed. As he jumped off a table, he was hit on the rear wheel and was thrown violently over the handlebars on landing. It appeared as though he had re-injured his recently operated-on collarbone. As not many riders started, he was classified in 16th place and received 6 points for it, but his deficit to World Championship leader Guillem Farres increased from 26 to 42 points.

Simon Längenfelder shone with speed and consistency

Following Coenen’s retirement, Farres rode tactically, as he now had to manage his lead in the standings and was no longer under pressure to go for victory. Längenfelder was able to close the gap and overtook the Spaniard on lap 7 to take the lead. In the following laps, the German gradually extended his lead to over 6 seconds. Camden Mc Lellan (Triumph) capitalised on a mistake by Liam Everts and crossed the line in third place. In the championship standings, the South African is now in third place, just one point behind Sacha Coenen.

A decisive moment in the MX2 World Championship?

It is still unclear how seriously Sacha Coenen has been injured. Guillem Farres now holds a 42-point lead. Should Coenen be unable to compete in the second race, he will drop back to third place.

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MX2, Race 1 Afyonkarahisar

1. Simon Längenfelder (D), KTM, 34:55.414

2. Guillem Farres (E), Triumph, +6.022

3. Camden Mc Lellan (ZA), Triumph, +9.013

4. Liam Everts (B), Husqvarna, +10.828

5. Julius Mikula (CZ), KTM, +44.152

6. Janis M. Reisulis (LV), Yamaha, +44.604

7. Maxime Grau (F), Honda, +57.114

8. Kay Karssemakers (NL), Kawasaki, +58.994

9. Karlis A. Reisulis (LV), Yamaha, +1:11.017

10. Noel Zanocz (H), KTM, +1:18.696

11. Scott Smulders (NL), Husqvarna, +1:42.847

12. Andrea Rossi (I), KTM, +1 lap

13. Rodolfo Bicalho (BR), KTM, +1 lap

14. Tommaso Lodi (I), Kawasaki, +2 laps

15. Sacha Coenen (B), KTM, +16 laps

World Championship Standings

1. Guillem Farres (E), Triumph, 781 points

2. Sacha Coenen (B), KTM, 739, (-42)

3. Camden Mc Lellan (ZA), Triumph, 738, (-43)

4. Simon Längenfelder (D), KTM, 706, (-75)

5. Liam Everts (B), Husqvarna, 674, (-107)