DOUBLE GASGAS DELIGHT: TURKISH PODIUMS FOR PRADO AND LÄNGENFELDER.
Jorge Prado clinches his 47th career victory with a stunning 3-1 performance, while Simon Längenfelder secures a hard-fought P3 in MX2, delivering a double podium weekend for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing at the MXGP of Türkiye.
If this weekend’s performance at the MXGP of Türkiye from Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing rider Jorge Prado is any indication, the defending Spanish champion is not backing down! With only three rounds remaining, Prado knew he had to capitalize on every session as his chance to close the points gap on rival Tim Gajser were narrowing.
At the Afyon Motor Sports Center, situated at 1,800 meters elevation, Prado delivered a stunning performance. Celebrating his 145th MXGP appearance with his 145th holeshot in Race Two, Prado secured 3-1 finishes in Sunday’s motos, clinching his 47th career Grand Prix victory. Impressively, this marks his ninth win of the season, bringing him within 14 points of Gajser in the championship standings as they now head to Shanghai for the penultimate round.
Saturday’s qualifying session saw a tense battle between Jorge Prado and Tim Gajser, with the Slovenian just edging out Prado for the top spot. On Sunday, however, Prado came back with determination. In the first moto, despite struggling with a goggle issue, he secured a solid third place. In the second moto, Prado was unstoppable, leading all 17 laps. He pulled a 1.5-second gap over Gajser by lap one, set the fastest lap on lap 11 with a time of 1:56.151, and extended his lead to 2.795 seconds by lap 14, ultimately cruising to a comfortable victory with a 2.373-second margin.
In MX2, Simon Längenfelder followed Prado’s example, battling hard for every point. The German rider, currently third in the World Championship standings, secured 2-4 finishes in the motos, resulting in a P3 overall finish. Längenfelder looked strong aboard his GASGAS MC250F, showing consistent pace on the evolving Turkish hardpack.
The Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing squad is heading full throttle into uncharted territory as the FIM Motocross World Championship rolls east for the 2024 season’s penultimate round in Shanghai on September 16th. With the adrenaline still pumping from Turkey, the showdown in China – only the second in MXGP history – promises to be edge of the seat. Shanghai’s fast and unfamiliar track could shake up the title race, making it the perfect battleground for Jorge and Simon to leave their mark on the world stage.
MXGP – #1 – Jorge Prado: „I really needed this victory. I was so unlucky in the first moto, my pants opened on the first lap, and then in the last ten minutes the lens came off the frame of my goggles. It’s a shame to have so much bad luck when it was a moto think I could have made passes and gone for the win. Then I came back strong in the second moto with a strong start. I made a little mistake and Gajser passed me – but I reacted straight away to regain position. We gained more points this weekend, and that is the goal right now. Let’s go on to the last two rounds of the season – to make a last big push, and see how it ends!”
MX2 – #516 – Simon Längenfelder: „I have been feeling good all weekend here in Türkiye. The track changed a lot from Saturday to Sunday, but I enjoyed both conditions. It was really difficult to pass. The second moto, in particular, was tough to get that fourth position and keep it when you’re sandwiched between two riders. But we made it happen; third overall, which feels really good. We’re going to head to China happy and ready to fight for more!“
MXGP of Türkiye Results:
MXGP – Overall:
1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 45pts
2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 40pts
3. Jeremy Seewer (Kawasaki) 40pts
6. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 31pts
11. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna) 20pts
MXGP – Moto One:
1. Jeremy Seewer (Kawasaki)
2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha)
3. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
10. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
12. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna)
MXGP – Moto Two:
1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
2. Tim Gajser (Honda)
3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
10. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna)
MXGP – Standings:
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 910pts
2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 896pts
3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 857pts
12. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna) 283pts
MX2 – Overall:
1. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 50pts
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 40pts
3. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS) 40pts
4. Liam Everts (KTM) 36pts
7. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 28pts
DNS. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 0pts
MX2 – Moto One:
1. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna)
2. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS)
3. Liam Everts (KTM)
4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna)
5. Andrea Adamo (KTM)
DNS. Sacha Coenen (KTM)
MX2 – Moto Two:
1. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna)
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna)
3. Mikkel Haarup (Triumph)
4. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS)
5. Liam Everts (KTM)
9. Andrea Adamo (KTM)
DNS. Sacha Coenen (KTM)
MX2 – Standings:
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 873pts
2. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 829pts
3. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS) 774pts
4. Liam Everts (KTM) 727pts
6. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 601pts
8. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 456pts
19. Marc-Antoine Rossi (GASGAS) 122pts
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