KAY DE WOLF CLAIMS MX2 PODIUM FINISH AT MXGP OF SARDEGNA.
DUTCH SAND SPECIALIST SECURES THIRD OVERALL AT MXGP ROUND 10.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf has battled his way to an impressive third-place overall MX2 class result at the MXGP of Sardegna. The sandy nature of the Riola Sardo circuit meant the young Dutchman was in his element, showing phenomenal speed and race craft on his way to two fourth-place moto finishes. For his MX2 teammate, Jed Beaton, it was a challenging day in Italy with the FC 250 racer ultimately claiming seventh-overall. In the MXGP class, Thomas Kjer Olsen secured a strong 10th-place overall result with Arminas Jasikonis in 15th.
The 10th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship saw Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing take to the start following two successful events for the team in Turkey. Competing on the Italian island of Sardinia, it was ultimately another positive GP for the team as the series now enters the second half of the season.
Headlining the results for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna was MX2 class racer Kay de Wolf, who placed an impressive third-overall for the third time this season. Racing on his favoured surface, the 16-year-old brought his sand riding skills to the fore with a solid charge through the field in moto one to secure fourth.
For race two, a much stronger start saw Kay quickly form part of a three-rider battle for second place. Frustratingly, Thibault Benistant crashed in front of Kay, which collected the FC 250 racer and caused him to lose valuable time. Although quick to remount, the young Dutchman dropped to sixth but quickly regained the positions that he lost, claiming a strong fourth place in the moto. With another overall podium result, Kay moves up to seventh place in the MX2 World Championship.
Arriving in Sardinia following a strong run of MX2 class results recently, Jed Beaton’s chances of another overall podium finish were quickly unravelled following an unfortunate crash early on in moto one. A race-long charge with no front brake then ensued with the Australian ultimately claiming 13th aboard his FC 250.
For race two, Beaton emerged from the first turn well placed inside the top-10. After making a number of passes during the opening laps, the 23-year-old would continue to maintain his strong pace, catching up to teammate Kay de Wolf and chasing him across the finish line for a well-deserved fifth-place finish.
The opening MXGP class moto proved to be highly positive for both Thomas Kjer Olsen and Arminas Jasikonis. With TKO placing eighth, Jasikonis followed him home for a strong ninth-place finish.
In race two, Kjer Olsen placed 13th after a crash on the opening lap with the Dane claiming 10th overall for his second top-10 result in as many events.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing will next be in FIM Motocross World Championship action at the MXGP of Germany, round 11 of the series on October 3. Before then, Thomas Kjer Olsen and Arminas Jasikonis will represent their countries at next weekend’s Motocross of Nations in Italy, competing for Denmark and Lithuania respectively.
Kay de Wolf:“Another podium result in my rookie season so I’m really happy. It definitely could have been better if it wasn’t for an unfortunate crash in race two. As I came out of a corner fast I just couldn’t avoid Thibault Benistant’s bike, which was laying in the track. There was just not enough time to stop and I hit his bike. I burnt my arm and it took a little while to free my bike from his. It’s frustrating but my riding was really good and I was able to make up the positions that I lost quite quickly. Overall, though, it’s been a great weekend. I’ve moved up to seventh in the standings so I’m really happy and looking forward to Germany in two weeks’ time.”
Jed Beaton:“A bit of a frustrating day today. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time in moto one as Jago Geerts crashed and then his bike bounced up and hit me off of mine. The crash damaged my front brake, so it wasn’t ideal, but I gave it everything I had and managed to score some points. I found a pretty good flow in race two and maintained a good pace. It was easy to make mistakes and I overexerted myself a little in the first one, so a fifth place wasn’t too bad. The next two rounds are back on hardpack and tracks that I really like so I’m looking forward to those and getting back up on the podium.”
Thomas Kjer Olsen:“It was quite a good day for me today. The track was really rough and demanding, so to finish 10th overall is a great result and it’s where I need to be. My first moto was really good. It was a fight to the end and I feel like my fitness really helped. This showed in the second moto especially. I crashed early on and I was way down, but as the race reached the end I started picking off riders and ended up 13th. It’s frustrating and makes you wonder how that race would have gone had I had a good start, but that’s how racing goes sometimes.”
Arminas Jasikonis:“Despite needing to withdraw from the second race today, there are many positives to take from today. My speed in both races was actually really good and in race one I showed that I can run up front. Unfortunately, in race two I began to feel really dizzy and I opted to pull out of the race and put safety first. It was really demanding today so maybe I overdid things a little, but this is MXGP and you always have to fight and do your best.”
Results – 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 10
MXGP – Overall 1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 50pts; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 44; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 40… 10. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 21; 15. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 12
MXGP – Race 1 1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 35:22:630, 19 laps; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 36:05:049; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 36:15:640… 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:32:695; 9. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 36:35:608
MXGP – Race 2 1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 34:10:289, 18 laps; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 34:15:999; 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 34:18:695… 13. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:42:374
MX2 – Overall 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 50pts; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 42; 3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 36; 7. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 24
MX2 – Race 1 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:04:946, 18 laps; 2. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 34:06:063; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (KTM) 34:24:711; 4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:28:244; 13. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 35:29:444
MX2 – Race 2 1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 34:35:642, 18 laps; 2. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 34:43:906; 3. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 35:04:558; 4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 35:26:144; 5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 35:29:150
Championship Standings – After Round 10
MXGP 1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 371pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda); 3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 367; 12. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) 160; 21. Arminas Jasikonis (Husqvarna) 69
MX2 1. Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) 403pts; 2. Mattia Guadagnini (KTM) 332; 3. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 325; 5. Jed Beaton (Husqvarna) 290… 7. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 273
Text/Bild: Husqvarna