MXGP Final Round heads to Shanghai.
The Final round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship will conclude in the magnificent city of Shanghai for the MXGP of China for the very first time. While a new track on its own is a big challenge for MXGP and MX2 riders, the medium soft circuit is ready and excited to host its very first world class event.
The 2019 MXGP season has travelled to 18 different venues this year around the world providing hype, expectations and intense actions at each round. The 2019 Champions Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado have nothing to prove this weekend as they have already their MXGP and MX2 titles in the pockets but the battles to round up the Championships podiums are still open.
While the 2019 MXGP Championship title chase concluded with Team HRC’s Tim Gajser taking the title in Imola, the field is still open battling for other positions. However the Slovenian he’ll be lining up hoping to add the Grand Finale victory to his nine overalls, besides he only needs to add nine more points to the second placed in order to be the most dominant champion in motocross history and a return to the podium is like a must for the HRC rider this weekend after his 4th place in Turkey.
Red Bull KTM Factory’s Jeffrey Herlings is back, he was the protagonist of the MXGP of Turkey being able to win his first GP of the season after recovering from couple of major injuries this year. Last weekend’s perfect performance shows the Dutchman will go into the MXGP of China and the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations as a big favourite for the overall win.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team’s Jeremy Seewer will attempt the MXGP of China with 542 point on the standings, after a bitter-sweet GP in Turkey where he was able to finish 7th, the Swiss is going to China with the speed on his side and full of expectations to return on MXGP Podium.
Standing Construct KTM team’s Glenn Coldenhoff boosted his confidence going 1-1-2 for the last three Grand Prix and you can bet he will push hard at the MXGP of China looking at the third place on the MXGP championship points while Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Gautier Paulin currently holds down that position. Paulin, who is actually feeling awesome recently, has 499 points while Coldenhoff 488, so it will be interesting to see who comes out of that battle with the third position.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass is also in good form and will want to perform at his best in China. The Latvian finished third overall at the MXGP of Turkey reaching his third podium of the season.
Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tommy Searle was forced to withdraw from the MXGP of Turkey due to a crash during the warm up which caused him a shoulder contusion. After further examinations Searle might be back at the MXGP of China.
MXGP – World Championship Top Ten:1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 744 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 542 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 499 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 488 p.; 5. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 462 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 428 p.; 7. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 416 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 403 p.; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 384 p.; 10. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 358 p.
In the MX2 class Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado is the favourite to win this coming weekend and score his 31 GP win while the battles for the GP podium and Championship standings is still wide open.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team’sThomas Kjer Olsen is secure to finish second in the MX2 championship, but due to food poisoning sickness couldn’t race to his best level in Turkey last weekend and will want to end his season with a better result.
Third in the Championship is Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Jago Geerts who has lacked his usual speed in recent weeks and goes to the final round with a strong motivation to get back on the podium as he did in Turkey the past week.
Battling for the third position in the standings is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado Tom Vialle who is just 10 points behind Geerts. You can bet he’ll push hard this weekend with good starts and confidence on his side.
F&H Kawasaki Racing’s Roan Van De Moosdijk picked up his first ever MX2 podium last weekend in Turkey, and made a statement for being selected by Team Netherlands for the Monster Energy FIM MXoN indeed, be sure he wishes to repeat his Turkish performances this weekend.
Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen, is hoping to make its fourth podium of the season, after he missed the podium at the MXGP of Turkey only for 1 point finishing 6th tied in points with Vialle.
Another rider to watch out recently is surely Team SM Action Yamaha team’s Maxime Renaux who made his first MX2 Podium at the MXGP of Italy and arrived fourth in Turkey tied in points with Van De Moosdijk.
This weekend the MX2 class also has the third WMX classified, Larissa Papenmeier among the entries. The German is looking forward to joining this experience in China after a bitter sweet final round of WMX due to sickness.
MX2 – World Championship Top Ten:1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 787 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 592 p.; 3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 505 p.; 4. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 495 p.; 5. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 442 p.; 6. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 384 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 376 p.; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 359 p.; 9. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, HON), 303 p.; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 282 p.
Text/Bild: Youthstream