The Turkish Grand Prix, the 18ᵉ meeting of the world motocross season, saw two runner-up riders in their class rise to the top: Lucas Coenen in MX2 and Jorge Prado in MXGP.
MX2: Lucas Coenen goes all out
In MX2, Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) enjoyed a near-perfect weekend, with only the qualifying heat eluding him, leaving victory to his compatriot Liam Everts. In the first heat, the 17-year-old Belgian had to battle it out with Simon Laengenfelder, whom he managed to surprise in the final minutes to take the win. Coenen's team-mate and championship leader Kay de Wolf finished fourth after a collision early in the race. Liam Everts completed the podium.
The second heat was just as intense. Kay de Wolf led for most of the race, before losing out on the last lap to an unleashed Lucas Coenen.
This double increases Coenen's points total and closes the gap on Kay de Wolf in the championship. It is also his 7ᵉ success this season, as many as the Dutchman... Enough to worry him in the money-time? On the French side, Quentin Prugnières showed great speed in MX2, fighting for podium positions in both heats. However, crashes relegated him to 11ᵉ place overall (10/13). Thibault Bénistant, meanwhile, also struggled, finishing 11ᵉ in both heats, and a 10ᵉ place overall.
MX2 Swiss Grand Prix standings (Top 5):
1. Lucas Coenen - 50 points;
2. Kay de Wolf - 40 p. ;
3. Simon Laengenfelder - 40 p. ;
4. Liam Everts - 36 p. ;
5. Mikkel Haarup - 35 p.
MX2 2024 provisional overall standings
Kay de Wolf remains in the lead with 873 points, ahead of Lucas Coenen (829 points) and Simon Laengenfelder (774 points). Liam Everts completes the top 4 with 727 points.
MXGP: Jorge Prado at his best?
In MXGP, the battle for the world title continues to intensify. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) won in Turkey, taking five precious points off championship leader Tim Gajser (Honda). And as the saying goes, in this configuration, it's perhaps better to be the hunter than the hunted...
The first MXGP round was won by Swiss rider Jeremy Seewer (Kawasaki), who made the most of his excellent start to get ahead of Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) and Jorge Prado. Tim Gajser finished fourth, just behind Prado, while Jeffrey Herlings and Romain Febvre had to make do with 10th and 7th places respectively after crashes.
Jorge Prado took the lead at the start of the second heat and never relinquished his grip on the race, finishing ahead of Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings.
MXGP Turkish Grand Prix standings (Top 5) :
1. Jorge Prado - 45 points ;
2. Tim Gajser - 40 p. ;
3. Jeremy Seewer - 40 p. ;
4. Romain Febvre - 32 p. ;
5. Maxime Renaux - 32 p.
MXGP 2024 provisional overall standings
Tim Gajser retains first place with 910 points, but Jorge Prado (896 points) is in ambush. Jeffrey Herlings completes the provisional podium with 857 points.
Calvin Vlaanderen withdraws for the end of the season, a promising comeback for Maxime Renaux
For some riders, the outcome of this season is already sealed, and could serve as an adjustment in the run-up to the 2024 Motocross of Nations. Unfortunately, Calvin Vlaanderen (Yamaha) will not be taking part in the MXDN. With a knee injury sustained during the Dutch GP, the Dutch/South African rider has officially withdrawn for the rest of the season. This includes the Motocross of Nations scheduled for early October in England. His absence deprives the Dutch team of a solid asset for the event.
For his part, Maxime Renaux, back from injury, made a strong impression in the first heat, taking second place. However, a crash in the second heat kept him out of the top positions. He nevertheless finished in the top 5 of the GP, an encouraging performance ahead of the final stages of the season, and the MXDN.
MXGP and MX2 2024 race calendar
The MXGP season continues next weekend with the penultimate round in China, in Shanghai, 5 years on. A decisive round for the world title, particularly in MXGP, where only 14 points separate Gajser and Prado.In 2019, Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado won the MXGP and MX2 classes respectively.
1 MXGP de Patagonie Argentina, Villa La Angostura circuit, March 10. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
2 MXGP Spain, intu Xanadú - Arroyomolinos circuit, March 24. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
3 MXGP of Sardinia (Italy), Riola Sardo circuit, April 7. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
4 MXGP Trento (Italy), Pietramurata circuit, April 16. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Liam Everts (MX2)
5 MXGP Portugal, Agueda circuit, May 5 Winners: Pauls Jonass (MXGP) and Liam Everts (MX2)
6 MXGP Galicia (Spain), Lugo circuit, May 12. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
7 MXGP de France, St Jean d'Angely circuit, May 19. Winners: Tim Gajser (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
8 MXGP Germany, Teutschenthal circuit, June 2. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
9 MXGP of Latvia, Kegums circuit, June 9, Winners: Jeffrey Herlings (MXGP) and Sacha Coenen (MX2)
10 MXGP of Italy, Maggiora circuit, June 16 Winners: Tim Gajser (MXGP) and Sacha Coenen (MX2)
11 MXGP of Sumbawa (Indonesia), Sumbawa circuit, June 3011 MXGP of West Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia), Lombok circuit, June 30 Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
12 MXGP Lombok (Indonesia), Lombok circuit, July 7, Winners: Jeffrey Herlings (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
13 MXGP Czech Republic, Loket circuit, July 21. Winners: Tim Gajser (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
14 MXGP of Flanders (Belgium), Lommel circuit, July 28, Winners: Jeffrey Herlings (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
15 MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla circuit, August 11. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
16 MXGP of the Netherlands, Arnhem circuit, August 18, Winners: Jeffrey Herlings (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
17 MXGP of Switzerland, Frauenfeld circuit, August 25, Winners: Tim Gajser (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
18 MXGP Turkey, Afyonkarahisar circuit, September 8. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
19 MXGP of China, Shanghai circuit, September 16
20 MXGP TBA (Italy), September 29
Monster Energy FIM Motocross des Nations , Matterley Basin circuit (United Kingdom), October 6
Photo and video credits : MXGP
