The curtain has fallen on the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship season, after a thrilling final round in Cozar, Spain, at the MXGP de Castilla-La Mancha. There was everything to gain, or everything to lose on this 20ᵉ Grand Prix of the season, both in the two main categories, MXGP and MX2, and in European competitions such as EMX250, where a Frenchman could be titled.
MXGP: Jorge Prado crowned for the second time!
The major event of the weekend was the consecration of Jorge Prado (GASGAS) as MXGP World Champion for the second year running. The Spanish rider, already leader of the standings before this final round, had a nine-point lead over his main rival, Tim Gajser, after a season marked by 11 Grand Prix victories out of a possible 20. Nine units is not a lot, especially when you add in the success factor. Indeed, you have to go back to his first MXGP title in 2016 to find his only victory on Spanish soil, at Talavera de la Reina. Tim Gajser (Honda) did not arrive on conquered ground.
In the first race, Prado dominated, winning ahead of Tim Gajser and consolidating his lead. For Prado, who led for much of the second race, the only thing left to do was to play it safe. So, although a mistake led him off the track, he secured fourth place, behind Gajser, Febvre and Herlings (1st), synonymous with the title. Despite the intense pressure and the support of a massive crowd, Prado kept his cool and strategically managed the final run to take the crown.
Grand Prix de Castilla-La Mancha MXGP standings (Top 5) :
1. Jorge Prado - 43 points
2. Tim Gajser - 42 p.
3. Jeffrey Herlings - 40 p.
4. Romain Febvre - 40 p.
5. Jeremy Seewer - 36 p.
MXGP 2024 final overall standings :
With a total of 996 points, Prado leads Gajser by ten units and becomes the first Spaniard to win two premier class titles. Second in the Constructors' standings behind Honda, but ahead of KTM, GasGas can also thank its official rider, who leaves Europe with four World Championship titles, at just 23 years of age. Tim Gajser, who had been leading the championship for a long time, saw his title chances dwindle after his poor performance in China, where a crash and mechanical problems cost him precious points. He finished runner-up with 986 points, while Jeffrey Herlings (KTM), despite a number of outstanding performances including the second round in Cozar, took third place overall. Romain Febvre, author of a solid performance with a 4ᵉ and a 2ᵉ place this weekend, finishes fifth in the championship, with 4 rounds down this season.
MX2: Kay de Wolf crowned despite Lucas Coenen's domination
Do everything in his power to avoid any regrets or leave them behind - that was Lucas Coenen's objective. The Belgian, imperious this weekend with a qualifying win and two race victories, was unable to make up the lost ground accumulated at the start of the season and had to be content with second place overall. 60 points accumulated in vain, the situation being quite different in MX2 at the start of the weekend, where De Wolf had managed to maintain a 36-point gap.
Despite the pressure exerted by his team-mate, the Dutchman clinched his first-ever world title, on his 20th birthday, at the end of a season in which consistency was the key element. De Wolf, with a more modest performance this weekend (7/2), nevertheless secured fourth place overall on the day, good enough for the title. Defending champion Andrea Adamo made a fine comeback in the second heat to finish second on the day, ahead of Thibault Benistant, who returns to the podium after a return from injury.
Grand Prix de Castilla-La Mancha MX2 standings (Top 5) :
1. Lucas Coenen - 50 points
2. Andrea Adamo - 40 p.
3. Thibault Benistant - 38 p.
4. Kay de Wolf - 36 p.
5. Simon Laengenfelder - 32 p.
Simon Laengenfelder failed to repeat his performances on Spanish soil this season. Along with Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen, he was one of the few riders in the field to have already won in Spain, having won the MX2 GP 2023 at the intu-Xanadu Arroyomolinos. Despite his lack of Grand Prix wins this season with Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, he retains his place in the championship top 3. Mikkel Haarup (Monster Energy Triumph Racing) finishes fifth overall in his first successful season with Triumph, whileAndrea Adamo (KTM), less consistent than last year, ends the year in sixth place.
Final MX2 2024 overall standings :
It will be remembered that in 2024, the MX2 class crowns a new world champion, and for the first time since Alessio Chiodi's 125cc victory in 1999, the title goes to a Husqvarna rider. This is the 17ᵉ title for the brand and the very first under its current Austrian management.
MXGP and MX2 2024 race calendar and winners:
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 Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
20 MXGP Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), September 29. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
Monster Energy FIM Motocross des Nations , Matterley Basin circuit (United Kingdom), October 6
There's still one last effort to be made before the off-season for some of the riders in the various categories, and this weekend it's time for the Motocross des Nations...
EMX250: Mathis Valin on cloud nine!
The EMX250 European Championship also came to an end in Cozar, with the coronation of young Frenchman Mathis Valin. In the penultimate round in Turkey, at an altitude of over 1,000 metres, the young Bud Racing rider dominated the field, taking a 21-point lead over his closest rival, Italy's Valerio Lata, and a 31-point lead over Dutchman Cas Valk. Already crowned French MX2 champion earlier in the year, he is now shining on the European scene. Mathis Valin has made his mark and is already tipped to shine in the top category in 2025.
Photo and video credits : MXGP
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