PALEMBANG (Indonesia) 7 July 2019 – The first weekend of the two back to back rounds in Indonesia has been completed and it was one of the most interesting races of the season. In the end Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory’s Jorge Prado have continued their success with a Grand Prix victory each in MXGP and MX2. In the very tough heat of Indonesia, the two red plate holders also build on their series points leads.

Around the very unique circuit in Palembang, both Gajser and Prado didn’t have it all their own way, both losing a race, Gajser going 1-2 and Prado also 1-2, eventually they did enough to bring the red plates to Semarang, Indonesia next weekend with a confident feeling.

The 11^thround of the FIM Motocross World Championship started off with a typical opening ceremony that took place at the MXGP Skybox which included a traditional dance and a performance from Indonesian drum players which together with the warm welcome from  Youthstream CEO David Luongo, FIM/CMS Director Antonio Portela, IMI President Sadikin Aksa, South Sumatra Governor Herman Deru SH MM, Pangdam II Sriwijaya Major General TNI and Military Chief of South Sumatra M. Irwan, Chief Police of South Sumatra Inspector General Pol. Firli and Chairman of MXGP of Indonesia Organizer Irwansyah officially open the MXGP of Indonesia. 

On a regular basis Team HRC’s Tim Gajser led into the first lap of the opening MXGP race taking the FOX Holeshot, followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer and Standing Construct KTM’s Glenn Coldenhoff. Also, up front were Standing Construct KTM’s Max Anstie, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre, Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Arnaud Tonus and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Gautier Paulin while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Arminas Jasikonis crashed and dropped back to 15^th place. Anstie moved past Coldenhoff for third, and Jasikonis was able to get back into 13^th.

Running a little harder Gajser moved to more than five seconds away from Seewer and Anstie started to put pressure on the second placed man. 

Febvre closed in to Coldenhoff while Anstie was on Seewer but as the French was frustrated as he made a mistake, Anstie passes Seewer for second but he was seven seconds behind Gajser, who seemingly was cruising up front and around the same time Jasikonis was all over Bogersfor 11^th. Five laps to go Febvre was charging in Coldenhoff for a long while managed to go through.  

Light rain began as the race continued. Gajser though wasn’t having any problems up front, and everyone held their positions. Gajser was victorious at race 1 in Palembang, winning it from Anstie and Seewer. 

At the start of the second MXGP race it was again Gajser in the early lead taking his fifth FOX Holeshot of the season, followed by Anstie, who crashed in the first lap and dropped back to 10^thplace. Tonus was also in trouble as he trailed near last and then couldn’t get his bike going again.

Seewer was second, then Febvre, Paulin, Coldenhoff, Bogers and Jonass. Monticelli also crashed and went back in 19^thplace. After two laps the lead by Gajser was nearly three seconds and Febvre had moved past Seewer and was running hard to catch the leader.

On lap 3 Gajser made a mistake and Febvre and Seewer both went past and dropped the Honda man to third place, but the red plate owner was quickly back past Seewer, although Febvre held a six second lead after eight laps. 

Coldenhoff passed Paulin and Seewer at the last laps to finish race 2 in third place, and Anstie was onto Paulin to fight for fifth position while Febvre though was miles ahead of Gajser. 

Febvre wins his first race of the season and the first after the 2017 MXGP of Sweden, ahead of Gajser and Coldenhoff. 

Tim Gajser took the overall win with his 1-2 results while Romain Febvre took second and his teammate Jeremy Seewer rounded up the podium. 

Tim Gajser: “I am really happy on how the GP went today, because after yesterday I knew it would bed hard to do two good races. The first race I could extend the lead and the second I had an amazing jump out of the gate and I was leading then I made a mistake and Roman and Jeremy passed me, but I managed to pass Jeremy but I didn’t even push for Roman as he was too far ahead. Eventually I felt really comfortable and I want to say a huge thanks to the team.”

Romain Febvre: “It has been too long since I won a race. I knew I had the speed since many GPs but I couldn’t make the start. I was frustrated. I had a good start in the second race, I was third, took the lead and made a gap and it was much easier than the first race. Now I am really looking for an overall win.”

Jeremy Seewer: “It was a tough race even if my starts were great. This is one of the toughest races of the year for me but I’m happy on how the GP went. Now I just want to relax a bit before the next week in Semarang but it’s good that I could take some breathe on the championship chase. My season didn’t start really well but now that I’m having consistent results I just wish to keep going”.

Main Photo: Tim Gajser

Bottom Photos: 1. Romain Febvre; 2. Jeremy Seewer

At the opening MX2 race with no surprise Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado took the FOX Holeshot from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle, Team SM Action Yamaha Maxime Renaux and Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen while Honda 114 Motorsports’ Mitchell Evans and BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Mitchell Harrison crashed in the start straight after coming together and were last and second last. Evans crashed again and dropped out of the race and soon after also Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Jago Geerts crashed out in the waves and he dropped out of the top ten with a DNF result. 

Prado controlled the race with Vialle on the chase , but then on lap 11 Prado slipped over loosing the front and Vialle took the lead and a five second lead at that. Renaux remained in third place and Vlaanderen fourth, while the two Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton and Thomas Kjer Olsen fought over fifth position.

Prado took the ground with the willing to win and succeeded as he pulled in the five seconds head of Vialle and passed him on lap 16 taking the lead. Prado won the opening race from Vialle and Renaux.

The second MX2 race was a bit more unpredictable as Tom Vialle pushed Prado wide in the first corner and took the FOX Holeshot, while behind came Geerts in third, then Olsen and Beaton. Despite big pressure from Prado the leader remained calm and held the lead into the second lap, and Geerts even worked his way past Prado for a short time. 

Geerts was all over Vialle for the lead and Prado was riding in third place watching the French and the Belgian fighting for the top spot. Jago Geerts took the lead, and Olsen pushed Prado as the Spaniard dropped to fourth place. Amazingly Beaton also moved past Prado and the red plate owner dropped to fifth place.

After four laps Geerts led from Olsen, Vialle, Beaton, Moreau and Prado dropped to sixth position. Prado was able to work his way past Moreau, but still held down fifth place and was five seconds off the lead rider Geerts.

Geerts remained solid in the lead, as Prado passed Beaton for fourth place and set up Vialle for third place soon after. Geerts slipped over, dropped to fifth, and handed the lead to Olsen. After 15 laps it was Olsen, Vialle, Prado, Beaton and Geerts. Prado moved into second place after passing Vialle and was pushing to get to Olsen.

Thomas Kjer Olsen won his third race of the season, which gives him the third step of the podium followed by Jorge Prado who wins the GP with his 1-2 results and Tom Vialle. 

Jorge Prado: “I was feeling good all weekend, the first race after the crash was quite difficult, but I could make it. I messed up the second race a bit, but I got to second and another GP victory. At the second race I had a good start, got into first, but my teammate was pushing and passed, and I got him at the end. The lap times were short and I struggled a bit. I am just happy with the win for the moment and I’m looking forward for next week.”

Tom Vialle: “I am really happy to have another fantastic weekend, it was very hot and the last five minutes of the second race were very hard, but I am very happy with this podium.”

Thomas Kjer Olsen: “The first race was a struggle and I didn’t feel like myself and I was just trying to keep with my team-mate Jed who was riding good. The second race I think everyone was tired, but I really wanted that win and I made it, keeping my energies until the very end.” 

Main Photo: Jorge Prado

Bottom Photos: 1.Tom Vialle 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen

MXGP of Indonesia – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1520

Type of ground: clay

Temperature: 35°

Weather conditions: Sunny with some showers

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 30,000

NEXT STOP

The next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship is taking place the 14^th of July in Semarang, Indonesia.