AGUEDA (Portugal) 29 April 2023 – Here we are in Agueda after an incredible day of tough competition during the RAM Qualifying Races. The last words went to Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez in MXGP and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts in MX2.

The newly inverted circuit of Agueda delivered the speed and spectacle we thought and more! Riders acclimated themselves quickly to the new layout to go full gas from the get go. 

Alongside the FIM Motocross World Championship races, the EMX250 and EMX125 presented by FMF Racing competed in their first race of the weekend in which Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing Team’s Andrea Bonacorsi and MJC Yamaha Team’s Janis Martin Reisulis came out victorious in their respective class. 

The RAM Qualifying Races were followed by the now inevitable Paddock Show and was full of fans coming to cheer the riders and especially hero Ruben Fernandez who gave them the win that all locals were waiting for. Among the guests were Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Liam Everts, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sacha Coenen and Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen along with MXGP Red Plate Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado and MX2 Red Plate Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts. There was also a special guest as Hugo Basaula, home hero, came on stage to welcome the public to Agueda. The fans kept asking for more and even made few ‘Holas’ along the way during the show. The Paddock Show concluded with riders giving signed posters to ecstatic fans who came in large numbers.

For the first time this season, Ruben Fernandez won the RAM Qualifying Race and he did that in great fashion as one of the fans’ favourites here in Portugal rode a sensational race. After finding himself early on behind quick starter Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, Fernandez showed a lot of nerves on lap 4 as he made a move on the inside of Herlings to push him wide and take the lead off the ‘bullet’. Fernandez went on to display a strong performance even if he had to stays focus until the end with a late charge from Herlings who settled in the end for 2^nd.

Team Gebben Van Venroy Yamaha Racing’s Calvin Vlaanderen took a great opportunity as he managed to finish 3^rd of the race. He overtook Ship to Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz’s Valentin Guillod on lap 3 to get to 5^th.  He then capitalised on the fall of Jorge Prado, 3^rd at the time, who lost the front of his bike on lap 5. Vlaanderen then passed Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Maxime Renaux on the same lap for 3^rd and kept this place until the end. 

Renaux had to retire few laps later with a mechanical problem making him lose precious points foir the championship. 

Prado who found himself down to 11^th after his fall went back up to 6^th a couple of laps later to get right behind Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain Febvre. Febvre who also fell earlier in the race at the same spot as Prado, had to defend his 5^th place in front of the Red Plate until the very last turns, Febvre and Prado who both made a great comeback finished in 5^th and 6^th respectively. 

After a great start, Guillod who was 4^th on lap 1, got passed by Vlaanderen on lap 3, and then could not keep his position as he moved down the order throughout the race to 10^th in the end. It is still a good point for the Swiss in the Championship to keep him 11^th. 

The other Swiss rider Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer showed how quick he can be when he races without incident as the 2022 Vice MXGP Champion found himself 7 after lap 1 but overtook his countryman Guillod on lap 6 for 5^th and kept going as he took advantage of Renaux’s misfortune to get to 4^th and keep that position until the chekered flag. 

The other riders who showed very good promises for tomorrow were JM Honda Racing’s Brent van doninck and Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini who were 10^th and 11^th on lap 1 respectively. Both riders showed great confidence as they kept pushing to move up positions. van doninck managed to capitalise on Prado and Renaux mishap to get to 7^th on lap 7 and kept his place until the end while Guadagnini 10^th on lap 7, showed an amazing determination until the end as he overtook Guillod and Standing Construct Honda MXGP’s Brian Bogers over last couple of laps to finish 8^th. 

Bogers on his side was able to get from 9^th on lap 1 to 5^th on lap 7. Unfortunately, with few riders putting pressure behind him such as Prado and Febvre, the dutchman had to concede few places to end up to the 9^thposition in then end but still display a strong performance throughout the race.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Glenn Coldenhoff did not have the best day as the rider could not find the same speed and rhythm he showed since the beginning of the season and had to settle for the 15^th place in the end.

Rubén Fernández: “It was difficult to not to make mistake at the end. I did some mistake as I was trying to overtake Jeffrey Herlings but I managed to keep the lead even if he pushed me right until the end. I’m so happy to get my first RAM Qualifying Race”

Main Photo: Ruben fernandez

Bottom Photos: 1. Jeffrey Herlings; 2. Calvin Vlaanderen
 

In MX2, it was Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Simon Laengenfelder who got the best start in front of Jago Geerts. The Red Plate looked very comfortable on this new layout and show great speed and control as he overtook Laengenfelder on lap 3 to never look back and win comfortably the RAM Qualifying Race. Laengenfelder also stayed without much trouble at the 2^nd place until the end. 

We witnessed a battle between teammates at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with Liam Everts and Andrea Adamo for the 3^rd place. Everts quickly got to 3^rd as Adamo managed to overtake TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team’s Jan Pancar on lap 2 for 4^th. A great battle ensued and it was Adamo who got the last word on lap 8 as he closed down Everts on a turn. Everts nearly fell following that move from Adamo but incredibly kept himself on the bike. Adamo went on to finish 3^rd while Everts 4^th. The two on-form teammates continue to display strong racing. 

Another pair of teammates, Roan Van De Moosdijk and Kay de Wolf from Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing also marked some important points as they managed to both gain places throughout the race to finally got together on lap 10 in 5^th for Van de Moosdijk and 6^th for de Wolf. 

Pancar is a rider that we are beginning to see a lot in the top 10 as he started very quickly to find himself 4^thafter lap 1. Although he couldn’t keep that position and had to concede few places along the way, the Slovenian managed to stay strong and finish 7^th in the end. 

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Thibault Benistant has somehow a little bit underperformed compared to his usual standards that he showed us since the beginning of the season. Benistant got to 8^thafter Lap 1 and went up and down during the race to settle for 8^th in the end, being overtaken by his rival in the championship de Wolf on lap 6 as he was 7^th to move down to 8th where stayed in the end. 

The good operation of the day was for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen who after crashing over the first lap of the race made a very worthy comeback as he managed to get back to 9^th quickly on lap 4 and never left this position until the end. 

Behind him was Big Van World MTX Kawasaki’s Jack Chambers who showed that he is getting acclimated to the level of the MX2 Championship since his debut in Switzerland. Chambers got to 7^th on lap 1 and showed that he doesn’t give up easily after moving down to 11^th on lap 3. He got into a give and take situation with VHR Racing Team’s Isak Gifting for 10^th and the American finally made the move sticks on lap 6^th to stay 10^th and collect 1 good point for the Championship Standings. Gifting unfortunately crashed on lap 9 and finished 25^th.  

The other misfortune was for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 Team’s Rick Elzinga who got an issue with his bike and tried to continue after a passage to the pitlane but he then had to retire on lap 8 in what had to be a frustrating for the young Dutch.

This was the debut of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sacha Coenen after his injury in pre-season. While he went down on lap 2 and found himself down to 23^rd position, S.Coenen managed to gain few place and finish the race 20^th getting a full race under his belt which will be valuable for next races.  

Jago Geerts: “I felt very good all day. I managed to pass Simon and then pushed to stay first. So overall a very good race for me and I am looking forward for tomorrow”

Main PHoto: Jago Geerts

Bottom Photos: 1. Simon Laengenfelder; 2. Andrea Adamo
 

TIMETABLE (Local Time GMT+1)

SUNDAY: 09:40 EMX125 Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 11:30 EMX350 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2.

MXGP OF PORTUGAL QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1630m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 24°

Weather conditions: Sunny