Photos by Jeff Kardas
Justin Barcia (51) and Eli Tomac lead the opening MXGP moto into the first turn to kick off the US rounds of the MXGP class.
The MXGP collection planned two events in the United States this season, with the first bringing a motocross track to the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the first time ever. The Monster Energy MXGP of Americas course wound around the infield of the famous Flat Track, making use of all of one of its sweeping turns as well as snaking out of the stadium for a few becomes and a large tabletop. The event had been planned to be a typical two-day extramarital relationship, with qualifying races on 1 and motos on day two, though this would be a Friday/Saturday plan. The two-day format got tossed for a spin, though, when the edge of Hurricane Hermine drenched the area on Thursday night.
Day one was terminated, the qualifying racing would be included in timed practice on Saturday, plus everyone showed up wondering how muddy the track would be. Shockingly, the particular track’s dirt was nearly perfect, and the one-day format went away without a hitch. The soil was a rich North Carolina clay that looked tacky and held up well. As for the layout, what appeared at a glance to become similar to a supercross track ended up being a good, though high-speed, course.
Two Planet Championships were on the verge to be decided. In the MXGP class, rookie Tim Gajser has 65 points on his nearest rival, Antoni Caroli. To make things tougher on Caroli, he came into the event feeling underneath the weather. In the MX2 class, two-time World Champion Jeffrey Herlings had a 76 point lead over Jeremy Seewer. To complicate these title chases, several Americans had subscribed to the round; North Carolina local hero (and newly crowned US MX Champion) Cooper Webb was the most exciting to the Charlotte fans. A few of the other US riders joining Webb in the 250 class were Austin tx Forker, Adam Cianciarulo, Mitchell Harrison and also Darian Sanayei, who just moved up to the pro ranks on the final US outdoor motocross race, where he finished 15th in both motos. They would line up with American Jones Covington, who races the complete MX2 series. In the MXGP class, some of the Americans joining the MXGP regulars included Eli Tomac, Justin Barcia, Dean Wilson, Phil Nicoletti, plus Heath Harrison.
Photos by Shaun Kardas
Cooper Webb wrapped up his 250 career in successful style.
MX2 Class
Red Bull KTM Manufacturing plant Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings may be the big draw when it comes to MX2 GP racing, but it was local boy Cooper Webb that most of the Charlotte fans came out to see, as the Yamalube/Star Race Yamaha rider put the finishing variations on a stellar 250 career simply by winning the MX2 class more than Herlings with an impressive come-from-behind performance to win the second moto in the Monster Energy MXGP of the Americas.
The particular Euros knew Webb was fast, but few of them honestly believed he could beat Herlings, who acquired won 25 of the 28 motos he had ridden heading into the Charlotte now round.
The big surprise of the MX2 class was Monster Energy Pro Signal Kawasaki rookie Austin Forkner, who was fresh off of his first general victory in the 250 class the week before at the Ironman National Motocross in Indiana. The 18-year-old Missouri rider grabbed the business lead shortly after the start of moto one – taking advantage of a crash by teammate Adam Cianciarulo – and proceeded in order to lead the first nine laps from the race before going down himself. Forkner’s mishap held up Webb and permitted Herlings, who had been running third at that time, to take the lead, which he'd hold to the end of the competition.
Photos by Jeff Kardas
Coming off his first win in america series, Austin Forkner grabbed the podium in the World series.
As for Cianciarulo, he went down a number of turns after the start when their front wheel slid out in the slippery part of the track. Cianciarulo landed on his shoulder and didn’t return for moto two.
Webb rebounded to consider second while Forkner got going again in third, finishing properly ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Manufacturer Racing’s Thomas Covington, who is the only real American currently contesting the full MXGP series.
Despite the fact that he missed three rounds this year, Herlings’ first moto earn easily clinched the Dutchman their third MX2 World Championship.
Moto two saw two more Kawasakis in front after the start. This time it was Forkner trailing Darian Sanayei, although Forkner was quick to take the prospect and start pulling away.
Photo by Jeff Kardas
Jeffrey Herlings found the US with the goal of wrapping up the MX2 title. He did so in the first moto.
In the meantime, Webb was nearly last to exit the first convert after catching a handlebar on another rider’s bike. Most of the Euro riders said that the Charlotte course was too fast and not technical sufficient for passing, but Webb proved that theory wrong by moving into third by lap four. It had been long afterwards that Webb was nipping at Herling’s rear fender, and took over second with a give lap 14. One lap afterwards, Webb passed Forkner to take the lead.
Herlings caught up to Forkner at the final lap, but the young Kawi rider was able to hold on to take second behind Webb. Covington was fourth once again, making for three Americans in the top four, with Dutch driver Calvin Vlaanderen finishing fifth general.
Photo by Jeff Kardas
Eli Tomac did what Villopoto attempt to do last year, dominate World GP.
MXGP
Once the 450s thundered across the Dirt Track infield in the late afternoon sunlight it was Autotrader / Monster Energy / Yamaha’s Justin Barcia with all the holeshot. Behind him around the 1st turn and through the rollers within the long, left turn section of the big oval was Monster Energy Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac. Against the riders that Ryan Villopoto questioned for a world title last year, Tomac put the power down and is at the lead before the riders experienced reached the finish line on panel one. Tomac led start to complete, and even sounded like he has been getting more power down than any other rider. He stretched out a lead as much as 26 seconds over 2nd place.
As for the riders behind Tomac, they remained close together, though with very little passing. Barcia led the group with Van Horebeek right behind, and point leader, Garibaldi Honda’s Tim Gajser, behind him. They were soon joined by more in this conga-line because Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Glenn Coldenhoff and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle closed yet could not make it through, until panel 16 of 18 when Desalle made it past Coldenhoff to reach fifth.
Photo by Jeff Kardas
Bernard Gajser followed up his MX2 World Championship with an MXGP name.
At the checkered flag it was Tomac with the moto earn, but MXGP class rookie Tim Gajser, with his fourth place, wrapped up the MXGP World Championship. It had been his first 450cc World Name, and follows his MX2 Planet Title that he won last year before moving up to MXGP.
The man who experienced the best chance to stop Gajser, Tony a2z Cairoli, was under the weather great results show that. He went in tenth place at the start, after that by lap three was in fifteenth place and eventually could only function his way up to 13th. The championship was a longshot, coming to America 65 points behind, but his first moto finish made it public, the title would go to Gajser, not Cairoli.
Moto 2 took off beneath the lights, and it was Rockstar Power Husqvarna rider Max Nagl getting the holeshot, but Gajser was quickly into the lead. Tomac experienced also gotten a good start, and by the 6th lap had taken over the particular lead when Gajser tipped over in a corner. From there Tomac picked up a comfortable gap on the field, yet one not nearly as big as their first moto victory’s. He left a comment later that the night lighting was fair but made it challenging to determine the condition of the dark North Carolina clay-based. He’ll be at Glen Sue for the final round of the series; perhaps an American can sweep all the MXGP US motor.
Photos by Jeff Kardas
Justin Barcia had a memorable first moto and a second moto he would rather forget.
The race action behind Tomac in moto 2 was like the first moto’s, with minimal moving up front. Glenn Coldenhoff, after obtaining passed by Tomac, held third until the checkers. Factory Honda speed Evgeny Bobryshev spent the moto in fourth, and Van Horebeek did likewise in fifth. The track was fast and not as well difficult, likely adding to the close up lap times and thus the low degree of passing. But defending MXGP champion Monster Energy Yamaha’s Romain Febvre didn’t get that memo. He moved from tenth place up to sixth, and made Van Horebeek fight repeated attacks to hold onto his fifth place.
Moto two runner up Justin Barcia ran within 19th position for two laps. After that over jumped an obstacle and landed hard, hurting his wrist, and he had to pull out of the competition. Barcia’s fellow US-competitors had similar trouble, with Wilson pulling out from the moto on lap 9. Autotrader / Monster Energy / Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti finished moto two in 15th, but it followed the DNF in the first moto.
The final circular of the series takes place next weekend break at Glen Helen.
RESULTS
MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1 . Eli Tomac (USA, Kawasaki), 35: 10. 508; second . Justin Barcia (USA, Yamaha), +0: 22. 813; 3. Jeremy Vehicle Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0: twenty-four. 273; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0: 25. 080; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0: 27. 325; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0: 29. 443; 7. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0: 30. 239; 8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0: 31. 620; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0: 40. 857; ten. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0: 43. 983.
MXGP Race two Top Ten: 1 . Eli Tomac (USA, Kawasaki), 35: 21. 042; 2 . Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0: 05. 984; 3 or more. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0: 08. 704; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0: 11. 509; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0: 12. 470; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0: 19. 778; 7. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0: 24. 690; 8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0: 33. 097; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0: 47. 876; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0: 52. 519.
MXGP Overall Top Ten: 1 . Eli Tomac (USA, KAW), fifty points; 2 . Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 40 p.; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), thirty six p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 35 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 30 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 28 p.; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 27 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 23 p.; 10. Mr. bieber Barcia (USA, YAM), 22 g.
MXGP Championship Top Ten : 1 . Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 693 points; 2 . Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 603 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 565 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 549 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 522 p.; six. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 513 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 382 p.; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 372 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 335 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 322 l.
MX2 Race 1 Top Ten: 1 . Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35: 14. 964; second . Cooper Webb (USA, Yamaha), +0: 04. 489; 3. Austin Forkner (USA, Kawasaki), +0: 29. 218; 4. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0: 51. 237; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +1: 01. 275; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +1: 03. 744; 7. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), plus1: 08. 623; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1: 11. 395; 9. Mitchell Harrison (USA, Yamaha), +1: 12. 303; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +1: 13. 538.
MX2 Race 2 Top Ten: 1 . Cooper Webb (USA, Yamaha), 35: 23. 073; 2 . Austin Forkner (USA, Kawasaki), +0: 03. 876; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0: 05. 424; 4. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0: 50. 870; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0: 54. 056; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0: 55. 139; 7. Mitchell Harrison (USA, Yamaha), +0: 55. 639; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +1: 07. 971; 9. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +1: 18. 235; ten. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +1: 22. 544
MX2 Overall Top: 1 . Cooper Webb (USA, YAM), 47 points; second . Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), forty five p.; 3. Austin Forkner (USA, KAW), 42 p.; 4. Jones Covington (USA, HUS), 36 g.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 27 p.; seven. Mitchell Harrison (USA, YAM), twenty six p.; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 26 p.; 9. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 25 g.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 23 p.
MX2 Championship Top Ten: 1 . Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 689 points; second . Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 595 p.; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 485 p.; 4. Utmost Anstie (GBR, HUS), 473 g.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 6. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 378 p.; seven. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 372 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 358 p.; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 351 l.; 10. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.