WW Farm Provides Perfect Backdrop for the Newest USGP
A great weekend for RJ Hampshire, going 1-1 and getting his first USGP overall in the home state of Florida. The particular Geico Honda had to work hard both in motos but held on to get a great win.
David Bulmer
After a couple of venue changes, WW Motocross Park near Jacksonville, Lakewood ranch stepped up to the plate and offered a great weekend of racing about what were pretty tough conditions. Rainfall had hammered the track in the few days leading up to the event but everyone at the facility worked tirelessly, to make sure that the surface would give the best motocross riders in the world a real challenge.
Joining the usual MXGP riders was newly crowned AMA 450 National Champion Eli Tomac, and just like he did last year, the particular American rider put it to the MXGP guys, winning the first moto regarding 28 seconds. However , Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli made sure that the second race didn’t go exactly the same way, breaking away and rebuilding the pride of world tournament fans. At one stage, Cairoli was actually in a position to wrap up his ninth world title but the tip-over allowed Herlings through and the Dutchman was able to continue his winning streak on American soil after his much publicised victory on Ironman, IN last weekend. Cairoli still leads the championship simply by 96pts and should seal the deal next weekend in Assen, Netherlands.
In the MX2 class, it was a great weekend designed for Florida native RJ Hampshire, getting both moto wins in his very first USGP. After a moto long struggle with Thomas Covington in race one, Hampshire held off a getting Hunter Lawrence and Jeremy Seewer in race two to go 1-1 and give the good-sized crowd some thing to really cheer for. In the early stages of race one it looked like it might be Covington who’d be that will American and although he did not take the win, his third general proved that his MXoN choose was justified. In between the two People in america on the podium was Australian Lawrence, getting up on the box for the 2nd time this year and showing once more the potential he has in what has been their rookie MX2 year. In the championship standings, Pauls Jonass survived a start-straight crash to scores 27pts and keep his lead over Seewer to 40pts with just four motos remaining.
United states fans will have been impressed by Thomas Covington's speed as the GP-based Team USA rider got third overall with 2-4 results.
David Bulmer
Unfortunately Cooper Webb was unable to race as he broke their thumb on Saturday. Adam Cianciarulo also had to pull out with a leg injury.
David Bulmer
Inside a stacked MXGP field, Justin Barcia was able to come in and go 13-15 for 14th overall as the second-best American rider.
David Bulmer
Jeremy Seewer didn't score as many points as he'd have loved, but he still closed the particular gap at the top of the MX2 course by 5 points to Pauls Jonass.
David Bulmer
Aussie Hunter Lawrence once again showed his potential by getting second general and pushing Hampshire right until the finish in the second moto as he hunted for his first moto earn.
David Bulmer
A start-straight crash in the first race meant that scoring good points would be really tough, but Pauls Jonass right now leads the MX2 championship by 40pts with just four motos remaining.
David Bulmer
Mitchell Harrison once again showed that he loves the USGPs, getting 5th general here after a podium at the Glen Helen GP last year.
David Bulmer
Eli Tomac made it five moto wins out of six USGP races, but couldn't quite close it out for the overall as he had been unable to match the pace associated with Herlings & Cairoli in race two in Jacksonville.
David Bulmer
Early on in the second MXGP moto, Antonio Cairoli actually had the MXGP title wrapped up, but a small tip-over allowed Herlings through so the title will now go to Assen in the Netherlands.
David Bulmer
Jeffrey Herlings rounded away from a great couple of weeks in America by taking the particular USGP overall 2-1, keeping to life his very slim hopes in the MXGP championship in the process.
David Bulmer
Tim Gajser got fourth overall, but never really was on the same level as the three podium finishers above him.
David Bulmer
MXGP Overall:
1 . Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 47 points 2 . Eli Tomac (USA, KAW), 45 p.
3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 42 p.
4. Bernard Gajser (SLO, HON), 32 p.
5. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 30 p.
6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 26 p.
7. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 25 p.
8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 25 p.
9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 23 p.
10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 22 p.
MXGP Points Standings:
1 ) Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 673 points
2 . Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 577 p.
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 545 p.
4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 544 l.
5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 485 p.
MX2 General:
1 . RJ Hampshire (USA, HON), 50 points
2 . Hunter Lawrence (AUS, SUZ), 42 p.
3. Jones Covington (USA, HUS), 40 g.
4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 32 p.
five. Mitchell Harrison (USA, YAM), 30 p.
6. Chase Sexton (USA, HON), 28 p.
7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 27 p.
8. Jones Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 26 p.
9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 25 l.
10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 25 p.
MX2 Factors Standings:
1 . Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 696 points
2 . Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 656 p.
a few. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 523 p.
4. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 504 g.
5. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 457 p.