KAY DE WOLF EDGES CLOSER TO CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD AFTER SOLID SHOWING.

The seventh round of the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship, the Grand Prix of France, was a rather positive stop for the Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing team. Lucas Coenen ripped to the first moto win of his professional career, whilst Kay de Wolf made significant progress in that championship fight.

Although he was ranked in fourth in the overall classification, Lucas Coenen was arguably the star of the show in France. ’96’ was very strong in moto one, moving from outside of the top fifteen to seventh, and that was arguably a sign of things to come, as he was phenomenal in moto two. Coenen took a commanding holeshot in that stint and led every lap en route to the first victory of his MX2 career. It was a historic moment and one that confirmed his potential aboard the FC 250. Ninth is where he is sat in the championship standings.

On a weekend where so much changed in the dynamic of the MX2 battle, de Wolf posted solid results on a circuit that claimed so many. ’74’ was a firm fixture in the top three for most of moto one, before eventually crossing the finish line in fourth, and then followed that up with a similar ride in moto two en route to fifth. 4-5 scores put him fifth overall on the day and helped him maintain third in the title race. Crucially, however, he is just twelve points from the red plate now.

Roan van de Moosdijk was just behind his teammates in the overall classification – he was ranked in sixth at the end of the weekend. ’39’ led six laps of moto one, before crossing the finish in fifth. The second moto was the complete opposite for him, as he had to charge forwards from the very back of the pack to seventh at the finish line. 5-7 scores helped him move closer to fifth place in the standings; he is five points adrift of the position now.

Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing will take advantage of another weekend off now, as the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship will resume on June 04 in Latvia.

Lucas Coenen: « I knew that I had the speed after moto one, but I just could not show it in that race. I was really ready for the second one and took the holeshot. I built a gap and took the win, which was just unbelievable. We have had so many ups and downs this season. I have never been as happy as when I crossed the finish at the end of the second moto. »

Kay de Wolf: « It was a consistent weekend for us, but it would have been great to be on the podium. The most important thing is that we gained a lot of ground in the championship! There is a long way to go, so the goal is to focus on being there every week and maximising every opportunity. »

Roan van de Moosdijk: « I am happy with the progress that we have made. It was good to lead some laps in the first moto and we recovered well in the second moto, so there are a lot of positives to take from this round. I want to keep building on this and seeing the progress. »

Results – 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round Seven

MX2 – Overall

1. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 47pts; 2. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 40pts; 3. Liam Everts (KTM) 40pts; 4. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 39pts; 5. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34pts; 6. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 30pts

MX2 – Moto One

1. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34:36.427; 2. Liam Everts (KTM) 34:38.720; 3. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 34:40.507; 4. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:44.941; 5. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 35:05.488… 7. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 35:19.389

MX2 – Moto Two

1. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 34:07.689; 2. Thibault Benistant (Yamaha) 34:13.806; 3. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 34:23.566… 5. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 34:40.243; 7. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 35:23.424

MX2 – Standings

1. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) 319pts; 2. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 318pts; 3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 307pts… 6. Roan van de Moosdijk (Husqvarna) 254pts; 9. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 196pt

Romain Febvre of Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP bounced back into contention in the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship title chase with a dramatic moto victory at Villars-sous-Ecot in his native France.

Just two weeks after a heavy fall had forced him to sit out the Spanish GP the Kawasaki number one inevitably needed time to get back into his usual rhythm on Saturday but he already gave notice of his intentions on race day with second-fastest time in morning Warm-up. The KRT crew had clearly found an optimal set-up for the physically- and technically-demanding hillside track as the Green leader narrowly missed the holeshot through turn one in the first moto to come home a strong third after all of the title contenders had fought an enthralling battle for honours. But even more was to come in race two; again narrowly missing the holeshot he settled quickly into a secure second place and shadowed the leader, carefully weighing up the line-options before soaring past on the twelfth of seventeen laps and immediately opening up a significant lead with the fastest lap of the race. It was a truly emotional affair as the home favourite and his countless fans saluted each other all round the final lap, a massive heel-clicker over the big jump on the last stretch through the valley raising the roof. It was also a poignant success as Romain had scored his maiden MXGP victory at the very same venue in 2015. The impact of the points surrendered in Spain still sits deep but the second moto victory and overall podium have lifted him back to third in the championship standings; he is seventy-nine points shy of the current leader but, with twelve of the nineteen-round series still to run, there is still everything to play for.

Romain Febvre: « As everyone knows I crashed in Spain two weeks ago and it was quite hard with the concussion. I took a week off and even this week I felt very second-hand when I rode; it was difficult to analyse my speed but I was determined to do everything to race here. Yesterday the track was even tougher than today, particularly for me because I was struggling a little with concentration, but I stayed positive and I felt much more comfortable today. The atmosphere in the second moto when I took the lead was tremendous. Physically I am good and I pushed to the end. On the last lap I saw I had a gap and I could celebrate for the fans; I was born just one hour and thirty minutes from here so it was especially nice to make something for everyone who turned up to support me. I’m not 100% and I still need to take some time to recover but I feel I deserved that moto win after what happened in Spain. Two weeks ago we thought the season was over but now I almost won the GP and the championship is long. This success today is fantastic not only for me but also for the team and Kawasaki; let’s keep working to make it happen! »

KRT colleague Mitch Evans continues to make advances as he recovers from his pre-season injuries and subsequent long absence from racing. The Australian had little chance of a good start from the outside-gate handed to him in Qualifying and completed the opening lap in each moto only just inside the top-twenty but he continued to push for the entire thirty-five minutes of each race to take the chequered flag twelfth and fifteenth for thirteenth overall.

(Source et photo : Kawasaki Racing)

Geerts Ruled Out of French Grand Prix after Qualifying Race Fall

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Jago Geerts has been ruled out of the French Grand Prix in Villars Sous Ecot, round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship, after fracturing his left wrist in a fall on the opening lap of Qualifying today.

Geerts fell heavily on the steepest descent of the Villars Sous Ecot circuit after hitting a sharp kicker that consequently threw him over the handlebars. While the current MX2 Championship Leader returned to the paddock without assistance, he suffered severe pain in his left wrist and went straight to the onsite medical center for closer assessment, where it was confirmed that the bone was fractured.

Geerts will now return to Belgium to see an orthopedic specialist.

Sensational Seewer Secures Grand Prix Win in France

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer emerged victorious at the MXGP of France, round seven of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Villars Sous Ecot, France. The Swiss rider demonstrated exceptional skill in both races, achieving a 1-2 finish for the overall win – his first since the MXGP of Sweden in August 2022. Glenn Coldenhoff fought back from two lackluster starts to finish seventh overall.

The FIM Motocross World Championship returned to Villar Sous Ecot, France, for the first time since 2017, with thousands of passionate French and Swiss fans in attendance. After a technically challenging day on Saturday, the old-school track was impeccably groomed and prepared for an exhilarating day of Grand Prix action.

Determined to impress, Seewer displayed a remarkable return to form and demonstrated his true potential in Race One. The ’91’ skillfully powered his YZ450FM to an incredible holeshot and delivered a masterful performance. Despite briefly losing the lead to Jorge Prado at the beginning of the race, he reclaimed the top spot on lap five and stormed to his first race win of the season.

In the second and final race of the day, Seewer pulled off another fantastic holeshot. The Swiss sensation put forth another extraordinary performance, setting the fastest lap and leading the first 12 laps before conceding to Romain Febvre. He eventually settled for a safe and comfortable second, which ensured the Grand Prix win. 

While Seewer thrived on the challenging terrain of Villars Sous Ecot, Coldenhoff struggled to replicate the form that earned him a race win in France last year. The Dutchman fought back from two mediocre starts to finish ninth in Race One and sixth in Race Two for seventh overall. Disappointed with the weekend, the ‘259’ is already looking forward to the next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, set to take place in Kegums, Latvia – a track where he has experienced considerable success in the past. The Grand Prix will take place on the weekend of June 4th.

Jeremy Seewer

MXGP of France Winner, 47-points

5th MXGP Championship Standings, 243-points

“This weekend I managed to stay out of trouble, and it looks like we have solved the problem with the starts because I have been upfront on the start for the last few races. It was amazing today. The fans were incredible, and I have never seen the start straight that full. This track is close to Switzerland, so there were many Swiss fans and French fans for Romain (Febvre). The atmosphere was amazing, and it felt like a kind of revenge after the Swiss GP didn’t go to plan. To race in front of so many Swiss fans and to give them a win feels so good. They deserve it, and looking ahead, I want to keep building my form and going ahead with a smile.”

Glenn Coldenhoff

7th MXGP of France, 27-points

7th MXGP Championship Standings, 217-points

“Today was difficult, I would say, because yesterday was terrible. I couldn’t find the flow and this track was very difficult, but no excuses. I need to be better. I made some changes for today, and obviously, the track was very different as well. My speed today was not too bad, but still, 9-6 is very far from where I should be. So, back to work. I think I need to work on the starts, and then we will be in a better spot. We’re going to Latvia now, in two weeks. I will put in some solid work, and I will be strong there, 100%.”

EMX125 – Overall ClassificationPosNrRiderNat.Fed.BikeRace 1Race 2Total13

1 317 Valin, MathisFRA FFMGAS252247

2 772 Reisulis, Janis MartinsLAT LAMSFYAM152540

3 494 Werner, MaximilianGER DMSBFAN202040

RÉSULTATS COMPLETS

Reisulis Maintains EMX125 Championship Lead with Incredible Race Win & Podium Finish in France 

Team MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Janis Reisulis powered his GYTR kitted YZ125 to second overall at the fourth round of the EMX125 Championship in Villars Sous Ecot, France. Despite the challenging conditions caused by the wet weather in the days leading up to the event, Reisulis maintained his position at the top of the EMX125 Championship Standings with a 14-point lead. Meanwhile, Julius Mikula made a remarkable comeback in his EMX125 season debut, finishing 10th. 

The French round of the European Championship was a true test of skill and endurance, as the moist clay on the circuit rapidly deteriorated throughout the day, creating a rough and rutty track that proved to be extremely difficult to navigate. In the opening race, Reisulis established himself as the fastest rider in the class, securing the lead on the opening lap. Despite a minor crash in a rutty right-hander, he fought his way back fifth before another small fall. He eventually finished sixth. Mikula also exhibited remarkable determination, finishing in eighth place despite starting from the middle of the pack and an off-track excursion. 

After a very technically challenging day on Saturday, the old-school track was impeccably groomed and ready for a thrilling day of Grand Prix action this morning. On a much smoother circuit, Reisulis bounced back in Race Two with a much smarter ride in which he eased into the race, only taking the lead on lap five before storming to a flawless race win.

At the same time, Mikula had to charge back from the back of the pack after another rider fell in front of him on the opening lap. Despite the setback, the young Czech rider made some brilliant passes on his way to a 12th place finish. 

In addition to the racing action, the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 team used the French Grand Prix to celebrate a decade-long collaboration with Yamaha, a partnership that has yielded remarkable accomplishments.

Thanks to Reisulis’s impressive 100% podium record in 2023, which includes five race wins, Yamaha is currently leading the EMX125 Manufacturers Championship with its GYTR kitted YZ125.

The next round of the EMX125 Championship will take place in Kegums, Latvia, on the weekend of June 4th.

It was another perfect weekend for Courtney Duncan as she won her third WMX Grand Prix in a row with a 1-1 score. Starting off strong with first place in timed practice, Courtney continued this pace throughout the weekend with two easy races. Courtney extends her championship lead to 20 points with 2 rounds left.

Jack Chambers showed good pace with a 12th place finish in the qualifying race and then ran top 10 in the first moto before falling back to 12th by the chequered flag. A great start in Moto 2 saw the American running 5th before losing a few positions, and then when fighting back for 6th the chain became victim to some of the brutal large stones that affected several riders over the weekend and a snapped chain would force the number 12 to retire.

The team will now prepare for the next round in Latvia on the 4th of June.

Courtney Duncan

Qualifying

Race 1 -1st

Race 2 – 1st

Overall – 1st

Jack Chambers

Qualifying – 12th

Race 1 – 12th

Race 2 – 25th

Overall – 18t

Steve Dixon – Manager 

« Courtney did really well, with P1 in timed practice and then winning both motos. Saturday the track was really rutty and technical – while on  Sunday it was faster and smoother but she won both easily. She’s upped her game this year and she’s doing a great job on her Kawasaki 250. She has a comfortable lead, but as we know it’s never over until it’s over. She has a long break until her next race so she’ll continue her training in New Zealand and come back a few weeks before round 5. She’s highly motivated for her 4th title so consistency is the key. She took her 22nd overall win and became the record holder for most WMX overall wins. With a 3rd and 3 wins, she’ll be looking to maintain her performance going into the last 2 rounds.

Jack has been riding well, in the first race he was a little tight and dropped a few positions back to 12th which was frustrating for him, but made amends in race two with a 5th place start and only dropped back to 7th – then looking back for 6th around the 20-minute mark but unfortunately the chain snapped halting his race. The track was brutal with large stones and a similar issue happened to several riders over the weekend. It was gutting for us as Jack totally deserved a top 6 position this weekend. Each race we see improvement in his speed and consistency so I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.

Courtney Duncan – WMX

« It’s been an awesome weekend and I’m stoked – pole position, two motos and took over the all-time-wins record in WMX. And the holeshot this morning! When did this girl last pull a holeshot? That felt good. The track was super-challenging yesterday but this morning it was completely flat so I knew a start was important. I put in a couple of quick laps to pull a gap and just rode my own race after that to extend my lead in the championship. There’s a break in the series now until August so I head home tomorrow to get back to my normal routine and then fly back later in the summer to prepare for Arnhem. It’s been a really good year but we have to stay concentrated; we still have a long way to go. »

Jack Chambers – MX2

« Things were looking pretty positive this weekend, running top 10 in both motos and a great start in the second one I was really up there which is great for the confidence. Unfortunately, a stone snapped the chain which is a real shame but there are definitely improvements every week. »