The 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship reaches its penultimate round at the MXGP and MX2 titles chase of the Netherlands in Assen this weekend.
The Dutch TT circuit has been transformed into a motocross world championship venue full of sand and it could be defending world champion Antonio Cairoli’s last chance to peg back his team-mate and MXGP championship leader Jeffery Herlings.
Last yearâs Dutch motocross fans witnessed the MXGP championship being decided as Red Bull KTM Factory Racingâs Cairoli took his ninth world title.
This year, however, the crowd will be hoping to see their fellow Dutchman, Herlings, win his first ever MXGP title on Sunday.
Joining the world championship classes of MXGP and MX2 is the Womenâs Motocross World Championship and the European Championships of EMX125 and EMX250.
In the fight for the womenâs title is MXFONTA Racing Synecoâs Kiara Fontanesi and the Netherlandsâ Nancy Van de Ven after Yamaha has announced the Altherm JCR Yamahaâs Courtney Duncan, who leads the points by 21, will not compete in the remainder of the season due to a foot injury.
It is obviously a bitter blow for New Zealander Duncan, but there is no doubt she will be back again next year.
In the class of EMX125, MJC Yamahaâs Thibault Benistant has a 33-point lead over the injured KTM Junior rider Rene Hofer, and another 6 over Mattia Guadagnini.
While the EMX250 championship was wrapped up in Bulgaria by Honda RedMoto Assomotorâs Mathys Boisrame, several other riders are looking for a race win to end their season.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racingâs Herlings has a massive 95-point lead over his team-mate and 2017 World Champion Cairoli. Only 100 points remain on the table this season and Herlings is positioned better than ever to not only claim his first ever MXGP Championship but to do so in Sundayâs first race and in front of his home crowd.
Cairoli is not one to give up the fight but is also one of the most experienced and patient riders in the world. Rebounding from one injury to another throughout this year Cairoli comes to Assen with the memories of 2017 when he claimed his 9th World title here. Cairoli will be one to watch and see how he performs after a difficult MXGP of Turkey two weeks ago where he left with a new injury to his right hand.
Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Teamâs Clement Desalle holds 3rd in the points and has reached the podium the last several rounds. Last yearâs visit to Assen ended with a back injury for Desalle but the Belgian clearly has a much better outcome in mind this year. Going for another a podium Desalle will look to finish a spot if not two higher than his recent 3rd place results.
Team HRCâs Tim Gajser is another rider who has made his way back on the podium recently. Gajser speed has been comparable to Herlings but maintaining it lap after lap is the missing element. Gajser finished 29th here last year and 18th the year prior. The Slovenian will be looking not just to improve but to return to his winning form here in 2015.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGPâs Romain Febvre crashed hard at the MXGP of Turkey in a practice session and did not compete. With a broken rib still on the mend Febvre will also sit out the action this weekend. Febvre was second here in 2017 and was on track for another good result before the Turkish crash.
Also to watch this weekend is Red Bull KTM Factory Racingâs Glenn Coldenhoff in what is a home GP along with the debut of Team HRCâs Brian Bogers who returns to racing after a preseason injury took him out of contention.
Last to mention but not least is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racingâs Max Anstie and Todd Waters. Anstie has been fighting for better results lately and could potentially score his best finish this week after reaching the podium here in 2017. Waters meanwhile has moved to Honda Redmoto Assomotor and will compete with the new team in Assen.
MXGP Championship Top Ten:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 833 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 738 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 619 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 591 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 544 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 514 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 475 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 423 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 404 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 328 p.
MX2 CLASS
MX2âs championship fight has been building between the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider of Jorge Prado and Pauls Jonass.
Young Spaniard Prado and the defending World Champion from Latvia have been on another level this year but a collision in Turkey has brought new fuel into the fire. With two weekend of racing remaining it is anyoneâs guess who will be crowned champion. Prado is the statistical favourite this weekend after winning here last year and taking third in 2016 as a rookie.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racingâs Thomas Kjer Olsen has the 3rd spot in the championship standings and won on sand earlier this season in Latvia. Olsen and his team-mate Thomas Covington have both been fast and fighting for wins but struggled with consistency. Covington found the winning combination last round perhaps it is time for Olsen to do the same this weekend? Olsen has two 5th place overall results coming from here in 2016 and 2017 while been in the top 10 but never the top five on the circuit.
Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 teamâs Ben Watson has been working to find the right set up on his new 2019 Yamaha. Work appears to be going in the right direction however as he put in one of the fastest lap times at the MXGP of Turkey. Watsonâs Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 team-mate Jago Geerts will also line up at home this weekend after missing the last three rounds of racing with a broken collar bone.
Team HRCâs Calvin Vlaanderen will be one to watch in Assen as well, the South African born Dutchman has been impressive this season especially since his win in Indonesia. Riding for the Netherlands at the 2018 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations Vlaanderen will not only be busy he will be the focus of many fans this week.
MX2 Championship Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 773 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 749 p.; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 593 p.; 4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 551 p.; 5. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 525 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 483 p.; 7. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 346 p.; 8. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 337 p.; 9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, HON), 305 p.; 10. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 301 p.
Photo by Ray Archer
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