The third consecutive and final MXGP round at the tight and twisty Mantova circuit in Italy was an exciting one for JM Honda Racing’s Kiwi star Dylan Walsh.
For nearly five laps motocross Grand Prix rookie Walsh demonstrated his speed and style leading the race on his CRF450R.
The Canterbury man rode to his best qualifying position so far, 15th position, in the morning session.
In moto one, the New-Zealander once again managed a terrific getaway, tucked in right behind the leading riders at the holeshot he took control of the race in the opening lap.
The fast JM Honda Racing rider set about putting down some stylish and consistent laps – chased hard by world championship leader Tim Gajser and fast Australian Mitch Evans.
While Walsh put on a fantastic show, he understandably got a bit over-excited and ‘cooked’ the clutch, forcing him to retire early. A rookie mistake, yet a fairly normal one given his relative inexperience of competing against the world’s best in only his second season of world championship competition.
Placed 10th in the start of race two, Walsh pushed on to 8th when a forceful move by Calvin Vlaanderen sent him to the ground. From way back, Walsh remounted to finish 15th.
Walsh is in 22nd overall in the world series standings, despite not having joined the team and therefore not having contested the first four rounds of the championships earlier this year.
Walsh will be keen to have another go at it next weekend in Spain when the FIM Motocross World Championship makes it first visit to the brand new Circuito Internacional Comunidad de Madrid, at intu Xanadú-Arroyomolinos.
“On paper, Mantova 3.0 was not the best out of our three races here,” said Walsh.
“But it was actually a really good step in the right direction! I led the first 11 minutes of moto one unfortunately I got a bit too excited, made a few rookie moves and fried my bike. Moto two started quite promising inside the top 10, I moved up to P8 but unfortunately I got cleaned out. From last position I made my way back to 15th. Again we learned a lot today, I’m excited to see what we can do in the next GPs.”
Photo courtesy JM Honda Racing Team
Words by Tom Jacobs
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RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
MXGP Race 1:
- Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:17.344; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:01.263; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:04.925; 4. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:08.675; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:09.994; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:11.544; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.247; 8. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, GASGAS), +0:20.654; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:21.495; 10. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:21.844; 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:26.995; 12. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:28.124; 13. Henry Jacobi (GER, Yamaha), +0:56.506; 14. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +1:03.716; 15. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, KTM), +1:09.348; 16. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:13.417; 17. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:17.246; 18. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:33.536; 19. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), +1:39.479; 20. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +1:51.930; 21. Artem Guryev (RUS, Honda), -1 lap(s); 22. Dylan Walsh (NZ, Honda), -8 lap(s); 23. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, Yamaha), -15 lap(s).
MXGP Race 2:
- Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:09.190; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:02.652; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:06.339; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.174; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:20.703; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:26.332; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.752; 8. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:33.840; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:35.952; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:37.138; 11. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, GASGAS), +0:38.621; 12. Henry Jacobi (GER, Yamaha), +0:57.845; 13. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:22.514; 14. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:25.984; 15. Dylan Walsh (NZ, Honda), +1:28.534; 16. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), +1:29.484; 17. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +1:31.032; 18. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, KTM), +1:41.723; 19. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +2:02.976; 20. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), -1 lap(s); 21. Artem Guryev (RUS, Honda), -2 lap(s); 22. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), -8 lap(s); 23. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, Yamaha), -18 lap(s);
MXGP Mantova III classification:
- Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 47 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 38 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 35 p.; 5. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 31 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 29 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 24 p.; 9. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 23 p.; 11. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, GAS), 23 p.; 12. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 22 p.; 13. Henry Jacobi (GER, YAM), 17 p.; 14. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 12 p.; 15. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 10 p.; 16. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, KTM), 9 p.; 17. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), 7 p.; 18. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 7 p.; 19. Dylan Walsh (NZ, HON), 6 p.; 20. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 6 p.; 21. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 3 p.; 22. Artem Guryev (RUS, HON), 0 p.; 23. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, YAM), 0 p..
MXGP standings after round 11 of 18:
- Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 399 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 388 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 369 p.; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 341 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GAS), 341 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 304 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 285 p.; 8. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 263 p.; 9. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 262 p.; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 248 p.; 11. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 228 p.; 12. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 197 p.; 13. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 137 p.; 14. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 127 p.; 15. Henry Jacobi (GER, YAM), 118 p.; 16. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 116 p.; 17. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, GAS), 105 p.; 18. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, YAM), 82 p.; 19. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 73 p.; 20. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 71 p.; 21. Benoit Paturel (FRA, HON), 45 p.; 22. Dylan Walsh (NZ, HON), 41 p.; 23. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 41 p.; 24. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HUS), 33 p.; 25. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 31 p.; 26. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), 31 p.; 27. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 26 p.; 28. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 25 p.; 29. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 19 p.; 30. Karlis Sabulis (LAT, KTM), 18 p.; 31. Nicholas Lapucci (ITA, KTM), 15 p.; 32. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 15 p.; 33. Thomas Covington (USA, YAM), 15 p.; 34. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 13 p.; 35. Harri Kullas (EST, HON), 11 p.; 36. Lars van Berkel (NED, HUS), 9 p.; 37. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, YAM), 9 p.; 38. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HUS), 5 p.; 39. Zachary Pichon (FRA, HON), 2 p.; 40. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 2 p.; 41. Anton Gole (SWE, HON), 2 p.