The FIM Motocross World Championships’ 12th round in Indonesia at the weekend was a lock-out for Honda’s Tim Gajser and KTM’s Tom Vialle.
These two men clean swept the MXGP and MX2 classes respectively at the previously untried Rocket Motor Circuit in Sumbawa.
In the best Indonesian GP in recent times, Slovenia’s Gajser dominated both his races, finishing 1-1 for his eighth overall GP victory of the season, extending his lead in the championship to 125 points over Spain’s Jorge Prado (Gas Gas).
A lot of work went into creating this amazing venue where Gajser showed the speed of his bike, putting his red machines at the front of the field and giving the thousands of Honda riders in the crowd something to cheer for.
After victory in the qualification race on Saturday, Gajser had first gate-pick heading in to the motos on Sunday and he put that into good use, taking a holeshot in race one, which he used to then control the race and cross the finish line nearly five seconds ahead of second-placed Prado.
In race two, Gajser wasn’t able to get quite such a good start, rounding the first turn in fourth, but a really smooth pass quickly moved him into third place.
A lap later and he was in second place, and before the leader could even start to ride defensively, Gajser had swept around the outside and moved into first.
The crowd were really cheering at this stage and it was great to see Gajser back to his very best and entertaining the fans with his speed and skill.
He then stretched out a lead and took the chequered flag for the 13th time this incredible season.
Now the riders will have a couple of weekends off to recuperate from all the travel and prepare themselves for the final seven rounds of the season.
Up next is Loket in the Czech Republic which takes place the weekend of July 17, and should feature a much more familiar challenge on the hard-pack hills near Karlovy Vary.
“It was a great day today, going one-one and really having fun out on the track,” said Gajser.
“The first moto was almost perfect, getting the holeshot and controlling the whole race to take the win. I felt really good and the track was a lot better today so well done to the track crew who worked on it.
“In race two, I didn’t get quite as good a start, and was fourth but I made some really nice passes and within a few laps I was in the lead. Once again, I was able to control the race and take the win and my eighth overall of the season.
“My lead in the championship is now 125 points so I am very happy with how the season is going. A big thank you to my whole team for working so hard and a big thank you to the people of Sumbawa who have been great since our arrival, I am already looking forward to coming back next year.”
MX2 CLASS
In the 250cc class, Frenchman Tom Vialle used his factory KTM 250 SX-F to take the overall win with a 1-1, and resumes control of the MX2 class standings.
Vialle was motivated to hunt for more podium gains after his second moto disappointment in Germany two weeks ago.
The Frenchman quickly acclimatised to the climate and conserved his energy in the wake of the trip from Europe. He was fastest in timed practice and rode to pole position in the qualification heat on Saturday for the first pick on the gate.
A reduced entry list created plenty of track space and Vialle counted on his strong starts to help forge his race card.
He won the opening moto by a comfortable distance – almost nine seconds – and then faced some pressure from Simon Laengenfelder (Gas Gas) in the second race but was able to defeat the German. The 1-1 was his third of 2022. He now has a 4-point lead in the MX2 championship over Belgian Yamaha rider Jago Geerts.
“It was a great weekend and I had a great feeling on the track,” said Vialle afterwards.
“The first moto was pretty comfortable after that start and I could lead all the way. In the second one I passed Simon but then made a mistake on a jump and ran off the track.
“When he then crashed I could get him back. The track was sketchier later in the moto with a lot of bumps on the take-offs. It was not so easy to take the flow but I’m really happy with the results and to have the red plate again. The title fight will be tight until the end but I’m ready to go for it.”
Photo courtesy Infront Moto Racing
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RESULTS & STANDINGS:
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:55.151; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:04.931; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:07.672; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:10.685; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:15.040; 6. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:34.937; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:46.031; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GASGAS), +0:50.727; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:54.717; 10. Jed Beaton (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:56.707.
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:12.673; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:03.834; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:06.005; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:16.217; 5. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:25.361; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:29.237; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:32.608; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GASGAS), +0:35.659; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:42.924; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:49.442.
MXGP – Top 10 GP Classification:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 44 p.; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 38 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 36 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 33 p.; 6. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 31 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 28 p.; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GAS), 26 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 21 p.; 10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 21 p.
MXGP – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 535 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 410 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 405 p.; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 365 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 363 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 342 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 278 p.; 8. Brian Bogers (NED, HUS), 263 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 239 p.; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, BET), 229 p.
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 35:33.662; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:08.812; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:18.948; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:26.268; 5. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +0:39.854; 6. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +0:43.486; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GASGAS), +0:44.097; 8. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:57.555; 9. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), +1:14.129; 10. Delvintor Alfarizi (INA, Honda), -1 lap(s).
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 36:06.053; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:07.795; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:26.334; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GASGAS), +0:42.686; 5. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:51.489; 6. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), +1:24.244; 7. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +2:01.134; 8. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 9. Delvintor Alfarizi (INA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 10. Ananda rigi Aditya (INA, Husqvarna), -3 lap(s).
MX2 – Top 10 GP Classification:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GAS), 42 p.; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 38 p.; 4. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 38 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GAS), 32 p.; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 30 p.; 7. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 28 p.; 8. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Delvintor Alfarizi (INA, HON), 23 p.; 10. Ananda rigi Aditya (INA, HUS), 19 p.
MX2 – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 502 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 498 p.; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GAS), 395 p.; 4. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 356 p.; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KAW), 332 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GAS), 314 p.; 7. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 304 p.; 8. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 277 p.; 9. Isak Gifting (SWE, KTM), 255 p.; 10. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 244 p.
