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Petar Petrov at the 2016 MXGP of Belgium
NEWS

Petrov survives Lommel sand for first Grand Prix podium of ‘16

Aug 012016

The Lommel sand has swallowed hope, hearts, destroyed engines, minds and energy reserves but arguably the toughest and most technical of surfaces in MXGP and the FIM Motocross World Championship has also created heroes. The Fiat Professional Grand Prix of Belgium slithered into the myriad of bumps, holes and ruts that is the Limburg terrain for the third year in a row and showcased motocross at its most extreme and brutal; they don't come much harder than this.

In front of 25,000 spectators who relished the sand acumen and stamina of the world’s best and took delight in seeing the ebbs-and-fros of the different rhythms and pace among the leaders, it was Monster Energy’s Petar Petrov who ended up spraying champagne by sealing third position in the MX2 class for what was the fourteenth stop on the eighteen round 2016 trail. Also catching the eye was Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser with a blazing second race victory in the premier class of MXGP.

Tim Gajser at the 2016 MXGP of Belgium
Monster Energy welcomed the Slovenian into the motocross collective prior to the Grand Prix and the nineteen year old swept to a eighth pole position of the season on Saturday with a holeshot and unperturbed run in the Qualification Heat. That same form surfaced on a warm and cloudy Sunday and after an uncharacteristic double crash and fifteenth place from the ‘rookie’ in the first moto that unfortunately wrecked his 100% podium record this year. In the second sprint Gajser was utterly unstoppable and has now totalled fourteen Heat wins from twenty-eight.

“After the first moto I was really disappointed,” 243 revealed. “I crashed twice and couldn't start the bike again for forty seconds or something like that. I finished the race and took some points…the second one was much better and it was easier to ride in front; you have clear vision and you can pick your lines. Overall I’m still disappointed but you always have to look at things positively. This was the first real, deep sand race for me on the 450 and I felt good and I learned a lot. On one side this weekend was good and on another side: horrible! That's motocross…and on a track like this you can make a mistake so quickly, lose the focus for one moment and you are on the ground. So I’m glad that this one is done!”

Romain Febvre at the 2016 MXGP of Belgium
While Kevin Strijbos took a first triumph in nine years with a 3-3 finish, Lommel was always going to be a mountain for World Champion Romain Febvre to climb considering the short period of race time the Frenchman was able to clock after recovering from concussion. The Monster Energy Yamaha man went down three times on Saturday but regained some poise and confidence on Sunday to be part of a close fight for the final podium step in the first moto. The Frenchman was just beaten to fourth spot by Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle. Febvre tasted the sand again in the second moto and was distraught to abandon the race in undoubtedly his hardest day since entering MXGP. Desalle meanwhile also suffered a crash while in contention for the overall podium and classified eighth…four spots behind Monster Energy Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek who was fourth and benefitted from some useful engine updates to his works YZ450FM.

“I did some good stuff in the first moto but I made a small mistake in the second one that broke my rhythm and also meant my front brake was jammed a little bit so it was bad for cornering and speed in general; I could never get the rhythm back,” said Desalle, illustrating further the unforgivable nature of Lommel. “I’m really disappointed with that second moto because a podium – and more – would have been possible.”

Petar Petrov at the 2016 MXGP of Belgium
The MX2 class was denied a sandy show of excellence from points leader Jeffrey Herlings – absent for the second Grand Prix in a row due to a right collarbone injury – and the Dutchman’s loss was winner Max Anstie’s gain, as Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Petrov captured third position with results of 2nd and 6th.
Dylan Ferrandis at the 2016 MXGP of Belgium

“I felt good all weekend long and tried not to make the same mistake that I did last year by going too hard on Saturday,” ‘152’ said. “It was cool to lead a few laps in the first moto but I tightened up and dropped back a bit before regrouping and recovering. The second moto was tougher and once you lose the rhythm at this place then it’s ‘over’. I really feel that I should have had a podium by now this season and it should have happened in a few other places.”

 

Petar Petrov at the 2016 MXGP of Belgium
Winner of the Czech GP last week Dylan Ferrandis led the first – rain-hit – MX2 moto until a close move by Kemea Yamaha’s Brent Van Doninck saw the Frenchman crash. Ferrandis then failed to finish with bike trouble. The incident was quickly forgotten as Petrov improved his pace and made sure of a strong (and career-best) second place. Ferrandis atoned for his error with third spot in the second race.
Dylan Ferrandis at the 2016 MXGP of Belgium
The MXGP collective have only a few days to recover and regroup from the exertions of Lommel. The third Grand Prix in as many weeks heads to a new facility at Frauenfeld for the first visit by the FIM series to Switzerland for fifteen years.

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Romain Febvre at the 2017 pre-season race in Sardinia, Italian Championship round one Romain Febvre

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