Subverting expectations: Geerts in Grand Prix ‘heaven’

diminutive Geerts was lively with his clutch finger and throttle hand when it counted for the MX2 motos and only a week after teammate Ben Watson had given the Kemea Yamaha squad their first trophy of the campaign #193 was another thrilled podium debutant (Watson was fifth overall).

“A dream race to finish the weekend,” he grinned after he circulated in second position for much of the second moto and eventually jumped through the Finish arch in third spot for the same ranking overall. “My riding was good all weekend. Two solid motos. I had a really good start in the second one.”

At the start of the season Team Manager Marnicq Bervoets modestly hoped Watson would spin regular top eight positions and 2016 Junior World Champ Geerts would simply gain experience from his maiden MX2 term and first with the ‘Blue crew’. Both youngsters have gone above-and-beyond the call, even before MXGP reaches the halfway mark of the twenty round slate. Geerts’ post-race reaction hinted as much. “Third place is still really good for me and not what I expected,” offered the fresh-faced teenager.