Victorious Gajser takes Czech GP overall after impressive second moto win

MXGP
Team HRC’s Tim Gajser finally got the overall win at the Loket circuit in the Czech Republic after years of trying, putting in three-one results to spark wild scenes of jubilation amongst the many Slovenian fans who travelled north to support their hero.

After winning the qualification race yesterday, Gajser never looked comfortable in the first moto, eventually coming home in third place, but never really challenging the two riders in front. Knowing that he needed to improve to stand any chance of the elusive victory, the team worked together to get his Honda CRF450R working flawlessly for race two, with him immediately looking more comfortable from the gate-drop.

Rounding the second corner in second place, he stalked the leader for the first half of the race, keeping an eye on his lines before making a forceful move to take over the lead. With the second half of the race still to negotiate, Gajser put his head down and pulled out a clear gap, cruising to a long-awaited and much-deserved maiden overall win at a circuit that hasn’t always been kind to him.

Importantly, after the three races over the weekend, the Slovenian also increased his championship lead to 36 points over his nearest rival, with seven rounds still remaining. Next up, is the treacherous sands of Lommel, Belgium which is known as one of the toughest tracks on the planet and will provide a completely different challenge than the hard-pack hilly terrain of Loket this weekend.

MX2
Ferruccio Zanchi had to pass a lot of riders over the course of this tough weekend in the Czech Republic, posting results of 14-12 for 12^th overall, which wasn’t a completely fair reflection of the speed he showed on track. In race one, he was looking to move into ninth place, when a collision with the rider in front caused him to drop down the field, before he eventually regrouped to finish 14^th. Then in race two, a bad start meant that he had to come from outside the top 20 to work his way up towards the front of the field, making a lot of moves to come home in 12^th place.

There are still things to work on, but determination isn’t one of them and he’ll need every drop of that grit when he takes on the challenge of the deep sand of Lommel in one week’s time.

Race 1
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 33:54.414; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:09.949; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:13.583; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:14.509; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:18.042; 6. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:38.431; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:54.060; 8. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:55.518; 9. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), +1:03.390; 10. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:07.250; … 14. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s);

Race 2
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 33:54.288; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:01.958; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:07.745; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:20.685; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:24.107; 6. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:33.127; 7. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:41.648; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:50.473; 9. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:59.328; 10. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:06.484; … 12. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:46.898;

Overall
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 45 points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 44 p.; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 43 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 34 p.; 6. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 30 p.; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 27 p.; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 24 p.; 10. David Braceras (ESP, FAN), 20 p.; … 12. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 16 p.;