Fernandez prepares for Latvia, as Gajser resumes riding
Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez is preparing for the MXGP of Latvia, after a weekend off from the world championship series, meanwhile back in Slovenia, Tim Gajser has started riding again at his Tiga243land track after over three months off due to his broken femur he sustained at the Italian International at Pietramurata in February.
For Fernandez, Kegums holds a lot of great memories as it is the venue where he got his first ever MXGP podium last year, and the likable Spaniard will be hoping to get up on the box once again after just missing out in France last time out. Despite that disappointment, it was actually a positive sign of just how much the Honda CRF450R rider has improved because it was terrain where he never really felt comfortable, yet he rode smart and consistent and just put in two solid results.
Kegums is a pretty unique surface as riders have to get used to a soft top layer early on in the weekend before they reach the hard base underneath. This makes bike setup crucial, but it is something that Fernandez was able to do well in previous years and expects to be able to do again. Currently sitting joint-third in the MXGP championship, with a win at the opening round in Patagonia-Argentina, 2023 has been good for Fernandez and he’ll be hoping to continue that form this coming weekend.
Things have also got better for reigning MXGP champion Tim Gajser as the #243 finally got back on his Honda CRF450R after his injury layoff. Recovering patiently from his broken right femur, the Slovenian has been doing all the rehab necessary in order to make this moment happen, and now he’s finally been able to spin a few laps of his famous Tiga243land track. It is still too early to make a decision on when he’ll take his next gate-drop, but this is a positive step in his recovery and is great news for all his fans around the world.
Ruben Fernandez 70
Kegums is one of my favourite tracks. It’s kind of sandy but also a little bit hard-pack but I like the terrain and I’ve done well there in the past. France was a difficult race for me, but I was still able to fourth overall so I’m happy with that, however now I’m looking to push once more for the podium spots and keep this run of good form going.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
It was good to have a weekend off, just reassess and plan and make sure things are where they need to be. Ruben has been in good form recently so we didn’t need to change things too much, but there are always little things that can be done to improve and that’s what we’ve been trying to do. He likes Latvia and he’s confident there, so we are looking for him to get back on the podium once again.
Also, there was positive news with Tim as he is back riding the bike again. It’s been a long break for him to have off, but he’s taken another step towards getting back to racing. Obviously, that is still a little way away as he needs to make sure that there are no problems from riding but overall it is great to see him training and we are excited for when he gets to return.
Rider standings
| Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Points | Team | Constructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prado Garcia Jorge | 61 | SPA | 342 | Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing | GasGas |
| 2 | Herlings Jeffrey | 84 | NDL | 318 | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM |
| 3 | Febvre Romain | 3 | FRA | 263 | Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP | Kawasaki |
| 4 | Fernandez Ruben | 70 | SPA | 263 | Team HRC - MXGP | Honda |
| 5 | Seewer Jeremy | 91 | SWI | 243 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha |
| 6 | Vlaanderen Calvin | 10 | NDL | 226 | Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing | Yamaha |
| 7 | Coldenhoff Glenn | 959 | NDL | 217 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha |
| 8 | Guadagnini Mattia | 101 | ITA | 203 | Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing | GasGas |
| 9 | Renaux Maxime | 959 | FRA | 202 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha |
| 10 | Guillod Valentin | 92 | SWI | 162 | Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz | Honda |
| 11 | Forato Alberto | 303 | ITA | 158 | SM Action Racing Team Yuasa Battery | KTM |
| 12 | van Doninck Brent | 32 | BEL | 112 | JM Honda Racing | Honda |
| 13 | Paturel Benoit | 6 | FRA | 106 | De Baets Yamaha MX-Team | Yamaha |
| 14 | Bogers Brian | 189 | NDL | 98 | Standing Construct Honda MXGP | Honda |
| 15 | Watson Ben | 919 | GBR | 87 | MRT Racing Team Beta | Beta |
| 16 | Lupino Alessandro | 77 | ITA | 85 | MRT Racing Team Beta | Beta |
| 17 | Östlund Alvin | 161 | SWE | 68 | JWR Honda Racing | Honda |
| 18 | Jonass Pauls | 41 | LAT | 56 | Standing Construct Honda MXGP | Honda |
| 19 | Koch Tom | 226 | GER | 54 | KTM Kosak Team | KTM |
| 20 | Evans Mitch | 43 | AUS | 33 | Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP | Kawasaki |
| 21 | Spies Maximillian | 71 | GER | 30 | KTM Kosak Team | KTM |
| 22 | Rubini Stephen | 38 | FRA | 27 | Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz | Honda |
| 23 | Brumann Kevin | 87 | SWI | 21 | JK Racing Yamaha Active | Yamaha |
| 24 | Roosiorg Hardi | 75 | EST | 14 | JWR Honda Racing | Honda |
| 25 | Ivanov Michael | 97 | BUL | 11 | Wildcard Rider | Husqvarna |
| 26 | Goupillon Pierre | 57 | FRA | 10 | Wildcard Rider | KTM |
| 27 | Jacobi Henry | GER | 9 | |||
| 28 | Sterry Adam | 811 | GBR | 9 | Wildcard Rider | KTM |
| 29 | Tonus Arnaud | SWI | 8 | |||
| 30 | Dickinson Ashton | 115 | GBR | 8 | Wildcard Rider | KTM |
| 31 | Petrov Petar | BUL | 7 | |||
| 32 | Scheu Mark | 991 | GER | 5 | Wildcard Rider | Husqvarna |
| 33 | Poli Joaquin | 179 | ARG | 5 | Wildcard Rider | Kawasaki |
| 34 | Mewse Conrad | 426 | GBR | 4 | Wildcard Rider | Honda |
| 35 | Alberto Paulo | POR | 4 | |||
| 36 | Purdon Tristan | 141 | RSA | 3 | Wildcard Rider | KTM |
| 37 | Malaval Adrien | FRA | 2 | |||
| 38 | Croci Simone | 771 | ITA | 2 | Wildcard Rider | Husqvarna |
| 39 | Poli Agustin | 98 | ARG | 1 | Wildcard Rider | Kawasaki |
| 40 | Ubach Simeo | 724 | SPA | 1 | Wildcard Rider | Husqvarna |
| 41 | Van Berkel Lars | 107 | NDL | 1 | Wildcard Rider | Honda |
| 42 | Jasikonis Arminas | 2 | LTU | 1 | Wildcard Rider | GasGas |
| 43 | Clochet Jimmy | 520 | FRA | 0 | Wildcard Rider | Honda |
| 44 | Sandner Michael | 766 | AUT | 0 | Wildcard Rider | KTM |
| 45 | Outeiro Luis | 147 | POR | 0 | Wildcard Rider | Yamaha |
Location Information
Zelta Zirgs mototrase, Rembates pagasts, Ķegums Municipality, Latvia - View in Google Maps
