MXGP

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser won an eventful MXGP of France after a second-moto rain deluge to take-back the MXGP championship lead once again, and show that when the conditions get tough, the Honda CRF450R rider rises to the occasion.

There was initial confusion after the race as the FIM officials had to assess some yellow flag penalties handed out to other riders, but once those had been sorted out, it was confirmed that the #243 was the victor of the 2024 MXGP of France, after his one-four results.

In race one, when the track surface was back to it’s usual rutted, hard-pack self, Gajser put on a clinic to take his third moto victory of the season, moving quickly from third into first and pulling out a comfortable margin when he crossed the finish line. Winning that race gave him the virtual red-plate as he came into this GP tied, but he knew he’d have to perform in a similar fashion in race two if he wanted to leave the hillside venue of St Jean D’Angely grasping the actual plaque.

One hour before their gate-drop, the predicted rain hit the track in full force, turning the surface into mud and puddles, just like in the qualification race yesterday. This time around he got stuck in third place, and with the wet roost, and the single fast-line, he found himself unable to move forward and gain the positions that would have 100%-secured him the overall. Instead, with time running out to make a move, he ended up making a mistake on a downhill and remounted down in sixth place, which is where he eventually crossed the finish line. However, the FIM officials had spotted that the two riders in front of him had jumped on yellow flags, which moved him up into fourth and gave him enough points to take his first overall of this 2024 campaign.

The Slovenian now holds a five-point gap over his closest rival as they head into an off-weekend, before the series returns on June 1-2 for the MXGP of Germany in Teutschenthal, another track which Gajser has a good history on and one where he’ll once again have the red-plate adorning his Honda CRF450R.

 

MX2

Ferruccio Zanchi put in two excellent rides in changing conditions, going seven-eight for seventh overall in a very challenging MXGP of France. The youngster belied his years by riding smoothly in both dry and wet conditions, putting in a number of moves on the first lap to get himself well inside the top 10 and then holding on with some solid laptimes.

Considering it is only the Italians’ fourth GP, he is already becoming a staple performer in and around the top 10, and as he gets more and more bike-time, he’ll be looking to progress even further up the race standings at every opportunity. Next up will be the MXGP of Germany, where Zanchi won a moto in the EMX250 class, so he’ll be using this weekend off to prepare for that, before heading to Teutschenthal with even more confidence.

Race 1
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 35:26.564;
2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:10.145;
3. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:16.488;
4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:23.556;
5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:30.241;
6. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:47.461;
7. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:12.661;
8. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:14.544;
9. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Fantic), +1:22.605;
10. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +1:24.602;

Race 2
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 34:49.450;
2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:24.167;
3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:29.849;
4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:35.695;
5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:38.711;
6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +1:03.981;
7. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:09.865;
8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:13.200;
9. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +1:15.240;
10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:27.202;

Overall
1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 50 points;
2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 42 p.;
3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 40 p.;
4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 38 p.;
5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 31 p.;
6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 31 p.;
7. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 27 p.;
8. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 24 p.;
9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM),
21 p.; 10. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 21 p.;

Tim Gajser 243

The circumstances aren’t how I’d like to win a GP, but I’m happy to take the overall as I felt my riding was good in what were extremely difficult conditions. The early-race passes in race one were very important as this track isn’t easy to make moves on, but once I got out front I was able to control the race and won with a nice gap. Then in race two, I felt confident about my skills in the wet, but I just wasn’t able to get the same passes done and instead ate a lot of roost trying to pass the rider in front. I thought that my mistake had cost me the overall, but as it turns out, I still was able to take the win and the red-plate. A big thanks to the whole team for their help as it wasn’t an easy one but I’m very happy and excited to go to Germany now.

Ferruccio Zanchi 73

I’m really happy with my riding over this weekend. There were some really difficult conditions over this weekend and to come away with race results of nine-seven-eight is something I’m very proud of. I just tried to keep a good pace throughout every race and minimise the mistakes when it was wet. I wasn’t perfect but overall, it was a good pace and a confidence boost for wet-weather riding. I’m also happy with my starts and we’ll continue to build-upon those as the season progresses.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas

HRC General Manager - MXGP

Another crazy GP with the weather and the racing, but we are all extremely pleased with Tim’s performance and delighted for him to take the win and for him to get the red-plate. He has ridden extremely well this year, without perhaps the credit he deserves so this was a long-time coming and a great confidence boost in this difficult part of the season. We now have a weekend off before another triple-header so the work keeps going but this is a great moment for everyone in Team HRC and we will make sure to enjoy it.
We also very pleased with the progress that Ferruccio is making this year. This was only his fourth GP, and in very difficult conditions against much more experienced riders and he has riding extremely well, keeping composed and not over-riding the bike. We will keep working to get even better, but so far he has exceeded our expectations.

MXGP 2024
Race Round 7   France

Race 1

Cloudy
Air Temp
15°C
Track Cond
Rutted
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 25 Team HRC - MXGP Honda 35:12.805
2 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 22 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing GasGas 0:06.468
3 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 20 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki 0:19.064
4 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 18 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki 0:22.952
5 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 16 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda 0:24.196
6 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 15 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0:24.659
7 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 14 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha 0:36.055
8 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 13 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic 0:53.738
9 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 12 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic 0:54.945
10 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 11 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha 0:55.416
11 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 10 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda 0:58.639
12 Paturel Benoit FRA 9 1:17.397
13 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 8 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Husqvarna 1:19.301
14 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 7 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team KTM 1:19.842
15 Tropepe Giuseppe ITA 6 1:30.216
16 Watson Ben 919 GBR 5 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 1:35.391
17 Gilbert Josh 326 GBR 4 Gabriel SS24 KTM KTM 1:52.205
18 Monticelli Ivo 128 ITA 3 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 1:57.611
19 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 2 SixtySeven Racing Team Husqvarna 2:02.709
20 Scheu Mark GER 1 1 Lap
MXGP 2024
Race Round 7   France

Race 2

Raining
Air Temp
15°C
Track Cond
Mud
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 25 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 36:25.903
2 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 22 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki 0:06.998
3 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 20 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda 0:26.722
4 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 18 Team HRC - MXGP Honda 1:02.795
5 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 16 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing GasGas 1:15.842
6 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 15 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki 0:45.220
7 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 14 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda 0:48.024
8 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 13 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha 1:25.419
9 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 12 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha 1:32.962
10 Paturel Benoit FRA 11 1:39.492
11 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 10 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda 1:48.893
12 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 9 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic 1:58.829
13 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 8 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic 2:05.562
14 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 7 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team KTM 1 Lap
15 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 6 SixtySeven Racing Team Husqvarna 1 Lap
16 Monticelli Ivo 128 ITA 5 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 1 Lap
17 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 4 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Husqvarna 1 Lap
18 Nickel Cato 131 GER 3 Wildcard Rider Husqvarna 1 Lap
19 Gilbert Josh 326 GBR 2 Gabriel SS24 KTM KTM 1 Lap
20 Watson Ben 919 GBR 1 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta 1 Lap
MXGP 2024

Rider standings

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor
1 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 348 Team HRC - MXGP Honda
2 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 343 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing GasGas
3 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 319 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki
4 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 287 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM
5 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 253 Standing Construct Honda MXGP Honda
6 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 234 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP Kawasaki
7 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 223 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha
8 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 200 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic
9 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 145 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda
10 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 130 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda
11 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 112 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP Fantic
12 Watson Ben 919 GBR 105 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta
13 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 91 Schmicker Racing KTM
14 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 79 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team KTM
15 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 77 JK Racing Yamaha Active Yamaha
16 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 63 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha
17 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 61 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team Yamaha
18 Paturel Benoit FRA 61
19 Östlund Alvin SWE 56
20 Monticelli Ivo 128 ITA 54 MRT Racing Team Beta Beta
21 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 47 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Husqvarna
22 Koch Tom GER 40
23 Spies Maximillian GER 27
24 Sterry Adam GBR 25
25 Gilbert Josh 326 GBR 16 Gabriel SS24 KTM KTM
26 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 15 SixtySeven Racing Team Husqvarna
27 Edberg Tim 37 SWE 13 JM Honda Racing Honda
28 Haavisto Jere FIN 8
29 Valentin Ander SPA 7
30 Scuteri Emilio 228 ITA 6 Wildcard Rider Honda
31 Tropepe Giuseppe ITA 6
32 Kellet Todd GBR 5
33 Van Berkel Lars NDL 5
34 Cordovez Miguel ECU 4
35 Aparecido dos Santos Fabio 238 BRA 3 Wildcard Rider Yamaha
36 Nickel Cato 131 GER 3 Wildcard Rider Husqvarna
37 Nagy Anton 60 SWE 3 Wildcard Rider Yamaha
38 Rolando Nicolas URU 2
39 Benenaula Andres ECU 1
40 Villaronga Sergio CHI 1
41 Scheu Mark GER 1
42 van de Moosdijk Roan 39 NDL 0 Team HRC - MXGP Honda
43 Grimshaw Tom GBR 0
Location Information

84 Rue de Poursay, 17400 Mazeray, France - View in Google Maps