Vlaanderen bounces back with fourth place in second Swiss moto

Calvin Vlaanderen’s MXGP of Switzerland has not been an easy one, as the standard bearer of Team HRC in the MX2 World Championship got away with a fourth-place finish in race two at Frauenfeld after being forced to pull out of the first moto due to a technical issue. With no weekend off, the young rider from Cape Town will have an immediate chance to bounce back as the series moves to Bulgaria for the seventeenth round of the season – which takes place at Sevlievo on August 26-27.

Calvin did not get the best jump out of the gate and was fifteenth as the MX2 field attacked the early corners of the moto. With some convincing overtaking manoeuvres, he managed to rise up to seventh place, before an electrical problem forced him to an early retirement on lap four.

Vlaanderen had a better start out of the gate in race two and from seventh place he quickly made his way up to fourth, and then on lap three he managed to overtake Ben Watson for third place. Five laps later, however, Vlaanderen was passed by Hunter Lawrence; despite being unable to stay in touch with the fellow Honda rider, he kept a solid pace and was fourth as the race drew to a close.