The big story for this weekend’s GP is Jago Geerts, just three weeks after breaking his wrist in that violent fall in France will try and brave the pain to save a world title he looked like he was cruising towards.
After the bitter blow of losing the 2022 title in the final round when Vialle himself crashed and collected Geerts, allowing Vialle to get up first and win, Jago has now had to deal with the fact he had a big points lead in 2023 and one rough downhill tried to end his hopes of ever winning an MX2 world title as he ages out this season.
Vialle told Racer X just this week that if he can get to the speed he and Jago were riding in 2022, he can win in America outdoors, but that he isn’t there yet (and he’s already had two third places) that’s the level Jago has been riding at and why, if he doesn’t win this world title, there will be a void of what should have been. But you have to make it happen and Jago is showing he is not going down without a fight, this will be painful, but at least he will have no regrets. He’s leaving it all out there.
Kay de Wolf leads the championship on 367, Geerts teammate Benistant is on 348 with Adamo sandwiched in second on 355. Geerts is currently fourth on 319 with van de Moosdijk fifth not far behind on 303. All five will think they have a shot at the title, but Geerts is still within 50 and if he can brave the pain and not do anymore damage this weekend to the plated wrist, it might be the ride that vaults him to his first world title, but it might be the hardest weekend of his life.
Don’t forget about Lucas Coenen who should have won race two last weekend and Liam Everts who looks on the cusp of a victory if he can sort his starts but all eyes will be on how Jago Geerts can cope with the pain in a bid to save his title dream.
In the MXGP class, Jeffrey Herlings, also no stranger to riding in pain to try and save a world title, has the lead down to 15 points on Jorge Prado, can he get more points on the fast starting Spaniard in Germany?
Prado ran down Herlings on Saturday in Latvia and looked the best he had all year but couldn’t make the pass and it was Herlings who caught and passed Prado twice on Sunday to go 1-1 with Prado admitting he was “pissed off” to lose the first moto. Romain Febvre should be a threat in Germany, the track suits him well and he still has an outside shot at title if Prado and Herlings have probelms but starts can be key there and once again that is where Prado shines. But can he find the speed that Herlings has when Herlings hits beast mode?
Jeremy Van Horebeek will be back as he replaces the injured Pauls Jonass and Jeremy Seewer, Ruben Fernandez and Glenn Coldenhoff can never be discounted with Alberto Forato currently in the form of his life and putting his privateer machine close to the top five but all eyes will be on the title battle between Herlings and Prado!
Image: Bavo
Article: Jonathan McCready