A very inconsistent Mantova circuit that was unusually hard pack in places made concentration vital with riders moving from sand berms to slick sections and choppy bumps to create a very challenging circuit and lots of incidents.
Mantova is never easy to pass and sometimes a little elbow grease is needed but Toendel’s move on Bonacorsi in EMX250 was brutal and left the Yamaha rider hitting the deck hard as Rick Elzinga took the win with rookie Osterhagen impressing mightily in fourth on the Fantic and in the battle for second right to the flag.
The big story in MX2 was the aggressive pass that Tom Vialle made on Simon Laegenfelder for second place that left the Gas Gas rider on the deck as well as Roan Van de Moosdijk who had nowhere to go and ran over the German before hitting the ground hard on his shoulder. Both riders winced in pain but were, in time, able to remount. Up front it was Jago Geerts who controlled the race after an early pass on Laegenfelder kept him away from the carnage.
MXGP was the Tim Gajser show as the Honda man ran away with the win over Jeremy Seewer. Jorge Prado didn’t get his usual holeshot but worked his way into third but right behind him in maybe his best MXGP ride so far was Thomas Kjer Oksen who got a decent start and rode with some new-found intensity to hold off a determined but bad starting Renaux at the end while being right on the back wheel of Prado.
It wasn’t the race Glenn Coldenhoff wanted. He started well in the top three but seemed to lose his rhythm (arm pump?) and just about held onto a top ten in a very competitive class where any weakness is pounced on. Arminas Jasikonis had a great ride on the track that almost cost him his life with a top ten and, along with the once again fast Forato, putting a lot of pressure on Coldenhoff.
In the WMX Valk took a very strong win, passing defending champ Duncan to do it with Van de Ven also getting the best of the Kiwi for second.
There is going to be some great racing tomorrow – and maybe some scores to settle!
Article: Jonathan McCready
Image: InFront Moto Racing
