MXGP of Germany preview
TEUTSCHENTHAL (Germany) 16 May 2018 – The 2018 MXGP World Championship continues this weekend at the hilly Teutschenthal circuit for the 8th round of the season, the MXGP of Germany. Only days ago Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli went bar to bar at the MXGP of Latvia but Herlings came out victorious. This weekend the advantage may be in favor of Cairoli however with him historically seeing much more success on the German circuit.
The hard packed Teutschenthal circuit first hosted the FIM Motocross World Championship in 1971 but since has seen several winners. Last year Cairoli topped Herlings in Germany to takes his 5th career victory on the circuit while the now Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP rider, Jeremy Seewer topped the MX2 class ahead ofHonda 114 Motorsport’s Hunter Lawrence and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass.
Also back in action in Germany this weekend is the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship along with the European Championship class of EMX125 presented by FMF Racing. 88 riders have entered into the 125cc racing including series points leader and winner in Latvia, KTM Junior’s Rene Hofer. The women will also host a full gate of riders including defending champion MXFONTARACING Yamaha’s Kiara Fontanesiand current points leader, Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Courtney Duncan.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings comes to Germany after winning the MXGP of Latvia only last Sunday in an impressive performance where he had to come back through the pack after 2 bad starts and pass his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Teammate Antonio Cairoli who led both races from the start.
Cairoli not only won here last year over Herlings but 4 other times in his career while Herlings has been atop the Teutschenthal podium twice in the MX2 category. However Herlings does have the momentum so far this season with the Latvian win being the 5th victory of the 7 races so far.
Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle has maintained his third place in the points standings with a 4th overall in Latvia just after his win in Russia. Desalle won the German GP at Teutschenthal in 2014, was 4th last year, and has reached the podium 3 other times.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre had a mixed weekend in Latvia when he battled with Cairoli for the lead in Race 1 eventually finishing 3rd but then crashed out of Race 2. Febvre, despite his injured right-arm will try to race this weekend and salvage points, the Frenchman did win the GP in 2015 and finished in the top 5 on 3 other occasions.
5th in the Championship at this point of the season is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin. Paulin just scored his second podium of the year last weekend in Latvia and was also on the podium here last year. Paulin has never won the German GP but has come in 2nd twice, in both 2015 and 2011.
Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer is one rider to watch seeing the MXGP rookie topped the MX2 class here in 2017. Also not to forget is Team HRC’s Tim Gajser, who crashed out here in spectacular fashion in 2017 while battling for the win, and TM Factory Racing’s Max Nagl as it will be his home GP.
MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 336 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 307 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 244 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 223 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 218 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 180 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 179 p.; 8. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 177 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 155 p.; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 134 p.
Words and pic: Youthstream
