Who impressed: MXGP & MX2 Faenza 1
Jorge Prado: The youngster is getting closer and closer to a GP win. Two holsehots and leading most of both races, Prado is just missing that extra little bit in the last five minutes to be able to push hard at the end to go with Herlings. He tried to latch onto the Dutchman in race one but tipped over in a corner before dropping from first to sixth in a frantic last five minutes of race two but he is now on that elite level pace.
With no injuries and more bike time, Prado is learning very quickly, and it looks to be only a matter of time before he is winning again. And, if he can keep getting the holeshot he might be the man to force Herlings out of his comfort zone in a few races time to get the wins.
Jeffrey Herlings: You could almost have mistaken Jeffrey Herlings for Antonio Cairoli’s GP title years in Faenza. The Dutchman followed Prado in both motos before making his move at the end of the race and doing just enough both times out to take the win. Herlings still has blistering raw speed but like Cairoli did for years, he is only now using it in bursts and riding within himself to get the win. The days of Herlings trying to win every moto by the biggest gap he can seem to be over, at least most of the time! While the rest are charging at 100% Herlings seems to be at 98% now and it’s working for him.
He now has a 60 point lead and never looked to be pushing above his limit in either moto. He may lose more races than before but consistency is really paying off for Herlings and now the wins are coming as well. This is a dangerous combination for the rest of the field.
Jeremy Seewer: You almost have to feel sorry for Jeremy Seewer. He is riding better than he ever has in his career, he has the pace to win a moto but he just hasn’t had track position to do it yet! He gave in everything in both motos in Faenza and really pushed hard in the last two laps to get Herlings in race two but couldn’t quite get close enough to make the pass. Either way Seewer is in brilliant form and if he keeps pushing and putting himself in these positions a moto win or overall win shouldn’t be too far away.
Dylan Walsh: This was a great performance by Dylan Walsh. To score points in both motos in the most competitive motorcycling series in the world is no mean feat, especially when you came in part way through the season. Walsh told us he would be better on the hard pack at Faenza and he was right and he is making Jacky Martens look a smart man for his fill-in choice. This has been great for both rider and team so far and could get even better as Walsh adapts to MXGP.
MX2
Maxime Renaux: A jubilant Maxime Renaux said it was one of the best days of his life as he took his first ever GP win and it was all the more fulfilling for him because he earnt it the hard way. After injures and bad starts hampered his progression, Renaux got the starts but had to hold off the two main men in the championship, Vialle and Geerts to win the race and the overall. The pressure was on and he delivered with no mistakes and a brilliant win to solidify himself as third in a very competitive championship. And this win might just vault the humble Frenchman’s confidence level up the being consistently there with Geerts and Vialle!
Jago Geerts: Faenza was expected to be advantage Vialle in the championship but Jago showed he is ready to win whatever the conditions with brilliant race win on moto one. Moto two was a slight let down after holeshotting but then running wide, losing a spot to Renaux then letting Vialle bully him out of the way in turn two but a third place was still solid and it brought the overall points gap to Vialle down to just five points. The battle for the world championship is starting to get really intense with the season back in full flow.
Conrad Mewse: The raw talent Conrad Mewse posseses is up there with anyone in the world and he proved it again at Faenza. Qualifying well with a decent start, Mewse was in the battle for third with Vialle and Boisrame all moto, even when he lost time he could catch back up in what was a great performance by the Hitachi KTM fueled by Milwaukee rider. This is where Mewse should be regularly however, two falls in race two limited his result result in that moto but if he keeps getting the starts the consistency should build. It was another top ten overall and another good day that showed Mewse the level he is capable of at GP level.
Jan Pancar: The Slovenian rode superbly in Faenza to take eighth overall. If there was a MXoN this year with Gajser and Pancar Slovenia would be looking really good! The youngster has been plugging away getting better and better but this was a breakthrough ride and very impressive result for the privateer rider on the Racestore KTM.
Article: Jonathan McCready
Images: Gino Maes unless stated
