Geerts on a irritating day in Switzerland

After an absence of 4 years, the FIM World Championship returned to Frauenfeld, Switzerland. Not – like in 2018 – to the factitious observe subsequent to the sugar manufacturing unit, however to the outdated Schollenholz observe the place a Grand Prix had final taken place in 1983. The Monster Power Yamaha Manufacturing facility MX2-riders instantly felt good on this fairly quick observe. Thibault Benistant took the pole place after a convincing win within the qualifying race on Saturday. World Championship chief Jago Geerts completed third and Rick Elzinga was ninth.
 
Crash Geerts
Within the first moto the Monster Power Yamaha Manufacturing facility MX2-riders got here out of the gate like a rocket. Geerts was main into the primary nook, intently adopted by Benistant (third) and Elzinga (fifth). The championship chief didn’t waste any time and instantly made a spot with the remainder of the pack. Jago gave the impression to be heading to a easy victory. Till in lap 14, when he made a mistake on a bounce and landed subsequent to the observe. The harm was large. Particularly his bike was severely bent. The implications had been laborious: Geerts fell again to seventh.

One lap earlier than, Benistant – who was attacking Van de Moosdijk for the second place – additionally had a small crash. The French rider, who was affected by arm pump, solely misplaced one place and completed fourth. Elzinga, who succeeded to remain in entrance for a while, needed to let go on the finish and crossed the end line in eleventh place.

See Geerts crash at 1 min 21 under:

Geerts: This isn’t the consequence I hoped for. Nonetheless, I can’t complain. The begins had been good, my tempo was glorious too. However that crash within the first moto ruined the whole lot. I nonetheless don’t know precisely what occurred. I adopted the identical observe each lap. However all of a sudden issues went fallacious. Was it a stone that got here free or so? No thought. It was scary. A giant crash. I used to be severely shaken, and my bike was utterly bent. I’m completely satisfied I nonetheless might end seventh. Within the second moto I used to be nonetheless affected by that crash. This week will primarily be about recovering.”

Benistant: “The primary GP-win of the season is a reality. Good! For me and the staff. The 2 motos had been utterly completely different. Within the first moto I used to be using too tight. I used to be affected by arm pump. I attempted to place strain on the leaders, however then I made some small errors and so I needed to let go. I felt quite a bit higher within the second moto, extra relaxed. I made a decision to assault instantly. Efficiently. Geerts saved placing strain on me, till he made a mistake. Then I might cruise to victory.”

Elzinga: “I had a tough weekend in Switzerland. I didn’t actually really feel snug on this observe. My begins had been nonetheless excellent. Within the early phases I might observe the leaders, however then I cramped up. I suffered quite a bit from arm pump, and was compelled to decelerate my tempo. Actually irritating. The races now observe one another in a short time. Subsequent weekend Pietramurata is already on this system. I made my GP debut there final yr. Instantly seventh. A pleasant consequence. Maybe the best spot to relaunch myself.”

Phrases and picture: Yamaha