Red Bull KTM rider Marvin Musquin has won the Grand Prix of Czech Republic and moved a step closer to that all important second World MX2 Championship. The Frenchman went 2-1 beating home Ken Roczen who went 1-2.
Third overall was Gautier Paulin of the Monster Energy Yamaha team. Musquin kept his championship points lead at 78 with just three Grand Prix's remaining.
Ken Roczen led the MX2 riders into the opening lap of the first race of the day. Behind Roczen was Simpson, Herlings, and Roelants.
Further back came Jeremy Van Horebeek, Marvin Musquin, Christophe Charlier, Harri Kullas, Zach Osborne and young British rider Mel Pocock in 10th place. Pocock soon dropped back to 20th place after a mistake.
Roczen was on fire as he clicked off some really good lap times and pulled well away from the battle for second between Simspon, Herlings , Roelants and Musquin. Musquin was pushing hard to get past Roelants.
Pocock pulled into the pits and was out of the race, while also out was Michael Leig and Valentin Teillet. Frossard who had gone down in turn two was up to 21st place but in real danger of losing his third place spot to Herlings in the championship standings.
After six laps Roczens lead was 15 seconds, with Herlings now 10 seconds behind Simpson, and Musquin pushing the back wheel of the Dutchman. Behind Herlings and Musquin were Roelants and Van Horebeek, both battling for a spot on the Belgian MXoN team. Musquin passed Herlings on and up-hill section moving into third place.
After eight laps the top ten was Roczen, Simpson, Musquin, Herlings, Roelants, Van Horebeek, Charlier, Kullas, Osborne and Paulin.
Musquin was on fire as he pulled in Shaun Simpson and started looking for a way past. The two got into a great battle as Musquin went past, but Simpson fought back to nearly pass the Frenchman back again. Simpson didn’t give up although Musquin looked to be a little more in control of the situation.
Musquin drifted off the circuit and got a little out of control, while Simpson continued to put pressure on the World Champion.
Simpson began to loses places as Herlings and Van Horbeek passed him, and Osborne also dropped out of the top ten. Frossard moved up to 15th place.
Mean while Van Horebeek was putting on a charge as he started looking for a way around Herlings. Up front Roczen was totally dominating with a lead of 40 seconds.
Roczen took his third win from four motos and raised his hands in the air, second was Musquin, then came Herlings.
Ken Roczen comment
“It was awesome, this morning in warm-up I didn’t feel good, but in the race I got a good start and felt really good and just rode my own race. It feels awesome.”
Marvin Musquin comments
“The start is strange and I was outside, I started good was second or third, but Frossard was crazy and crashed in front of me and I missed many second and was 8th or something. I rode good, this track isn’t easy, I need a good start in the second moto. Ken rode good, and I had difficulty passing Shaun and Jeffrey.”
Jeffrey Herlings comments
“My start was great, I was second, then third for a long time and Marvin passed me and I passed Shaun back, This isn’t my favorite track, I want to do good in the second race and maybe get a podium.”
MX2 Moto two and a big crash took down a handful of riders, although Musquin took the lead ahead of Christophe Charlier, but Charlier had a huge crash and Herlings also went down with a shoulder injury.
Musquin led from Paulin, Simpson, Tonus, and Frossard in fifth. Roczen quickly passed Paulin and set out after the leader.
Roczen and Musquin got into a nice little battle and Roczen made an nice inside pass on Musquin for the lead and then just moved away. Soon after Roczen crashed out and Musquin took the lead.
Further back it was Paulin in third place followed by Frossard, Simpson, Van Horebeek, Tonus, Osborne, Roelants, and Teillet in 10th place.
Roczen came back onto Musquin and once again the two got into a great battle. Corner after corner Roczen hounded Musquin, looking for a way past. Musquin held Roczen out for the win and the Grand Prix win.
Marvin Musquin comments
“Today was better than last year. It is good for my confidence also for the championship. I knew if I took the holeshot I could win, I had the lead and I am a little tired. I saw Ken behind me and I was working hard. I wanted to let him pass, and I did that, but then he crashed and he came back on me, it’s really good. I broke my engine here, so it’s nice to win this year."
Ken Roczen comments
"The helmet (Roczen had a old style helmet on his head on the podium) is from my friends, we did some crazy stuff just for some fun. It was a tough race, I wanted so much to win."
Gautier Paulin comments
"I am really happy to be back, I had a bad start in the second moto and always coming back. I did one good moto and one bad moto, and that isn't good. When I can start at the front I have the speed to race up front. I need to practice my starts."
Grand Prix of Czech Republic – Results
MX2 Moto One: 1. Ken Roczen (Suz); 2. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Kaw); 5. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 6. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 7. Christophe Charlier (Yam); 8. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 9. Joel Roelants (KTM); 10. Harri Kullas (Yam); 11. Zach Osborne (Yam); 12. Matiss Karro (Suz); 13. Martin Michek ™; 14. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 15. Dennis Verbruggen (KTM)
MX2 Moto two: 1. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 2. Ken Roczen (Suz); 3. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 4. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Kaw); 6. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 7. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 8. Zach Osborne (Yam); 9. Joel Roelants (KTM); 10. Valentin Teillet (KTM); 11. Harri Lullas (Yam); 12. Alesandro Lupino (Yam); 13. Martin Michek (TM); 14. Dennis Verbruggen (KTM); 15. Mattis Karro (Suz)
MX2 Overall: 1. Marvin Musquin 47pts, 2. Ken Roczen 47pts, 3. Gautier Paulin 35pts, 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek 34pts, 5. Shaun Simpson 31pts, 6. Arnaud Tonus 27pts, 7. Steven Frossard 25pts, 8. Joel Roelants 24pts, 9. Zach Osborne 23pts, 10. Harri Kullas 21pts, 11. Jeffrey Herlings 20pts, 12. Martin Michek 16pts, 13. Matiss Karro 15pts, 14. Alessandro Lupino 14pts, 15. Christophe Charlier 14pts
MX2 Championship points: 1. Musquin 527pts, 2. Roczen 449pts, 3. Frossard 404pts, 4. Herlings 391pts, 5. Simpson 329pts, 6. Osborne 313pts, 7. Van Horebeek 302pts, 8. Joel Roelants 298pts, 9. Arnaud Tonus 293pts, 11. Gautier Paulin 235pts, 12. Jake Nicholls 198pts, 13. Christophe Charlier 193pts, 14. Dennis Verbruggen 148pts, 15. Alessandro Lupino 143pts
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