Under very warm conditions on a tough and technical sand circuit, Monster Energy Yamaha rider and red plate man, Jago Geerts held his nerve in a close battle with main rival Tom Vialle of the Red Bull KTM Factory team as he won the opening MX2 moto. The Belgian really controlled himself in a smooth and very impressive performance.

Jago Geerts: It was a really tough moto, the track is rough and very warm. I managed to win the moto, but Tom pushed me the whole way. The second moto will be even tougher, but I will do my best.

Benistant led the start of the MX2 moto from Geerts, although the Belgian was quickly into the lead ahead of Benistant, Horgmo, Vialle, Mewse, Langenfelder, Adamo, Pancar and Brumann. The field quickly spread out as Geerts got away from Benistant and not too much close racing behind them either.

Vialle moved past Horgmo for third place and Liam Everts back in 17^th spot, just behind Rubini who also had a horrible start to the race. Pancars a mistake and in last spot. Two laps and the lead by Geerts was 3.2 seconds, with Vialle moving past Benistant for second sport and the top ten was Geerts, Vialle, Benistant, Horgmo, Langenfelder, Mewse, Adamo, Haarup, Frederiksen and Brumann 10^th.

Both Geerts and Vialle looking very sharp around this tricky Italian sand track. Everts up to 13^th position just ahead of Rubini and Boegh Damm. Vialle moving closer to Geerts as we prepare for another classic battle with these two talented 250 riders.

After five laps it was Geerts with a 3.6 second lead over Vialle, then Benistant, Langenfelder who had passed Mewse, Mewse next, then Adamo, Haarup, Frederiksen, Brumann, Gifting and Everts into 12^th place.

Adamo moved into sixth place with a pass on Mewse, who again starts to drop through the field and on lap seven it was Geerts now 2.3 seconds ahead of Vialle, followed by Benistant some 13 seconds off the leader, then Langenfelder, Horgmo, Adamo, Mewse, Haarup, Frederiksen and Brumann 10^th.

Suddenly the lead was just 1.7 seconds, but Geerts quickly pushed a little harder to make it 2.5 seconds. Gifting moved past Brumann, with those two and Everts very close together. Not far ahead of them was ninth placed Frederiksen.

Everts into 11^th and really making some nice ground after a poor start, while Horgmo dropped to eight place, handing Mewse sixth and Haarup seventh positions. The lead by Geerts was 2.5 still on lap nine. Gifting all over Frederiksen and Everts closing up on those two.

Mewse out of the race as Everts closes up on Gifting and Frederiksen, a really good ride by the young Belgian. 11 laps in and Geerts lead was 3.1 seconds, then Vialle, Benistant, Langelfelder, Adamo, Haarup, Horgmo, Frederiksen, Gifting and Everts in 10^th. Three way battle between Langenfelder, Horgmo and Haarup, classic GP motocross.

After 13 laps Geerts remained the leader over Vialle with a 1.7 second lead, with Benistant 20 seconds further back, then Langenfelder, Horgmo, Adamo, Haarup, Frederiksen, Gifting and Everts. The final three top ten guys now spread out and no closing racing between them in the final few laps.

Geerts really controlling the race nicely as he clearly has a nice pace and doesn’t seem to need to push too hard. Vaille all over Geerts and the Belgian made a couple of small mistakes, the Belgian still holding his nerve though. Vialle caught up on the Belgian, but then slid over to hand Geerts the win from Vialle and Benistant.

MX2 - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), 34:49.103; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:08.862; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:40.731; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Kawasaki), +0:47.756; 5. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +0:51.807; 6. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:58.997; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GASGAS), +0:59.835; 8. Hakon Fredriksen (NOR, Honda), +1:00.899; 9. Isak Gifting (SWE, KTM), +1:19.140; 10. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +1:26.004; 11. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Yamaha), +1:42.331; 12. Bastian Boegh Damm (DEN, KTM), +2:01.468; 13. Stephen Rubini (FRA, Honda), +2:02.072; 14. Kay Karssemakers (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 15. Jakub Teresak (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Petr Polak (CZE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 17. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Valerio Lata (ITA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Joel Rizzi (GBR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), -8 lap(s); 21. Filip Olsson (SWE, Husqvarna), -14 lap(s);

Roman Borak image