Swedish GP - Rider Comments

Posted on August 08, 2022

Monster Energy Yamaha again dominated the Grand Prix of Sweden, with Jeremy Seewer taking his 10th Grand Prix in his career and his fifth in the MXGP class. Jago Geerts remains the man in the MX2 class with his solid points lead over Tom Vialle, and Tim Gajser has one hand on the 2022 MXGP championship to take his fifth World motocross championship and join the likes of Roger De Coster, Eric Geboers, Georges Jobe, Joel Smets and Jeffrey Herlings in a very elite group of riders.

Jeremy Seewer: "I had two good starts today, and that is really important. Taking a holeshot in the second race makes it easier, especially on this track, because passing is super difficult. I won the GP, so it was an amazing weekend. There are three rounds to go now, so I just want to keep going and collect as many first-place trophies as possible."

Glenn Coldenhoff: "We made some changes today and it definitely worked out, so I am just grateful to the team. We had a dream finish for Yamaha with the three of us going first, second and third... Although I wish the order that we finished was different. Still, it says something. I am happy to be here on the podium again. It's always good to be here."

Tim Gajser: To come away with second overall is a solid result, but it was a little frustrating because the track was just so difficult to pass on. In both races, there wasn’t a pass in the top five after the first lap, so when I didn’t get the best start in race one, it really hurt my chances to win my ninth overall of the season. However, it is another race down and I’m still in a really strong position in the championship so I just need to keep the level high and aim for the win in Finland next weekend.

Jago Geerts: “I’m really happy about the way I rode today. In the second race, I needed to take a few laps to find my flow and the best lines, but in the end, I managed to make some good passes to win the GP. I also kept the lead in the championship, so it was a really positive weekend for me. I am really looking forward to returning to the sand next weekend in Finland and for the final three races of the season.”

Tom Vialle: “I felt good all weekend on the track and the first moto was going great. I could control the gap and had five-six seconds ahead of Jago but it was my turn to make a mistake in the second one and I had to work to catch both of them: Jago and Simon. The track was tough to pass and we were pushing; the speed was high. I didn’t find a spot to overtake. I’m a bit disappointed because I would have liked to have won the GP but the points remain the same. It’s only 23 and it’s not much. Any mistake can count a lot but all I can do it my own race in the GPs to come and see what happens.”

Simon Langenfelder: "I'm back on the box, which I'm happy about. I got a good start in the first race but was sleeping a little bit, so went back to fourth and then I was stuck there. Going into the second race, I took the holeshot on my MC 250F and just tried to do well. In the first twenty minutes, I rode really well. I made some mistakes after that and lost some ground. All in all, it was a good weekend. I'm looking forward to the next three rounds."

Jorge Prado: "Actually, it has been a good weekend. I was happy with my riding and I felt much better, so I am sad that the result does not show how good I was. I was competitive this weekend and could have won with a good start. I had some bad starts, which was unusual, and had to make a lot of passes at the start of each moto. I am happy with my riding and the progress that we have made as a team. I had fun!"

Mitch Evans: After winning yesterday’s qualification race, I really felt like I could have been on the podium today, but unfortunately I made a small mistake on the first lap of race one and that cost me. I fought back from near the back of the field, and worked my way up to 10th, which on this track wasn’t easy, so that was a good recovery, but I really hoped for more. Still, in race two, I made up for that with a strong fourth place finish, my best moto result of the season so that felt really good and gives me confidence that I can battle for the podium spots in these last three GPs of the season.

Maxime Renaux: "It's really frustrating. I had the perfect start to the day with a top start and a race win after leading the whole race, but I came together with another rider and crashed in the second moto. Some riders rode over me, so I was a little bit bruised. I tried to continue, but I could not hold the handlebars and I had to stop. It's disappointing, but luckily no injuries and I will be ready to return in Finland."

Thibault Benistant: “It was not an easy weekend for me. In the first race, I started around sixth but made a mistake on the first lap. I took some time to find my rhythm out there, but once I found it, I could return to P.6. In the second race, I got a good start. I was second and pushing to make a gap on the faster guys, but I fell and hurt my shoulder a little bit. At the end of the race, I was feeling better, but it was already too late, but I still managed to do some good laps, so I am looking forward to the next one.”

Romain Febvre: “Today it was even more difficult than usual to make a pass; we saw that there were not so many passes by anyone in either race. It was frustrating because it was so difficult to pass anyone unless the rider in front of you made a mistake. I was unhappy with my first start as the gate moved a little before it finally dropped and that cost me; I could make some passes during the first lap but then there was nothing to do and I stayed seventh until I could finally make a move on the last lap. I had a good speed in the second race and nearly passed Gajser a couple of times but he didn’t make any mistakes and I was stuck in third. Next weekend the track will be different; I raced there a few years ago and it’s sandy but not deep sand. I have the speed now and I can keep the same rhythm throughout the entire moto so with a good start I know that it’s possible to offer the team a win or at least a podium."

Kevin Horgmo: “It took me some time to find my rhythm in practice yesterday but I turned it around in Qualifying so I had a good feeling coming into today and got the holeshot in race one. I tried to follow Vialle and Geerts when they came past but they were just a little too fast for me and I ended up third. Still, that was a good race for me. I stood a little more to the inside on the gate for race two and got squeezed going into the first corner. I also rode a little tense during the first few laps and then had a small crash so I ended up fifth. It would have been nice to be the podium in front of my family and friends but it was not to be. Perhaps I can make it for them next week. I saw a lot of familiar faces this weekend and I want to thank them all for their support; some Norwegian fans told me on Saturday they were enjoying it so much they had already booked tickets for Finland. “

Mikkel Haarup: “In many ways we had a good weekend with a lot of positives. It was nice to get back into racing and feel comfortable on the bike; there were a couple of things I wished I had done differently in my races but the most important thing is that I never gave up. I was fifth in the end but I felt I was capable of more; a couple of mistakes kept me away from better results but I kept it on two wheels. I got a little frustrated at times because I felt I had the pace to do more but it’s not easy to pass here and I got caught behind other riders. But we’re back in it after a couple of difficult GPs and have closed a few points on fifth in the standings so let’s carry that on through the last three GPs. “

Ben Watson: “It was quite a tough weekend. I expected more after Loket because they are pretty similar tracks but I made a small mistake in Qualifying so I didn’t have the best of gate-picks for today. I got a great start in race one but I just got destroyed through the first two laps to go backwards from fourth to fifteenth; I just didn’t have the intensity in the opening laps and that was so important here. I had some better laps at the end of the race so I was quietly confident for race two but my start wasn’t the best this time and then there was an unfortunate incident when I landed on Renaux on the first lap. I made some good passes from the back but the result wasn’t what I wanted. “

Stephen Rubini: After Saturday’s crash I was in so much pain that I was unsure if I would ride on Sunday. It was such along weekend for me. My neck and shoulders hurt so much. In fact my whole upper body hurts. The worse thing was trying to race like this, but I knew there could be some good points so I tried my best and came away with 11th overall. It was a tough, long and painful weekend and I’m not sure so many riders would race with how I felt, but I did it and I’m proud of myself for getting through the weekend. I will try to get some physiotherapy and try my best in Finland. 

Pauls Jonass: "I always like this track and I enjoy racing here! I am quite good in these conditions, but I just did not feel like myself this weekend. I am happy with how I rode at points, but I also know that I can be so much better. It is frustrating at the moment, sure, but I am just going to keep working hard with my team."

Brian Bogers: "I struggled today, to be honest. I had bad starts and we know that I am not a great starter. I stalled the bike in the first turn and managed to climb back to fifteenth, but I am not happy with these results. It was not a bad day for the championship though and we are closing in on the rider in sixth place."

Kay de Wolf: "It was a tough day. I hit a marshal's flag with my hand yesterday, so today was about survival. I had a bad start in the first moto and came back to seventh. I had a slightly better start in the second moto and did my own thing. It was an intense race; we were all going so fast and doing exactly the same pace. I went 7-7, so it was a good day. Onto Finland!"

Roan van de Moosdijk: "I felt really good today. I was fifth in the first moto, but then I had an issue and a little crash that put me thirteenth. I was fifth in the second moto and battled hard for fourth. I had a small gap behind me, because another rider crashed, so I kept pushing and finished in that spot. That was good; I was very happy about that."

Kay Karssemakers: "I did not get such a good start in the first moto, but I came back to tenth. The speed was good and so was my fight until the end! I made quick passes in the second moto and the first half of the race was very good. I had a bad stomach ache after that and could not push like I wanted to, so I finished in thirteenth place. The riding was good all weekend!"

Valentin Guillod: “Today was a good day, but it could have been better. I was sixth in the first race and [Romain] Febvre passed me on the last lap. I did everything to get him back and made a mistake, which made me sad. I took the holeshot in that race too! I got taken out in the second moto, so then I was pushing very hard to come back. I made another mistake after that and then I charged to come back to twelfth. It was possible to do better, without those mistakes, but we will try to make that happen in Turkey.”
 
Kevin Brumann: “I had a bad start in the first race and came back to twentieth. It was not too bad, actually. My speed was there. My start was not too good in the second moto, but I tried to stay in the flow again and then I had a bike problem that stopped me from finishing the race. That was a shame, of course, but I am looking forward to making another step forward in Finland!”

Roman Borak image