Take a look at the rider comments from todays Swedish GP at the Uddevalla circuit. A big day for both Simon Langengelder and Romain Febvre as they extended their leads in the MXGP and MX2 points standings.

Romain Febvre: "We have been working even more on the starts and I took two holeshots today; it always makes life easier to have a clear track at the front. In the first moto Jeffrey was not far behind at the end but I wasn't worried. The second moto was more stressful. I honestly didn't know where Lucas was in the race but I think the top-five were within a couple of seconds so I didn't want to risk any mistakes. Jeffrey was on my rear wheel most of the race but then the last couple of laps I noticed it was a Yamaha and, when I heard the crowd, I realised it was Isak. I knew for sure he would go for it on the last lap and he had a really good line where I didn't expect him. I knew I would still be winning the GP and extending my lead in the championship but then he crashed a couple of turns later and handed it back to me. But I take my hat off to Isak; he was really going for it. I have been looking to make a perfect weekend all season and it all clicked here; it's awesome to do it as the season enters the final stages. This was good for the championship but it's not done until the last round so I must remain sharp until the end."

Simon Laengenfelder: “Not the best start in the first moto and you need to ride differently in the pack, try new lines and be aggressive: lately I’ve not been too good at this… but I showed I can do it this weekend! In the second race I got a better start and could find my way to 1st position. I hope we can be better prepared for our starts in Arnhem, and then be open in the races for whatever might happen. I feel comfortable and I’m feeling good.”

Jeffrey Herlings: “Really good. Three 2nds! In the last moto I felt quite close and was really pushing but I ran out of tear-offs. I didn’t have any more for the leader. 2-2 for 2nd overall is not bad for being on the bike for only two and a half weeks. Now we’ll look forward to my home GP at Arnhem and hopefully we can be back on the box there. I won last year and it would be great to repeat. I just need more starts and I know I can do the rest. My physical condition is getting better and better.”

Tim Gajser: Overall, a good comeback weekend, I rode a good pace for a lot of the races but there were obviously some moments that I wish had turned out differently. It’s a shame what happened in race one because I saw Isak make the mistake and I thought I could get past him, but I think he thought he could block me and we obviously collided. It would have been good to have got 35 minutes under my belt, as then in race two, I got a bit of arm pump and crashed in one of the corners after changing my lines. Like I said though, a lot of good points and I’m definitely ahead of where I thought I would be, so now we have to keep that momentum up in the Netherlands.

Calvin Vlaanderen: I’m super happy to be on the box again and make it back-to-back podiums. I really wanted to get it done on the hardpack, and that was my goal coming into this Grand Prix. I was really happy with my riding this weekend and I felt great on the bike too, so I wasn’t stressed at all, and I knew I could do it. It was a lot of fun battling with Maxime and Isak in Race Two, and it was a shame that Maxime beat me and Isak fell, but I’m still so happy to be on the podium again.

Maxime Renaux: We have some positives to take away from today. Obviously, I’m a bit disappointed to miss the podium by just a couple of points, but I felt like we’ve made some steps in the right direction. Fourth overall, not the results we’re here for, but after the year I’ve had, we need to take it step by step, and we’re improving. So, we’ll stay positive and we’ll keep building.

Ruben Fernandez: A solid day, although I’m not totally happy with the second moto especially. The fourth in race one was good, I kept things consistent with a good pace and I thought that I was in with a chance of a podium once again. However, I didn’t get the best start in race two and on this track that made things very difficult, but I got into eighth and that’s where I finished. I need to try to make sure that I have two good races across the weekend because there are a lot of top riders in this class and you can’t afford to let points slips through your fingers.

Pauls Jonass: "It was a tough return to the GPs. It's never easy to come back from injury during the season and I just didn't get the flow in either moto. I had a small tip-over and then several more mistakes in the first moto, but the second moto went a little better, just one small mistake mid-moto. But I needed to start somewhere; back to the drawing board now for a better result in Arnhem."

Valerio Lata: Another weekend where I’m not really happy with how things went. The first moto was okay, because I got a good start and was able to maintain my position, and not having too many riders in front or behind me. The second moto wasn’t good enough though, as I didn’t get a good start and dropped a couple of spots early on. I made it back to 15th, but I’m still not satisfied and I know I have a lot of work to do before Arnhem next weekend.

Lucas Coenen: “I really have nothing to say about this weekend: only bad starts and bad luck. That’s it. We go again next time. I had a good jump but got closed down and I was far I the back and didn’t want to risk. With 20 minutes to go (in the first moto), my right arm was sore, and I didn’t have much control and then arm-pump came in and it was really tough. A tough weekend already. Yesterday in the qualification the sun was a problem, but the start is key and if you don’t get the start, your race is done.

Sacha Coenen: “An up-and-down weekend. I had the holeshot in the first moto and created a big lead but then had some arm-pump and had to fight it. I wasn’t too happy to finish the race like that. Not a good start at all in the second moto and I did what I could to come back to 7th. Let’s see what we can do in Arnhem.”Kay de Wolf: “Both races were a bit of catch-up, but I salvaged two strong results and I’m really happy with how the weekend went. It’s my first podium here in Sweden, which feels special because in the past I haven’t had the best results at this track - so to go 3-3-3 including qualifying is something I’m proud of. I didn’t lose too many points in the championship and did what I needed to, so it’s definitely a positive step. Now I’m really looking forward to my home GP next week in the sand - it’s always an amazing feeling racing in front of the Dutch fans, and hopefully we can close the gap and make up some big points there. Massive thanks to the team for all their support; I feel good on the bike and I know we’ve got more to give in these last four rounds.”

Liam Everts: “It feels great just to be back behind the gate again after a long time away. To finish 4-9 for eighth overall is really positive for me and the team. In the first moto I felt strong - running second for a while and then fighting inside the top three until the final laps. The second race was more about riding consistently and making sure we scored points. I’m happy with how the comeback went and now I’m excited to keep building from here.”

Mathis Valin: "It was another good weekend. I have the speed and everything is coming better and better; I am learning so much even faster than I could have expected when I race with the top guys at the front every week. I was racing in P4 for most of race one before the riders racing for the championship could pass me at the end. In the second moto I was again fighting with the top guys; I stayed third ahead of the world champion until the last lap before I unfortunately made a big mistake and Kay could pass me. Anyway, back to sand next week at a new track for me; I never raced Arnhem before."

Camden McLellan: “This weekend has been okay. Not great, but not too bad. I felt awesome on the bike and strong all weekend, and my starts were good too. I just lacked the intensity needed on the first few laps of each race, and unfortunately, this affected my results. Overall, it was alright, though, and now it’s back to the sand in the Netherlands next weekend.”

Guillem Farres: “My starts held me back this weekend. One positive is that I was able to make passes, especially as this track is difficult to pass on. I should have been higher overall today, and like always, I tried my best. The goal for the upcoming races is to be back nearer the front, and I’ll be working on my starts this week to be better.”

Thibault Benistant: Today didn’t quite go to plan after winning the Qualifying Race yesterday. The track was quite soft and slippery in Race One today, and I didn’t find my flow until the end of the race. But by then it was too late. I had a perfect start in the second race, though, and led until I had a little bit of arm pump mid-race. In the end, second in that race was OK, but for the overall I really wanted to be on the podium.

Rick Elzinga: It’s quite difficult to set the bike up for this track, and my starts weren’t the best in both races. So, it’s been a difficult weekend for me. On the positive side, 10th overall is not too bad, and I was able to make passes in both races despite this track being tough to pass on.

Karlis Reisulis: I had a pretty big crash in the first race while running 11th and it wasn’t possible to continue. I felt fine, but I think it affected me a little bit in the second race, and I had to dig deep for 10th. I’m looking forward to Arnhem next week and being back on the sand.

Pascal Haudiquert image