MXGP of the Netherlands 2020

The second round of the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship, the MXGP of the Netherlands, was held today at the classic venue of Valkenswaard, a sand track that has hosted the series uninterruptedly since 1992.

 This year, with the track flooded from an entire week of rain, it was a survival game for the riders who faced a rough, unforgiving, sandy surface. For Antonio Cairoli it was a matter of damage limitation, trying to remain within the top five without worsening his already damaged knee. After a tough timed practice session ended in seventeenth place, Tony managed to get a decent start in the qualifying heat, riding smoothly and taking the tenth gate pick for Sunday’s motos. In the first race the KTM Red Bull Factory Racing Team rider started in the top ten and fought throughout the whole moto under a light but constant rain that transformed the track into a black mud pool, eventually crossing the finish line in seventh place. With a brilliant start in the second moto Cairoli launched his KTM 450 SX-F out of the gate in second place, battling for sixteen seemingly endless laps, finally passing the chequered flag in fifth for a fourth overall, consolidating his third position in the championship standings. Next round of the MXGP 2020 is in two weeks, at the Argentinian venue of Villa La Angostura.

Antonio Cairoli: “Valkenswaard is a race where we struggle a bit but with some experience we could come away with 4th overall, which is good and in spite of the conditions and my knee. I wasn’t comfortable and it wasn’t the best for a track where you need to attack. In the end we have to be happy even if this is not the result that we normally want. We know in the first races we have to stay in the top five. Let’s hope in Argentina the race will be a bit more flowing with some more places to pass. Today was a very difficult track.”

Race One: 1-T.Gajser 2-J.Herlings 3-A.Jasikonis 4-J.Prado 7-A.Cairoli

Race Two: 1-J.Herlingsr 2-T.Gajser 3-A.Jasikonis 4-S.Simpson 5-A.Cairoli

Overall: 1-J.Herlings 47p. 2-T.Gajser 47p. 3-A.Jasikonis 40p. 4-A.Cairoli 30p. 5-J.Van Horebeek 28p.
Standings: 1-J.Herlings 94p. 2-T.Gajser 85p. 3-A.Cairoli 68p. 4-C.Desalle 60p. 5-G.Paulin 58p.

Next Grand Prix: 22/03/2020 Villa La Angostura (ARG)