This weekend's action at Kegums was full of twists and turns in both the MXGP and MX2 classes. Here's a look back at the ninth round of the world season in Latvia.
MXGP: Jeffrey Herlings joins the battle
While Tim Gajser got things off to a flying start by dominating the qualifying round of the MXGP Latvia, race conditions were quite different for the first heat, which was contested on soggy ground. Jorde Prado, who had finished second the day before, paid the price. Jeffrey Herlings and T. Gajser dominated the top spots throughout the weekend. Coldenhoff and Bogers took 3rd and 4th places respectively. Although Gajser is generally accustomed to the top positions, he finds himself here as an outsider among three Dutchmen.
In this equation, Prado's seventh-place finish was to prove his undoing at the end of the weekend. But like any self-respecting champion, Prado quickly got his head (and his bike) back on straight and grabbed the holeshot, then maintained his lead over Gajser in the second race. Herlings on his KTM settled for third place. The Dutch rider had recently spoken of his desire to get back to winning ways, and he wasted no time in doing so, even though his latest outings proved that he was legitimately convinced of this. As if being a five-time world champion wasn't enough.
Jeffrey Herlings, MXGP Latvia Grand Prix winner
After yesterday, when I was really bad, I went back to the hotel thinking, "What the hell am I doing!" Today was better. I wanted to show people that I could still compete. The goal was to get on the podium, but to win is really incredible. I had two really good starts, where I was second very quickly. In the second run, I didn't have the pace to run with them, but I kept them in sight. In the end, I just managed to catch them.
Aware of the difficulty of keeping up with the leading duo, the victory was all the sweeter. All the more so as this weekend-long triumph is the first in almost a year. That was on this very circuit. Another highlight was Jeffrey Herlings' 104 Grand Prix victories, making him the third most successful driver of any generation.
MXGP Latvian Grand Prix standings (Top 5) :
Proactive, the official KTM is rewarded for a first part of the season in which he kept trying, often in vain. The only Frenchman in the class this weekend, only five small points were added to the total of Benoit Paturel, who was forced to retire in his turn and did not appear in the Top 20 (21ᵉ).
- Jeffrey Herlings - 45 points ;
- Tim Gajser - 44 p. ;
- Jorge Prado - 39 p. ;
- Glen Coldenhoff - 38 p. ;
- Brian Bogers - 34 p.
MXGP 2024 provisional overall standings :
It's becoming a constant: the red plate sails between Spain and Slovenia from one week to the next. Between now and the MXGP of Italy next weekend, it's Tim Gajser who'll be taking it with him. Gajser has gone from -2 to +4 units ahead of his rival. We didn't expect so much, but Herlings creates a gap with Romain Febvre's 4ᵉ place, still convalescing after his misadventure in France. The Frenchman is not the only loser of the weekend as Pauls Jonass, absent, drops three positions overall. Vlaanderen moves up two places and is now in the top 5.
MX2 : Unprecedented weekend for Sacha Coenen
Like J. Prado in the supreme class, Sacha Coenen was beginning to get used to a whirlwind start. Later on, several of them fell behind, including Mikkel Haarup and Andrea Adamo. This was also the case for Liam Everts, who ended up taking 5ᵉ place in a race dominated by Kay de Wolf, ahead of the Coenen brothers, Lucas and Sacha.
In the second run, the Dutchman seemed to have done the hard part by taking the lead, before falling one, two, then... three times (!) for an unusual ninth place. With Wolf out of the running, Sacha Coenen took advantage of the situation to win ahead of regular Simon Laengenfelder. Lucas Coenen completes the podium.
Last week, Lucas pocketed all the points at stake. Now it's his twin brother's turn to shine, confirming all the potential he'd seen so far. This first round success is accompanied by a first Grand Prix victory. As everything needs a first, we can only hope that this is the first of many, and why not join Herlings one day!
Sacha Coenen, winner of the MX2 Grand Prix of Latvia
After the first run, I wasn't satisfied, but I felt good. The track was fast, and I felt I could do it. In the second heat, I started second, then Kay [de Wolf] crashed and I took the lead. I was so happy when I crossed the finish line... It's my first win!
MXGP Latvian Grand Prix standings (Top 5) :
Latvia witnessed a rare event this weekend, with the Coenen siblings dominating.
To see two brothers at the head of a GP, you have to go back to the Grand Prix de France de Laguépie in 1997, with the King brothers, Shayne and Darryl. Still around, Simon Laengenfelder took third place.
- Sacha Coenen - 45 points ;
- Lucas Coenen - 42 p. ;
- Simon Läengenfelder - 40 p. ;
- Kay de Wolf - 37 p. ;
- Liam Everts - 34 p.
MX2 2024 provisional overall standings :
The lead fablit, but Kay de Wolf limited the damage and kept 55 points ahead of Lucas Coenen. 9ᵉ in the first race, Quentin Prugnières was riding for the lead, before crashing and demoting to 12ᵉ position in the second heat, which earned him this 11ᵉ place overall.
MXGP and MX2 2024 race calendar
While he will certainly be dwelling on his fall for some time to come, as evidenced by the account he gave of it on his Instagram account ("no caption for this weekend"), the Frenchman will have no choice but to clear his head... With the Italian round fast approaching.
- MXGP de Patagonie Argentina, Villa La Angostura circuit, March 10. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
- MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadú - Arroyomolinos circuit, March 24. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
- MXGP of Sardinia (Italy), Riola Sardo circuit, April 7. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Kay de Wolf (MX2)
- MXGP de Trento (Italy), Pietramurata circuit, April 16. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Liam Everts (MX2)
- MXGP of Portugal, Agueda circuit, May 5. Winners: Pauls Jonass (MXGP) and Liam Everts (MX2)
- MXGP of Galicia (Spain), Lugo circuit, May 12. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
- MXGP de France, St Jean d'Angely circuit, May 19. Winners: Tim Gajser (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
- MXGP Germany, Teutschenthal circuit, June 2. Winners: Jorge Prado (MXGP) and Lucas Coenen (MX2)
- MXGP of Latvia, Kegums circuit, June 9. Winners : Jeffrey Herlings (MXGP) and Sacha Coenen (MX2)
- MXGP of Italy, Maggiora circuit, June 16
- MXGP of Sumbawa (Indonesia), Sumbawa circuit, June 30
- MXGP of Lombok (Indonesia), Lombok circuit, July 7
- MXGP of Czech Republic, Loket circuit, July 21
- MXGP of Flanders (Belgium), Lommel circuit, July 28
- MXGP of Sweden, Uddevalla circuit, August 11
- MXGP of the Netherlands, Arnhem circuit, August 18
- MXGP of Switzerland, Frauenfeld circuit, August 25
- MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar circuit, Sep 8
Photo credits: MXGP
