Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer completed a fantastic first-ever Grand Prix of Switzerland and thrilled 45,000 spectators at Frauenfeld-Gachnang by fighting closely for victory in the 15th round of 18 in the 2016 season and eventually bagged his ninth podium result as runner-up on the day with his RM-Z250.
The new venue close to Frauenfeld and northeast of Zurich was full of much expectation and hope surrounding the factory Suzuki rider. MXGP had not entered Swiss terrain since 2001 and ‘#91’s lofty position at the top of the MX2 championship standings and his eight podium results this season meant he was the main ‘pull’ for the vast Swiss throng.
Rainfall prior to the GP meant a soft and very rough terrain on Saturday for practice and the qualification heat. Seewer was noisily cheered to a second consecutive pole position to ideally set the scene for a memorable Sunday. Sunshine greeted raceday and the track had been levelled to cope with the four support classes on the Grand Prix bill to the MX2 and MXGP motos. Still bumpy and difficult the jumpy trajectory featured some stiff ruts with alternative lines and options.
The first moto saw Seewer (complete with special IXS livery for the second race in a row) obtain a top-six start but by the time he was able to cut through to second place Max Anstie had already established a seven-second lead. The Suzuki man tried to chip away at the distance but made marginal gains and in the final laps conserved energy for another attempt later in the afternoon.
For the second moto the two protagonists enacted a close duel that made the 30-minute and two-lap distance seem a fraction of the time. Seewer closed to Anstie on this occasion and took control of the moto at the midway stage and to the rapture of the crowd. He tried to make the break in his three-lap stint at the front but Anstie observed his lines and eventually seized the lead once more. The gap between the riders remained close and Seewer again fulfilled his role as ‘shadow’ particularly when both pace-setters started to thread through backmarkers. Finally, he could not dislodge Belgian GP winner Anstie and was 1.4 seconds away at the finish line.
Seewer now has 554 points and is just 43 from current leader Jeffrey Herlings who was absent for the third GP in succession. He holds a healthy gap of 121 over Benoit Paturel with just 150 left in the pot for 2016.
Brian Hsu rode to 15th position on his RM-Z250. The German showed some excellent pace to figure among the MX2 leaders for the first time this season during practice but the youngster’s enduring quest for race fitness and feeling (Switzerland was still just his fifth GP since recovering from a broken wrist) meant that he lacked the intensity to make a push for the podium. Hsu rode to 16th in the first race and was 14th in the second.
Frauenfeld brought the EMX250 European Championship up to 10 rounds and a close for 2016. Bas Vaessen ended a breakthrough season with third position in Switzerland and the same place in the standings with two victories to his name. The Dutchman recovered from a top-10 start to recover to fifth spot in the first moto on Saturday afternoon and then complimented this classification with a bustling charge to second on Sunday morning. Vaessen took his competitive RM-Z250 to a total of eight top-three results from the 20 outings of EMX this term and is now slated to join Seewer and Hsu for the remaining MX2 fixtures.
For the second year in a row Assen will stage the Grand Prix of the Netherlands and a section of the famous road race asphalt will be covered with sand for the last European round of the calendar and before MXGP travels to the United States for the final two events of the season.
Jeremy Seewer:
“I didn't expect the Swiss public to be that great: so many people, flags…it was amazing to ride here. I didn't win, which would have been the small present to them and myself but I’m happy and I have three second places in a row now. I just need to find that last piece of the puzzle. Maybe I should have waited longer to take the lead in the second moto but I had some better lines in some places and could push but he [Anstie] came back and followed me strongly. It was a good race and I just missed that ‘little bit’ to be able to win. Now I’m just focussing on myself and that approach has been the same for the last three GPs when Jeffrey has not been riding. I am still trying to do the best I can and beat the riders that are on the track with me. It [the championship] was not on my mind this weekend and it won’t be for the next GP.”
Brian Hsu:
“A difficult day. I’m a very technical rider and I had a good feeling on this track. I enjoyed riding it and set some nice times but there was something blocking me from really going for those top positions. We have been working with the bike a lot this season and since I could come back from the injury. Today wasn’t easy for my wrist but I’m still missing the feeling I need to really push. We’ll see if we can feel better for Assen.”
Bas Vaessen:
“This weekend could have gone a bit better but I messed up my start in the first moto. I made up for the mistake in the second race. I’m really pumped about my season; it was the first time I actually got a full European Championship year together and it has been special for me. Now we have some GPs to look forward to.”
MX2 Moto1: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 35:18.680; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:10.590; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:32.037; 4. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +0:47.010; 5. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, Husqvarna), +0:54.752; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:57.350; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +1:04.853; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:07.385; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:07.965; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1:09.352; 16. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), +1:30.526.MX2 Moto2: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 34:19.959; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:01.470; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.141; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:47.204; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:58.480; 6. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +1:11.612; 7. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:15.345; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, Husqvarna), +1:17.906; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +1:21.132; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:22.073; 14. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), +1:28.262.
MX2 overall result: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 44 p.; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 33 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 29 p.; 7. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 24 p.; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 24 p.; 9. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, HUS), 24 p.; 10. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 23 p.; 15. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), 12 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 15 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 597 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 554 p.; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 433 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 416 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 6. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 378 p.; 7. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 340 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 327 p.; 9. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 309 p. 28. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), 43 p.EMX250 overall result: 1. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 50 points; 2. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 38 p.; 4. Filip Neugebauer (CZE, KAW), 36 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, KAW), 33 p.; 6. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 29 p.; 7. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Anton Lundgren (SWE, HUS), 23 p.; 9. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Killian Auberson (SUI, KTM), 16 p.
EMX250 Final Championship Standings (after 10 rounds): 1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 404 points; 2. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 373 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 324 p.; 4. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 265 p.; 5. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 244 p.; 6. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 223 p.; 7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 210 p.; 8. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KTM), 207 p.; 9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, KAW), 167 p.; 10. Mike Stender (GER, SUZ), 145 p.
Swiss MX2 Image Gallery: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
For more stories about Brian Hsu, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.
For more stories about Jeremy Seewer, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.
For more stories about Bas Vaessen, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.
The new venue close to Frauenfeld and northeast of Zurich was full of much expectation and hope surrounding the factory Suzuki rider. MXGP had not entered Swiss terrain since 2001 and ‘#91’s lofty position at the top of the MX2 championship standings and his eight podium results this season meant he was the main ‘pull’ for the vast Swiss throng.
Rainfall prior to the GP meant a soft and very rough terrain on Saturday for practice and the qualification heat. Seewer was noisily cheered to a second consecutive pole position to ideally set the scene for a memorable Sunday. Sunshine greeted raceday and the track had been levelled to cope with the four support classes on the Grand Prix bill to the MX2 and MXGP motos. Still bumpy and difficult the jumpy trajectory featured some stiff ruts with alternative lines and options.
The first moto saw Seewer (complete with special IXS livery for the second race in a row) obtain a top-six start but by the time he was able to cut through to second place Max Anstie had already established a seven-second lead. The Suzuki man tried to chip away at the distance but made marginal gains and in the final laps conserved energy for another attempt later in the afternoon.
For the second moto the two protagonists enacted a close duel that made the 30-minute and two-lap distance seem a fraction of the time. Seewer closed to Anstie on this occasion and took control of the moto at the midway stage and to the rapture of the crowd. He tried to make the break in his three-lap stint at the front but Anstie observed his lines and eventually seized the lead once more. The gap between the riders remained close and Seewer again fulfilled his role as ‘shadow’ particularly when both pace-setters started to thread through backmarkers. Finally, he could not dislodge Belgian GP winner Anstie and was 1.4 seconds away at the finish line.
Seewer now has 554 points and is just 43 from current leader Jeffrey Herlings who was absent for the third GP in succession. He holds a healthy gap of 121 over Benoit Paturel with just 150 left in the pot for 2016.
Brian Hsu rode to 15th position on his RM-Z250. The German showed some excellent pace to figure among the MX2 leaders for the first time this season during practice but the youngster’s enduring quest for race fitness and feeling (Switzerland was still just his fifth GP since recovering from a broken wrist) meant that he lacked the intensity to make a push for the podium. Hsu rode to 16th in the first race and was 14th in the second.
Frauenfeld brought the EMX250 European Championship up to 10 rounds and a close for 2016. Bas Vaessen ended a breakthrough season with third position in Switzerland and the same place in the standings with two victories to his name. The Dutchman recovered from a top-10 start to recover to fifth spot in the first moto on Saturday afternoon and then complimented this classification with a bustling charge to second on Sunday morning. Vaessen took his competitive RM-Z250 to a total of eight top-three results from the 20 outings of EMX this term and is now slated to join Seewer and Hsu for the remaining MX2 fixtures.
For the second year in a row Assen will stage the Grand Prix of the Netherlands and a section of the famous road race asphalt will be covered with sand for the last European round of the calendar and before MXGP travels to the United States for the final two events of the season.
Jeremy Seewer:
“I didn't expect the Swiss public to be that great: so many people, flags…it was amazing to ride here. I didn't win, which would have been the small present to them and myself but I’m happy and I have three second places in a row now. I just need to find that last piece of the puzzle. Maybe I should have waited longer to take the lead in the second moto but I had some better lines in some places and could push but he [Anstie] came back and followed me strongly. It was a good race and I just missed that ‘little bit’ to be able to win. Now I’m just focussing on myself and that approach has been the same for the last three GPs when Jeffrey has not been riding. I am still trying to do the best I can and beat the riders that are on the track with me. It [the championship] was not on my mind this weekend and it won’t be for the next GP.”
Brian Hsu:
“A difficult day. I’m a very technical rider and I had a good feeling on this track. I enjoyed riding it and set some nice times but there was something blocking me from really going for those top positions. We have been working with the bike a lot this season and since I could come back from the injury. Today wasn’t easy for my wrist but I’m still missing the feeling I need to really push. We’ll see if we can feel better for Assen.”
Bas Vaessen:
“This weekend could have gone a bit better but I messed up my start in the first moto. I made up for the mistake in the second race. I’m really pumped about my season; it was the first time I actually got a full European Championship year together and it has been special for me. Now we have some GPs to look forward to.”
MX2 Moto1: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 35:18.680; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:10.590; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:32.037; 4. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +0:47.010; 5. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, Husqvarna), +0:54.752; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:57.350; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +1:04.853; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:07.385; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:07.965; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1:09.352; 16. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), +1:30.526.MX2 Moto2: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 34:19.959; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:01.470; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.141; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:47.204; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +0:58.480; 6. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +1:11.612; 7. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:15.345; 8. Conrad Mewse (GBR, Husqvarna), +1:17.906; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), +1:21.132; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:22.073; 14. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), +1:28.262.
MX2 overall result: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 44 p.; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 33 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 29 p.; 7. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 24 p.; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 24 p.; 9. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, HUS), 24 p.; 10. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 23 p.; 15. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), 12 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 15 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 597 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 554 p.; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 433 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 416 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 6. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 378 p.; 7. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 340 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 327 p.; 9. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 309 p. 28. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), 43 p.EMX250 overall result: 1. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 50 points; 2. Josiah Natzke (NZL, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 38 p.; 4. Filip Neugebauer (CZE, KAW), 36 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, KAW), 33 p.; 6. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 29 p.; 7. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Anton Lundgren (SWE, HUS), 23 p.; 9. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Killian Auberson (SUI, KTM), 16 p.
EMX250 Final Championship Standings (after 10 rounds): 1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 404 points; 2. Darian Sanayei (USA, KAW), 373 p.; 3. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 324 p.; 4. Anton Gole (SWE, HUS), 265 p.; 5. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 244 p.; 6. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, KTM), 223 p.; 7. Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 210 p.; 8. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KTM), 207 p.; 9. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, KAW), 167 p.; 10. Mike Stender (GER, SUZ), 145 p.
Swiss MX2 Image Gallery: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
For more stories about Brian Hsu, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.
For more stories about Jeremy Seewer, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.
For more stories about Bas Vaessen, Click Here. For photos, Click Here.
