Pleasant temperatures and cloudy skies marked round five of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship at Valkenswaard in the Netherlands and battling the sapping conditions of the black Eurocircuit sand Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe's Jeremy Seewer was able to steer his works RM-Z250 to seventh overall in the MX2 class; as 32,600 fans surrounded the shifting terrain through the weekend.
Seewer had a problematic Qualification Heat race on Saturday when he became tangled with other riders coming out of the gate. Starting almost last the Swiss then produced some strong laps and overtaking moves to salvage a very decent 11th position. From that berth for Sunday's motos 'Jampy' - who struggled through the weekend to get a grip on the slippery edge to the sandy bumps - made a decent start to slot into the top six and then was part of a four-rider fight for the same slot. It looked as though Seewer would classify 10th with two laps to go but then a crash for countryman Valentin Guillod pushed the Suzuki man up into ninth.
For the second moto Seewer was keen for better but still could not gather confidence from his feeling with the surface. He rode to eighth place but was later pushed into seventh with Dylan Ferrandis' penalty altering the top 10 result. Seewer is now seventh in the MX2 championship and just four points from the top six.
Back on track for the second of nine fixtures in the European Championship - EMX250 - was Brian Hsu and Bas Vaessen on the RM-Z250s. Vaessen was coping with the pressure of riding at his home Grand Prix and only his second appearance with the team and on its four-stroke technology. The teenager's efforts to take fifth place in the first moto pleased the team as Hsu motored four places behind in eighth after being affected by arm-pump. The duo picked-up top-10 results in the second moto with Vaessen riding to eighth spot and Hsu occupying 10th. The sprint on Sunday morning also saw the track at its roughest state in the whole weekend with some hefty ruts and holes proving to be difficult to hit at speed. With Vaessen seventh overall and Hsu eighth it was a solid weekend of results and points for the team with something to improve on for the following round on the Iberian Peninsula.
The second round of eight in the ADAC MX Masters Championship in Germany will divert Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe's attention away from MXGP next weekend as the series converges at Jauer. The crew then move directly onto Talavera de la Reina for the Grand Prix of Spain and the sixth stop on the FIM Motocross World Championship trail.
Jeremy Seewer:
"I knew it would be a tough weekend for me because the track was 'kinda strange. I spent most of the winter in the sand but this was something else; very hard underneath with big 'kickers.' I didn't feel comfortable on the bike and was a little unsure. Small mistakes could lead to big crashes. The start of the first moto was pretty good but as soon as my strength started to go I felt like I was taking risks so I minimised what I felt were stupid things and avoided a big crash. I went back to ninth. A much better start in the second moto but the race was similar to the first. I wasn't really pushing forward and it was tough. Seventh overall is not too bad at a GP where I was not feeling good. Onto hard-pack and I want to enjoy myself on the bike again now. I need to work a bit more in these conditions."
Brian Hsu:
"Today was OK; especially because qualification was bad! I crashed twice because our suspension setting was off. We made some changes but both groups together meant I was 24th in the gate and my start was not so good because being that far out pushed me away from the corner! I was around 20th and fought up to fifth. I was charging hard but four laps from the end I got some arm-pump and dropped back to eighth. The second moto was a little similar but the start was worse. I went up to 10th and got stuck there. The bike worked much better and I could feel the bumps a lot more. We go to Spain now and I've never been there but I've heard it is a hard and technical track."
Bas Vaessen:
"I had a bad qualifying practice so my starts were not good. I could still work my way up to the top-10 with fast lap-times. I was happy with my speed but I came-up a bit short. I broke my thumb recently and only had two weeks in the sand and just two days before Arco. I went there not knowing what would happen but being back in the sand helped to bring my confidence up."
MX2 Moto1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:13.523; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:42.823; 3. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:58.264; 4. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.794; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +1:20.871; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1:32.176; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +1:41.239; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), +1:43.961; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:45.777; 10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +1:46.836.
MX2 Moto2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:12.664; 2. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:27.575; 3. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:35.672; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +0:37.737; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:40.770; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:54.345; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:58.733; 8. Jens Getteman (BEL, Honda), +1:06.768; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +1:15.696; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:20.715.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 40 p.; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 38 p.; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 5. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 28 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 26 p.; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 26 p.; 8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Jens Getteman (BEL, HON), 22 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 22 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 5 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 222 points; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 185 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 148 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 137 p.; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 133 p.; 6. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 129 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 125 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 121 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 115 p.; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, KAW), 102 p.
EMX250 Overall result: 1. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 50 points; 2. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 44 p.; 3. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 38 p.; 4. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 34 p.; 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 29 p.; 8. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 24 p.; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 22 p.; 10. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 14 p.
EMX250 Championship Standings (after 2 of 9 rounds): 1. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 92 points; 2. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 82 p.; 3. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 62 p.; 4. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 61 p.; 5. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 57 p.; 6. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 47 p.; 7. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 42 p.; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 42 p.; 9. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 39 p.; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 37 p.; 11. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 34 p.; 12. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 33 p.; 13. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KAW), 30 p.; 14. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 29 p.
Valkenswaard Image Gallery: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
Seewer had a problematic Qualification Heat race on Saturday when he became tangled with other riders coming out of the gate. Starting almost last the Swiss then produced some strong laps and overtaking moves to salvage a very decent 11th position. From that berth for Sunday's motos 'Jampy' - who struggled through the weekend to get a grip on the slippery edge to the sandy bumps - made a decent start to slot into the top six and then was part of a four-rider fight for the same slot. It looked as though Seewer would classify 10th with two laps to go but then a crash for countryman Valentin Guillod pushed the Suzuki man up into ninth.
For the second moto Seewer was keen for better but still could not gather confidence from his feeling with the surface. He rode to eighth place but was later pushed into seventh with Dylan Ferrandis' penalty altering the top 10 result. Seewer is now seventh in the MX2 championship and just four points from the top six.
Back on track for the second of nine fixtures in the European Championship - EMX250 - was Brian Hsu and Bas Vaessen on the RM-Z250s. Vaessen was coping with the pressure of riding at his home Grand Prix and only his second appearance with the team and on its four-stroke technology. The teenager's efforts to take fifth place in the first moto pleased the team as Hsu motored four places behind in eighth after being affected by arm-pump. The duo picked-up top-10 results in the second moto with Vaessen riding to eighth spot and Hsu occupying 10th. The sprint on Sunday morning also saw the track at its roughest state in the whole weekend with some hefty ruts and holes proving to be difficult to hit at speed. With Vaessen seventh overall and Hsu eighth it was a solid weekend of results and points for the team with something to improve on for the following round on the Iberian Peninsula.
The second round of eight in the ADAC MX Masters Championship in Germany will divert Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe's attention away from MXGP next weekend as the series converges at Jauer. The crew then move directly onto Talavera de la Reina for the Grand Prix of Spain and the sixth stop on the FIM Motocross World Championship trail.
Jeremy Seewer:
"I knew it would be a tough weekend for me because the track was 'kinda strange. I spent most of the winter in the sand but this was something else; very hard underneath with big 'kickers.' I didn't feel comfortable on the bike and was a little unsure. Small mistakes could lead to big crashes. The start of the first moto was pretty good but as soon as my strength started to go I felt like I was taking risks so I minimised what I felt were stupid things and avoided a big crash. I went back to ninth. A much better start in the second moto but the race was similar to the first. I wasn't really pushing forward and it was tough. Seventh overall is not too bad at a GP where I was not feeling good. Onto hard-pack and I want to enjoy myself on the bike again now. I need to work a bit more in these conditions."
Brian Hsu:
"Today was OK; especially because qualification was bad! I crashed twice because our suspension setting was off. We made some changes but both groups together meant I was 24th in the gate and my start was not so good because being that far out pushed me away from the corner! I was around 20th and fought up to fifth. I was charging hard but four laps from the end I got some arm-pump and dropped back to eighth. The second moto was a little similar but the start was worse. I went up to 10th and got stuck there. The bike worked much better and I could feel the bumps a lot more. We go to Spain now and I've never been there but I've heard it is a hard and technical track."
Bas Vaessen:
"I had a bad qualifying practice so my starts were not good. I could still work my way up to the top-10 with fast lap-times. I was happy with my speed but I came-up a bit short. I broke my thumb recently and only had two weeks in the sand and just two days before Arco. I went there not knowing what would happen but being back in the sand helped to bring my confidence up."
MX2 Moto1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:13.523; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:42.823; 3. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:58.264; 4. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.794; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +1:20.871; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1:32.176; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +1:41.239; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), +1:43.961; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:45.777; 10. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +1:46.836.
MX2 Moto2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:12.664; 2. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:27.575; 3. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:35.672; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +0:37.737; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:40.770; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:54.345; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:58.733; 8. Jens Getteman (BEL, Honda), +1:06.768; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +1:15.696; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:20.715.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 40 p.; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 38 p.; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 5. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 28 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 26 p.; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 26 p.; 8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Jens Getteman (BEL, HON), 22 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 22 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 5 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 222 points; 2. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 185 p.; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 148 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 137 p.; 5. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, HUS), 133 p.; 6. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 129 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 125 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 121 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 115 p.; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, KAW), 102 p.
EMX250 Overall result: 1. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 50 points; 2. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 44 p.; 3. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 38 p.; 4. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 34 p.; 6. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 29 p.; 8. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 24 p.; 9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 22 p.; 10. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 14 p.
EMX250 Championship Standings (after 2 of 9 rounds): 1. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 92 points; 2. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 82 p.; 3. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 62 p.; 4. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 61 p.; 5. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 57 p.; 6. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 47 p.; 7. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 42 p.; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 42 p.; 9. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 39 p.; 10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 37 p.; 11. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 34 p.; 12. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 33 p.; 13. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KAW), 30 p.; 14. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 29 p.
Valkenswaard Image Gallery: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
