The Grand Prix of USA ended the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship for Team Suzuki World MX2 and Jeremy Seewer took his works RM-Z250 to fifth place overall at a steaming Glen Helen today for what was a curtain-closer roaster in San Bernardino. Making his third consecutive appearance as a wildcard and ahead of a full-time Grand Prix campaign in 2017 Bas Vaessen rode to 17th place.
Scorching temperatures greeted the 18th and final round of the MX2 Grand Prix campaign and at a circuit that mixed hard-pack terrain, loose soil and rough sections along with some big jumps and daunting uphill climbs and drops as 27,000 spectators gathered around a renowned and fantastic stage to bring motocross Grand Prix to a culmination after a long six-month term.
World Championship runner-up Seewer was unlucky in a wretched first moto for the team. Down the first, fast descent of the race, both he and Vaessen were scooped-up by another rider who started a ‘skittle’ effect. Both riders went down and had to come from the rear of the pack. Seewer made it back to 11th while Vaessen was just outside the points after losing time restarting his machine.
In the second moto Seewer aced a much better jump out of the gate and avoided any carnage to slot into a top-four position in the first two laps. From there ‘#91’ passed Max Anstie and gave chase to former AMA Champion Jeremy Martin in second position. The Swiss narrowed the gap to a second but could not make a pass on the American. By finishing third he logged his 16th top-three classification; a 50% ratio for all motos this season. Vaessen also kept out of trouble and rode to a ranking of 13th.
From 18 rounds and 36 motos Seewer scored points in every single outing – the only MX2 rider to do so - and claimed 10 podium finishes.
“We’re very happy with this year,” commented General Manager Stefan Everts. “Especially happy that Jeremy could finish the season in that way in the second moto; he rode really well. He and Bas made great progress this year and in Jeremy’s case I think he is ready to go for the title. Unfortunately, he didn't grab a win this season and it would have been so good to have had that experience at least once but that's the way it is. Anyway a silver medal and a bronze in EMX so it has all gone well.”
Team Suzuki World MX2 can now loosen their grip on the throttle. After making the journey back to Europe the crew need to help Seewer prep for the Motocross of Nations at Maggiora in Italy in two weeks’ time and will then look to the first ever Supermotocross Cup at the Veltins Arena in Germany two weeks later.
Jeremy Seewer:
“I struggled a bit yesterday and didn't feel that safe but was much better in the first moto. I didn't start that well and then I got taken out quite badly. I was hit on the back on the downhill and everything was bent and damaged; I managed to finish 11th at least. I had a good start in the second moto and could pass immediately. I was running third and pushing for second almost. I was really happy with that and to finish the season with a good result. It felt like it had been tough since Assen. I achieved second in the world championship there but I want to do well every week. So I was happy to be back at the front.”
Bas Vaessen:
“Today was alright I guess. I had a good start in the first moto but in the fourth corner somebody had a blackout or something because he hit me full-on and then four or five others. I couldn't restart the bike so I was around 40 seconds behind everybody and I’d hurt my arm. I had a better start in the second one. My riding was just alright – not too good, not too bad and 13th was OK. It was unbelievable how much they watered the track. There were many crashes. But 2016 has been one of my best seasons so I’m happy and now we go into the winter trying to get a bit more speed and stamina. Next year I will try to surprise some of the guys.”
MX2 Moto1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:43.854; 2. Jeremy Martin (USA, Honda), +0:10.160; 3. Austin Forkner (USA, Kawasaki), +0:16.613; 4. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:28.544; 5. Mitchell Harrison (USA, Yamaha), +0:31.308; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:36.274; 7. Chris Alldredge (USA, Kawasaki), +0:48.628; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:55.383; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:55.761; 10. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), +0:58.166; 11. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:58.639; 22. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), -1 lap(s).
MX2 Moto2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:33.376; 2. Jeremy Martin (USA, Honda), +0:07.571; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:11.139; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:31.811; 5. Mitchell Harrison (USA, Yamaha), +0:34.253; 6. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +0:55.261; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1:00.631; 8. Justin Hoeft (USA, KTM), +1:02.893; 9. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:08.677; 10. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +1:13.292; 11. Chris Alldredge (USA, Kawasaki), +1:15.636; 12. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +1:31.659; 13. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), +1:39.591.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Martin (USA, HON), 44 p.; 3. Mitchell Harrison (USA, YAM), 32 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 31 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 30 p.; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 25 p.; 9. Chris Alldredge (USA, KAW), 24 p.; 10. Austin Forkner (USA, KAW), 23 p.; 17. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 8 p.
MX2 final World Championship Standings: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 739 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 625 p.; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 512 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 504 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 398 p.; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 378 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 377 p.; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 351 p.; 10. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.; 31. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 48 p. 37. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), 43 p.
Scorching temperatures greeted the 18th and final round of the MX2 Grand Prix campaign and at a circuit that mixed hard-pack terrain, loose soil and rough sections along with some big jumps and daunting uphill climbs and drops as 27,000 spectators gathered around a renowned and fantastic stage to bring motocross Grand Prix to a culmination after a long six-month term.
World Championship runner-up Seewer was unlucky in a wretched first moto for the team. Down the first, fast descent of the race, both he and Vaessen were scooped-up by another rider who started a ‘skittle’ effect. Both riders went down and had to come from the rear of the pack. Seewer made it back to 11th while Vaessen was just outside the points after losing time restarting his machine.
In the second moto Seewer aced a much better jump out of the gate and avoided any carnage to slot into a top-four position in the first two laps. From there ‘#91’ passed Max Anstie and gave chase to former AMA Champion Jeremy Martin in second position. The Swiss narrowed the gap to a second but could not make a pass on the American. By finishing third he logged his 16th top-three classification; a 50% ratio for all motos this season. Vaessen also kept out of trouble and rode to a ranking of 13th.
From 18 rounds and 36 motos Seewer scored points in every single outing – the only MX2 rider to do so - and claimed 10 podium finishes.
“We’re very happy with this year,” commented General Manager Stefan Everts. “Especially happy that Jeremy could finish the season in that way in the second moto; he rode really well. He and Bas made great progress this year and in Jeremy’s case I think he is ready to go for the title. Unfortunately, he didn't grab a win this season and it would have been so good to have had that experience at least once but that's the way it is. Anyway a silver medal and a bronze in EMX so it has all gone well.”
Team Suzuki World MX2 can now loosen their grip on the throttle. After making the journey back to Europe the crew need to help Seewer prep for the Motocross of Nations at Maggiora in Italy in two weeks’ time and will then look to the first ever Supermotocross Cup at the Veltins Arena in Germany two weeks later.
Jeremy Seewer:
“I struggled a bit yesterday and didn't feel that safe but was much better in the first moto. I didn't start that well and then I got taken out quite badly. I was hit on the back on the downhill and everything was bent and damaged; I managed to finish 11th at least. I had a good start in the second moto and could pass immediately. I was running third and pushing for second almost. I was really happy with that and to finish the season with a good result. It felt like it had been tough since Assen. I achieved second in the world championship there but I want to do well every week. So I was happy to be back at the front.”
Bas Vaessen:
“Today was alright I guess. I had a good start in the first moto but in the fourth corner somebody had a blackout or something because he hit me full-on and then four or five others. I couldn't restart the bike so I was around 40 seconds behind everybody and I’d hurt my arm. I had a better start in the second one. My riding was just alright – not too good, not too bad and 13th was OK. It was unbelievable how much they watered the track. There were many crashes. But 2016 has been one of my best seasons so I’m happy and now we go into the winter trying to get a bit more speed and stamina. Next year I will try to surprise some of the guys.”
MX2 Moto1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:43.854; 2. Jeremy Martin (USA, Honda), +0:10.160; 3. Austin Forkner (USA, Kawasaki), +0:16.613; 4. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:28.544; 5. Mitchell Harrison (USA, Yamaha), +0:31.308; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:36.274; 7. Chris Alldredge (USA, Kawasaki), +0:48.628; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:55.383; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +0:55.761; 10. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), +0:58.166; 11. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:58.639; 22. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), -1 lap(s).
MX2 Moto2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:33.376; 2. Jeremy Martin (USA, Honda), +0:07.571; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:11.139; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:31.811; 5. Mitchell Harrison (USA, Yamaha), +0:34.253; 6. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +0:55.261; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), +1:00.631; 8. Justin Hoeft (USA, KTM), +1:02.893; 9. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:08.677; 10. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +1:13.292; 11. Chris Alldredge (USA, Kawasaki), +1:15.636; 12. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +1:31.659; 13. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), +1:39.591.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Martin (USA, HON), 44 p.; 3. Mitchell Harrison (USA, YAM), 32 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 31 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 30 p.; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 25 p.; 9. Chris Alldredge (USA, KAW), 24 p.; 10. Austin Forkner (USA, KAW), 23 p.; 17. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 8 p.
MX2 final World Championship Standings: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 739 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 625 p.; 3. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 512 p.; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 504 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 403 p.; 6. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 398 p.; 7. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 378 p.; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 377 p.; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 351 p.; 10. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 320 p.; 31. Bas Vaessen (NED, Suzuki World MX2), 48 p. 37. Brian Hsu (GER, Suzuki World MX2), 43 p.
