MXGP Race Reports

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MXGP of Afyon Report

Published Wednesday, 8th September, 2021

Just a few days after his GP of Turkey success, Jeffrey Herlings took victory once again in Round 9 of the 2021 campaign.

The Dutch rider took a 1-2 result from the day’s action just as he did a few days prior under the Turkish sun.

Championship leader Tim Gajser also strengthened his lead in the standings, walking away from the GP of Afyon with a 28-point lead over Romain Febvre, it was just 13 points heading into the ninth round.

MXGP Race 1

In the first race of the day, it was Jorge Prado who took the Fox Holeshot and led the pack away, with Jeffrey Herlings and Jeremy Seewer following the Spaniard.

Tim Gajser started the race eighth, but it wasn’t long before he made his way to the front, moving up to fourth by the third lap.

Disaster then ensued for both Seewer and Prado, who both crashed out of the top positions as the race progressed, leaving Febvre to take charge in the lead.

With the race quickly moving into the closing stages things got intense at the front with Febvre, Herlings and Gajser separated by just 1.5s.

Herlings then made his move on the Kawasaki rider with one lap remaining, meanwhile behind him Febvre was quickly gobbled up by a charging Antonio Cairoli who snatched second from both the Frenchman and Gajser in quick succession.

At the chequered flag Herlings took the win by just 0.494s from Cairoli with Gajser rounding out the top-three.

Febvre had to settle for fourth at the end, Pauls Jonass ended in fifth and an impressive performance from Alberto Forato saw the Italian finish sixth.

Henry Jacobi finished in seventh ahead of Glenn Coldenhoff, Alessandro Lupino and Brent Van Doninck rounded out the top-10.

MXGP Race 2

Prado once again took the Fox Holeshot at the beginning of the final race, in all four races at the Turkish track the Spaniard has took the honours in each one.

Herlings, Gajser and Jonass followed the KTM rider, as behind the quartet Cairoli made a move on Febvre for fifth place and made no hesitation in going after Jonass.

As the race went on there was a close battle between the top-four, just 0.959s separated the riders with Prado keen on keeping a hold on his lead.

On the sixth lap of the race Gajser made an attack for the lead, making every effort to dispatch of Herlings and three laps after doing so he took to the front after a pass on Prado.

Towards the end Herlings also made his way past Prado but had nothing left to take the fight to HRC rider Gajser, meaning the Slovenian took the victory ahead of Herlings and Cairoli who managed to make his way to third.

Prado crossed the line in fourth ahead of Febvre and Jonass, Forato ended off a solid day in seventh.

Lupino finished the second race in eighth as Thomas Kjer Olsen and Brian Bogers rounded out the top-10.