MXGP Race Reports

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MXGP of France Report

Published Sunday, 10th October, 2021

One week on from the MXGP of Germany, the paddock headed to Lacapelle Marival in France for Round 12 of the year.

At the end of the weekend it was Jeffrey Herlings who stood on the top step, claiming overall victory on his KTM.

A 2-1 result for the Dutchman also means he holds the championship lead, just six points separate himself and Romain Febvre at the top.

MXGP Race 1

Jeffrey Herlings took the Fox Holeshot in the first race of the weekend and led the field away as Jeremy Seewer and Romain Febvre sat behind in second and third.

It didn’t take long for Febvre to make his way up into second as he quickly maneuvered around Seewer, the Frenchman began to push towards Herlings and looked on the pace to win.

After a tough start which saw Tim Gajser down in 10th, the HRC rider began to push up through the pack but after making it up to eighth he made a mistake which lost him two positions.

Back at the front the battle for the lead began to heat up as Febvre closed in on Herlings and on the eighth lap the Kawasaki rider made his way through to take first place.

As the race went on the battle at the front neutralised, but towards the end Herlings stepped it up a gear and piled the pressure on Febvre for the win.

In the end it was the Frenchman who prevailed, finishing just 0.755s ahead of Herlings with Seewer holding on to third.

Pauls Jonass was only two seconds from Seewer but had to settle for fourth ahead of Antonio Cairoli and Gajser who put up a good recovery ride through the race.

Arnaud Tonus had an impressive ride to end seventh ahead of Thomas Kjer Olsen and Alessandro Lupino.

Alberto Forato finished in 10th on his GASGAS bike.

MXGP Race 2

In the second race Cairoli grabbed the Fox Holeshot ahead of Herlings and Febvre.

But the Italian was quickly overtaken by the pair after an early mistake cost him time and dropped him to third.

Just like the first race it was Herlings and Febvre who were battling for the lead, the Frenchman gave Herlings no room for error as the pair battled.

The KTM rider made a small mistake but it was enough to invite Febvre through who had no hesitation on getting through and quickly built up a three second lead.

It looked like the Kawasaki rider would hold on for victory but a late charge from Herlings meant the Dutchman took the lead on lap 16 and consequently the chequered flag by 5.305s.

Febvre had to settle for second as Gajser came home in third after passing Cairoli for the remaining podium position.

Jonass finished the race in fifth ahead of Seewer and the Yamaha of Calvin Vlaanderen.

Glenn Coldenhoff ended up in eighth at the chequered flag, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Kjer Olsen rounded out the top-ten.