A 27.000 weekend crowd attended a busy Dutch Grand Prix in Valkenswaard. The sixth round of the FIM MXGP World Championship was a mixed bag for the 24MX Honda Racing squad. Xavier Boog classified in 9th in the second moto but DNF’d in the first with a broken radiator. Belgium’s Jens Getteman had a hard time on his comeback to GP racing, still he managed to pick up three points.
After a difficult start of the season Boog’s 2014 MXGP campaign gained momentum over the last couple of GP’s. The sandy Valkenswaard track is arguably one of the toughest tests of the season for many French riders, including Xavier, so the 24MX Honda rider had his work cut out. Unfortunately an unlucky first moto cast a shadow over his overall result. After being hit by another rider in the first corner Boog’s race effectively almost ended then and there. As a result of the early collision he went down during the opening lap only to asses that his radiator was broken and he was forced to pull out. Race two started well. Xavier was fired up and made passes left, right and center in the first lap. He ran as high as seventh chasing sand specialist Joël Roelants. Suffering arm pump in the middle of the race put the brake on his forward march and ‘Boogie’ came home ninth.
An hungry Jens Getteman left an excellent impression during Saturday’s time practice, when he posted the 14th time. Keen to build on his strong results in international racing last week Jens started race day super motivated. The Belgian rider started mid-pack in the first moto, he circulated in 18th early on but struggled to maintain his pace. Jens held on to 19th for most of the 30 minute plus two lap sprint, however he was passed by Milko Potisek in the final lap. Although the track had gotten even rougher and bumpier by the second MXGP moto, Getteman thrived. Just as he had after his spill during Saturday’s qualifying race the former Belgian MX2 champion uncovered some previously unfound speed. From 23rd he rode to 19th across the finish line.
In the MXGP standings Boog is currently tenth on 108 points and six points away from seventh spot. Jens Getteman, who missed three GP’s, sits in 25th equal in points with De Reuver, Potisek and Ullrich.
Xavier Boog: “It was not the best of weekends really! Already in the first corner Roelants slid and his rear wheel hit my radiator. Halfway through the first lap I crashed, I noticed that the water was coming out (of the radiator) and that was it for race one. My start in the first moto was not great, but my speed was okay. I was fighting with Rattray, Roelants and Simpson and I felt good. To be among strong sand riders was encouraging but in the middle of the moto I got arm pump. Than it was a long way till the end of the race.”
Jens Getteman: “I’m quite disappointed because I know my speed is good for the moment and I like Valkenswaard. Consistency over race distance was always going to be a question mark but the first moto just went terrible! I couldn’t find my rhythm and my riding was just not good enough. I crashed in the second lap when I lost the front exiting a chicane. As if a switch was turned on, something clicked. I got into the flow and started riding the best I have all weekend. It’s a shame that I needed to go down before I reached that level! But I know this is a stepping stone, so I want to improve in the next GP’s.”
MXGP moto 1
1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 34:53.781; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:09.759; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:18.371; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:30.792; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:32.695; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:46.964; 7. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Husqvarna), +0:48.846; 8. Joel Roelants (BEL, Honda), +0:50.977; 9. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), +1:16.555; 10. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:17.789; 11. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +1:22.248; 12. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +1:22.312; 13. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), +1:41.425; 14. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:43.133; 15. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), +1:44.125; 16. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:46.349; 17. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:46.582; 18. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), +2:06.676; 19. Milko Potisek (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Jens Getteman (BEL, 24MX Honda Racing), -1 lap(s); 21. Rui Goncalves (POR, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 22. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 23. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 24. Augusts Justs (LAT, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 25. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Honda), -2 lap(s); 26. Herjan Brakke (NED, Kawasaki), -6 lap(s); DNF. Xavier Boog (FRA, 24MX Honda Racing), -17 lap(s)
MXGP moto 2
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 35:21.488; 2. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:10.683; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:20.504; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:29.708; 5. Joel Roelants (BEL, Honda), +0:39.061; 6. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:40.778; 7. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Husqvarna), +0:43.793; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:48.536; 9. Xavier Boog (FRA, 24MX Honda Racing), +1:13.651; 10. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), +1:16.979; 11. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +1:18.984; 12. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), +1:37.256; 13. Rui Goncalves (POR, Yamaha), +1:38.508; 14. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:47.571; 15. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), +1:50.426; 16. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:52.907; 17. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), +1:57.192; 18. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), -1 lap(s); 19. Jens Getteman (BEL, 24MX Honda Racing), -1 lap(s); 20. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), -1 lap(s); 21. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Honda), -1 lap(s); 22. Herjan Brakke (NED, Kawasaki), -10 lap(s); 23. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), -11 lap(s); 24. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), -12 lap(s); 25. Milko Potisek (FRA, Yamaha), -17 lap(s); 26. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), -17 lap(s);
MXGP of the Netherlands classification
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 45 points; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 37 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 36 p.; 5. Joel Roelants (BEL, HON), 29 p.; 6. Tyla Rattray (RSA, HUS), 28 p.; 7. Steven Frossard (FRA, KAW), 26 p.; 8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, KAW), 25 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 20 p.; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 19 p.; 11. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 18 p.; 12. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 15 p.; 13. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), 14 p.; 14. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 14 p.; 15. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 14 p.; 16. Marc de Reuver (NED, HON), 13 p.; 17. Xavier Boog (FRA, 24MX Honda Racing), 12 p.; 18. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 9 p.; 19. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), 9 p.; 20. Rui Goncalves (POR, YAM), 8 p.; 21. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), 4 p.; 22. Jens Getteman (BEL, 24MX Honda Racing), 3 p.; 23. Milko Potisek (FRA, YAM), 2 p.; 24. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HON), 0 p.; 25. Herjan Brakke (NED, KAW), 0 p.; 26. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 0 p.; 27. Augusts Justs (LAT, HUS), 0 p
FIM MXGP standings after 6 rounds
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 267 points; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 236 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 230 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, KAW), 205 p.; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 182 p.; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HON), 166 p.; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 114 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 113 p.; 9. Joel Roelants (BEL, HON), 112 p.; 10. Xavier Boog (FRA, 24MX Honda Racing), 108 p.; 11. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 107 p.; 12. Steven Frossard (FRA, KAW), 106 p.; 13. Rui Goncalves (POR, YAM), 92 p.; 14. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), 84 p.; 15. David Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 82 p.; 16. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 69 p.; 17. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), 68 p.; 18. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 67 p.; 19. Tyla Rattray (RSA, HUS), 61 p.; 20. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 29 p.; 21. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 28 p.; 22. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 17 p.; 23. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 15 p.; 24. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HON), 15 p.; 25. Marc de Reuver (NED, HON), 13 p.; 26. Milko Potisek (FRA, YAM), 11 p.; 27. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), 11 p.; 28. Jens Getteman (BEL, 24MX Honda Racing), 11 p.; 29. Herjan Brakke (NED, KAW), 10 p.; 30. Augusts Justs (LAT, HUS), 10 p.; 31. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing), 5 p.; 32. Antonio Balbi (BRA, KAW), 4 p.; 33. Arnon Theplib (THA, HON), 2 p.; 34. Amirezza Sabetifar (IRI, YAM), 2 p.;