Filip Thuresson rode to a strong 4th place at the world-famous Zwarte Cross, in Holland. Home rider Ceriel Klein Kromhof won the event. Over the three days of racing around 60.000 people attended the Zwarte Cross’ competition programme. 24MX Honda’s Klemen Gercar snapped up one point at the Czech MXGP in Loket. The 23-year old Slovenian is currently 29th in MXGP standings.
True to form differences were small at the stony, fast Loket track. Klemen managed some good lap times but had to settle for 20th in Saturday’s qualifying race. The first thirty minute plus two lap sprint on race day was a difficult one for the MX3 champion. Klemen was in the hunt for a handful of coveted championship points during the early stages. However a mistake on the fourth lap affected his chances and Gercar lost his rhythm. Eventually he came home 25th. In the second race he was more consistent. Klemen had climbed up to 18th but gradually lost ground to finish 20th at the finish line.
The fifteenth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place in the deep sand of Lommel for the GP of Belgium next weekend. Lommel will also host the ultimate round of the exciting Honda 150 European Championship.
The former GP track De Schans in Lichtenvoorde was the setting for the annual ‘Zwarte Cross’, a unique and hugely popular festival combining motorsports, music, stunts and theatre. 24MX Honda’s guest rider Filip Thuresson started his weekend in superb form, posting the third time in time practice. The affable Swede confirmed his speed at the fast sand track with 3-5 finishes in the first two motos. Thuresson had his eyes firmly set on the overall podium as he stood third at the end of the first two days. With one day of riding left, Sunday would be the grand finale on a circuit that was packed to the rafters! Arm pump and mixed riding -he followed a mediocre first moto up by an inspired second- relegated Filip to 4th in final standings.
Klemen Gercar: “Loket was not as good as I expected. I think I wanted too much and put too much pressure on myself. At least it was good to keep consistent to reach my goal of scoring at least one point in every single GP. But for sure I might have scored more points on a track that I like, also Loket is a track where I’m normally good at. I know I have some work to do to make the next step. I need to improve my speed and how I read the track for lines. We have little time now to prepare for Lommel but I will give it my best shot in the sand.”
Filip Thuresson: “The start was super important in Lichtenvoorde, especially because the track was pretty flat for a sand circuit. Overall my riding was quite good, but I’m pretty disappointed to miss out on the overall podium. For sure the speed was there, Friday proved that I had what it takes to be top three. But I also struggled a little bit with arm pump and didn’t feel 100% on Sunday. Overall the weekend has been a blast though! Zwarte Cross is an awesome event and it has been a great experience to race here.”
Czech MXGP Loket results
MXGP moto 1 – 1. Strijbos (BEL, Suz), 33:50.286; 2. Van Horebeek (BEL, Yam), +0:09.231; 3. Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:16.050; 4. Nagl (GER, Honda), +0:23.810; 5. Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:27.157; 6. Paulin (FRA, Kaw), +0:27.751; 7. Desalle (BEL, Suz), +0:33.766; 8. Potisek (FRA, Yam), +0:34.639; 9. Ferris (AUS, Hus), +0:37.721; 10. Leok (EST, TM), +0:39.701; 11. Frossard (FRA, Kaw), +0:46.032; 12. Karro (LAT, KTM), +0:48.080; 13. Watson (GBR, Hus), +0:48.773; 14. Michek (CZE, KTM), +0:51.025; 15. De Dycker (BEL, KTM), +1:02.113; 16. Ullrich (GER, KTM), +1:04.701; 17. Irwin (IRL, Suz), +1:17.815; 18. Searle (GBR, Kaw), +1:18.576; 19. Goncalves (POR, Yam, +1:19.768; 20. Brakke (NED, Kaw), +1:21.739; 21. Guarneri (ITA, TM), +1:23.985; 22. Smitka (CZE, KTM), +1:29.527; 23. Bertuzzo (ITA, Yam), +1:40.154; 24. Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), +1:57.166; 25. Gercar (SLO, 24MX Honda), -1 lap(s);
MXGP moto 2 – 1. Van Horebeek (BEL, Yam), 35:16.829; 2. Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.531; 3. Strijbos (BEL, Suz), +0:01.840; 4. Ullrich (GER, KTM), +0:46.421; 5. Frossard (FRA, Kaw), +0:58.054; 6. Paulin (FRA, Kaw), +1:06.979; 7. Guarneri (ITA, TM), +1:11.092; 8. Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:12.509; 9. Searle (GBR, Kaw), +1:13.837; 10. Karro (LAT, KTM), +1:17.578; 11. Leok (EST, TM), +1:18.932; 12. Goncalves (POR, Yam), +1:20.389; 13. Watson (GBR, Hus), +1:22.599; 14. Potisek (FRA, Yam), +1:26.140; 15. Ferris (AUS, Hus), +1:29.643; 16. Irwin (IRL, Suz), +1:31.849; 17. Nagl (GER, Honda), +1:33.683; 18. Brakke (NED, Kaw), +1:38.835; 19. Michek (CZE, KTM), +1:43.617; 20. Klemen Gercar (SLO, 24MX Honda), +1:53.803; 21. Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Smitka (CZE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 23. De Dycker (BEL, KTM), -11 lap(s); 24. Bertuzzo (ITA, Yam), -14 lap(s);
MXGP of Czech Republic classification – 1. Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 47 points; 2. Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 45 p.; 3. Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 42 p.; 4. Paulin (FRA, KAW), 30 p.; 5. Simpson (GBR, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Frossard (FRA, KAW), 26 p.; 7. Ullrich (GER, KTM), 23 p.; 8. Nagl (GER, HON), 22 p.; 9. Leok (EST, TM), 21 p.; 10. Karro (LAT, KTM), 20 p.; 11. Potisek (FRA, YAM), 20 p.; 12. Ferris (AUS, HUS), 18 p.; 13. Watson (GBR, HUS), 16 p.; 14. Searle (GBR, KAW), 15 p.; 15. Guarneri (ITA, TM), 14 p.; 16. Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 14 p.; 17. Goncalves (POR, YAM), 11 p.; 18. Irwin (IRL, SUZ), 9 p.; 19. Michek (CZE, KTM), 9 p.; 20. De Dycker (BEL, KTM), 6 p.; 21. Brakke (NED, KAW), 4 p.; 22. Klemen Gercar (SLO, 24MX HONDA), 1 p.; 23. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 0 p.; 24. Smitka (CZE, KTM), 0 p.; 25. Bertuzzo (ITA, YAM), 0 p
FIM MXGP standings after 14 rounds – 1. Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 619; 2. Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 562 p.; 3.Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 484 p.; 4. Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 469 p.; 5. Frossard (FRA, KAW), 333 p.; 6. Simpson (GBR, KTM), 325 p.; 7. Nagl (GER, HON), 291 p.; 8. Paulin (FRA, KAW), 235 p.; 9. Philippaerts (ITA, YAM), 234 p.; 10. Guarneri (ITA, TM), 232 p.; 11. Goncalves (POR, YAM), 211 p.; 12. Searle (GBR, KAW), 197 p.; 13. Karro (LAT, KTM), 187 p.; 14. Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 184 p.; 15. Xavier Boog (FRA, 24MX HONDA), 159 p.; 16. Roelants (BEL, HON), 158 p.; 17. Leok (EST, TM), 144 p.; 18. Rattray (RSA, HUS), 125 p.; 19. Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 125 p.; 20. Ullrich (GER, KTM), 123 p.; 21. Waters (AUS, HUS), 107 p.; 22. Potisek (FRA, YAM), 95 p.; 23. De Dycker (BEL, KTM), 91 p.; 24. Watson (GBR, HUS), 62 p.; 25. Ferris (AUS, HUS), 56 p.; 26. Teillet (FRA, KAW), 46 p.; 27. Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 44 p.; 28. Aranda (FRA, KAW), 32 p.; 29. Klemen Gercar (SLO, 24MX HONDA), 32 p.; 30. Brakke (NED, KAW), 31 p.; 31. Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 29 p.; 32. Lupino (ITA, KAW), 17 p.; 33. Irwin (IRL, SUZ), 16 p.; 34. De Reuver (NED, HON), 13 p.; 35. Jeremy Delince (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 12 p.; 36. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX HONDA), 11 p.; 37. Jens Getteman (BEL, 24MX HONDA), 11 p.; 38. Justs (LAT, HUS), 10 p.; 39. Michek (CZE, KTM), 9 p.; 40. Soubeyras (FRA, HON), 8 p…
ZWARTE CROSS RESULTS
Zwarte Cross moto 1 – 1. Marc De Reuver (NED, Honda), 2. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 3. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing), 4. Gert Krestinov (EST, Kawasaki), 5. Marvin Van Daele (BEL, KTM), 6. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Suzuki), 7. Marcus Lee Soper (GBR, Suzuki), 8. Oskar Olsson (SWE, KTM), 9. Rick Satink (NED, KTM), 10. Freek Van Der Vlist (NED, KTM)
Zwarte Cross moto 2 – 1. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 2. Freek Van Der Vlist (NED, KTM), 3. Gert Krestinov (EST, Kawasaki), 4. Oskar Olsson (SWE, KTM), 5. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing), 6. Priit Rätsep (EST, Kawasaki), 7. Marvin Van Daele (BEL, KTM), 8. Rick Satink (NED, KTM), 9. Marcus Lee Soper (GBR, Suzuki), 10. Rasmus Sjoberg (SWE, Honda)
Zwarte Cross moto 3 – 1. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 2. Priit Rätsep (EST, Kawasaki), 3. Freek Van Der Vlist (NED, KTM), 4. Gert Krestionov (EST, KTM), 5. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing), 6. Kouwenberg, 7. Oskar Olsson (SWE, KTM), 8. Marcus Lee Soper (GBR, Suzuki), 9. John Cuppen (NED, KTM), 10. Neville Bradshaw (GBR, Honda)
Zwarte Cross moto 4 – 1. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM), 2. Freek Van Der Vlist (NED, KTM), 3. Gert Krestinov (EST, Kawasaki), 4. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing), 5. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Suzuki), 6. Rick Satink (NED, KTM), 7. Marvin Van Daele (BEL, KTM), 8. Oskar Olsson (SWE, KTM), 9. Christian Dignum (NED, Kawasaki), 10. James Harrison (GBR, Honda)
Final classification Zwarte Cross 2014 – 1. Ceriel Klein Kromhof (NED, KTM) 197 points, 2. Freek Van Der Vlist (NED, KTM) 176, 3. Gert Krestinov (EST, Kawasaki) 174, 4. Filip Thuresson (SWE, 24MX Honda Racing) 170, 5.
Oskar Olsson (SWE, KTM) 155, 6. Marvin Van Daele (BEL, KTM) 150, 7. Rick Satink (NED, KTM) 143, 8. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, Suzuki) 137, 9. Marcus Lee Soper (GBR, Suzuki) 137, 10. Jeroen De Groot (NED, Kawasaki)