The tricky Loket circuit was the scene of the latest challenge for Monster Energy Yamaha in the FIM Motocross World Championship and 22,000 fans came to the Czech Republic Grand Prix to enjoy more high temperatures and off-road action. Joel Roelants and replacement rider Milko Potisek took their factory YZ450FMs to 11th and 16th positions overall respectively in what was the fourteenth round of seventeen in the dwindling international schedule.
Roelants, who struggled a little with the slippery and restrictive terrain on Saturday, posted a seventh place in the first moto for a solid start to race day and on a layout that featured two new jumps and a remodelled start straight and first turn. The Belgian was bustled from the top ten at the start of the second outing and used the majority of the 35 minute and 2 lap distance to re-establish a rhythm and attack the rear wheel of David Philippaerts to miss out on 10th position by less than half a second by the flag.
Potisek, in his second appearance in ‘works colours’, was 11th in the first sprint for his third consecutive finish in the top eleven of the premier class. The Frenchman could have classified one or two positions higher but was surprised in the closing stages by Shaun Simpson. A better start in Moto2 indicated more points might be up for grabs but the 23 year old crashed and registered a DNF.
Steven Frossard continues to make progress in his recovery from a successful operation to fix a broken foot and still hopes to be back on the Yamaha for the British Grand Prix towards the end of the month.
A busy race programme of five meetings in seven weeks now gives way to a small pause. Monster Energy Yamaha can return to their base and prepare for the end of season run-in that will encompass events in Belgium, Great Britain and Holland. Bastogne will entertain the Belgian stop on the calendar on August 18th.
Joel Roelants
“Hard work today. I got seventh in the first moto which was not so bad but could have been better. In the second race I had a so-so start but on the second lap Philippaerts passed me quite heavily and I lost some positions. I struggled to find a good rhythm. I was using too much clutch and riding badly. I concentrated on being smoother and the speed got better but it was too late in the end. It was a really difficult track and I think it was the roughest I have seen it in years.”
Milko Potisek
“I wasn’t feeling so good on the track in the first moto and finished eleventh. Simpson got me on the last corner when I was just about to pass Leok; I wasn’t so happy about that and was determined for the start of the second moto. I made a good job of it and was eighth but then crashed when I tried to pass Simpson. I didn’t finish the race which I’m not pleased about but we go to Bastogne next and I love that track. So I hope to be in the top eight or nine.”