For a Grand Prix season that has seen another rookie burn white through the ranks of arguably the toughest and most competitive term MXGP has seen for a number of years, the searing sun of Glen Helen was a fitting stage for the 2016 closer and the eighteenth fixture on the FIM Motocross World Championship trail. The series landed in southern California and San Bernardino to tackle one of the most revered circuits in North America and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac extended his winning streak from Charlotte last Saturday to conquered the curtain-dropping Monster Energy MXGP of USA.
Speed, loose terrain, gravity defying climbs and brake-reddening drops were just some of the features and challenges that Glen Helen presented while the slew of nationalities in the MXGP gate also had to contend with temperatures that entered the mid-thirties; only tapered by a (appreciated) slight breeze.
Californian fans – as well as a devoted group of Slovenian supporters who’d travelled to cheer on new World Champion Tim Gajser – arrived on Sunday to find places around the fences. They saw a comprehensive and relentless pursuit of glory by Tomac who recovered from two poor getaways to defeat Tony Cairoli and Gajser to the top plinth of the box.
“I ate too much dirt today and my starts weren’t the greatest! I was struggling a bit in qualification and thought ‘man, I need to be better for tomorrow’ so we made a few changes and went in the right direction,” the Kawasaki ‘wild-card’ said. “Glen Helen is a tough racetrack; those were long thirty minute motos!”
“I had a lot of fun and obviously everyone is really fast but they all respect each other and the racing was clean so I enjoyed it; I would definitely come back for another one,” he continued.
Gajser posted a 4-3 scorecard in the two motos to toast his sixteenth rostrum appearance from eighteen; another phenomenal total in what has been a tremendous and comprehensive rookie campaign. “I came back strong today even if I perhaps pushed too hard in the beginning and lost a bit of focus at the end of the race,” the recently-turned twenty year old recounted. “The second moto was better for me and to be sixteen times on the podium from eighteen means I have to be happy. It was unbelievable to see the fans here and they have travelled half way around the world to make it and cheer for me. I’m so thankful for that. It has been a tough long season and I’m happy that its over…but I am also looking at the Maggiora now.”
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Romain Febvre – such a convincing victor at Glen Helen twelve months ago – was impeded by a technical problem on the works YZ450FM that forced the Frenchman to pull out of the first race. He then had a small crash on the slow left-hander than cost him four positions while he was pushing for the top three in the second sprint. ‘461’ was fifteenth overall and ends his second year in MXGP holding fourth in the championship and ruing a concussion in qualification at the British Grand Prix in July that scuppered his title bid. Props to Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Arnaud Tonus who grabbed a top ten finish in his MXGP debut on the KX450F and for what was a first outing on the bigger bike in prep for the 2016 Motocross of Nations in Italy in two weeks. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle sat out the Grand Prix after tweaking his left knee in qualification and will have an MRI on his return to Europe to assess the full extent of the damage.
In MX2 Jeffrey Herlings closed a remarkable seven-season career in the 250cc division with his fourteenth win from fifteen rounds contested. The newly crowned world champion for the third time received special dispensation to wear a ‘1’ on his red number plate instead of the usual ‘84’. Herlings had to beat former AMA Champion Jeremy Martin who was making his debut on the Geico Honda and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Austin Forkner. The teenager starred again one week after his Grand Prix debut resulted in a podium trophy at Charlotte and ran to second place in the first moto. Sadly two crashes for the youngster forced a second race DNF.
Glen Helen saw Kemea Yamaha’s Benoit Paturel cut his way to sixth place overall on the YZ250F and the repercussion of the Frenchman’s hard work was a well-deserved third place in the final MX2 championship table; besting his pre-season goal by two positions.
So, MXGP is a wrap. Points have been counted. Champagne has long since dried and left podiums on four continents sickly sweat. Garlands have been presented and dreams have been realised. While the six month and thirty-six race season is now over there is still racing to be done for the factory elite. The 70th Monster Energy Motocross of Nations will take place in the atmospheric climes of Maggiora in Italy in two weeks and then special one-off exhibition events like the SMX Riders’ Cup (in Germany on October 8th) and the Monster Energy Cup (in Las Vegas) will fatten the winter period.