The Grand Prix of Patagonia Argentina throbbed to the anticipation and excitement of a near –capacity 29,000 fans across the weekend as MXGP dropped into Neuquen for the second time and for the fourth round of eighteen on the 2016 schedule. World Champion Romain Febvre had to bounce back from two crashes – one in each race – and positions deep in the pack of the premier class to register a hard-earned fourth place overall and keep control of the MXGP standings. The Frenchman saw a sixteen-race podium streak end in South America but displayed the fighting qualities and speed that continue to put the ‘461’ at the very peak of Grand Prix.
The Neuquen circuit is almost the definition of a ‘sweeping’ racetrack. Forged from the volcanic earth of the region, the terrain welcomed MXGP after the inaugural fixture in 2015 and gave Grand Prix stars a reminder of the sandy consistency of the ground but with a hard and unforgiving base. Many of the riding fraternity expected the surface to be rougher and more technical through practice and qualification on Saturday and through some chilly temperatures that kept the paddock in jackets and hats. On Sunday the course did churn and some deceptive holes punished even the slightest slip.
Saturday set the template for the action with a frantic Qualification Heat featuring a duel between Febvre and Tony Cairoli and even a collision between the two. Febvre was unstoppable in a charge back to second position. The Neuquen facility was ram-packed with spectator zones and surrounding roads struggling for space and the zealous fandom of the Argentineans was again one of the outstanding aspects of the event.
Febvre’s first moto could not have begun in a worse way. He misjudged his start and then fell on the first lap; both incidents meaning he was well outside the top twenty. From that moment onwards he commenced on an emphatic rally – with no small amount of risk – to regain points and positions up to sixth place and just two spots behind teammate Jeremy Van Horebeek. A better launch in the second moto went to pot when he slipped off the factory Yamaha trying to avoid Shaun Simpson. Having to re-fire the YZ450FM Romain again needed all of his guile and aggression to move up to third and pass Van Horebeek in the closing minutes and seconds.
“This is a result we know we can improve on; it was a bad day” said a slightly dejected Febvre. “In the first moto it was my mistake as I went too fast into the corner, lost the front end and went over the bars. In the second Simpson lost balance and I touched him with my front wheel. We know the track in Mexico and it is going to be much hotter than it is here in Argentina. Let’s see for next week.”
Van Horebeek was cautious to fifth overall while Neuquen was a 450-learning experience for MXGP rookie Valentin Guillod in eleventh. The Swiss classified just behind Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle who showed flashes of his old resilience and tenacity as the Belgian is still on the recovery path from injury. Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle was forced out of the second moto after breaking his nose after a fall through the waves section.
Jeffrey Herlings maintained a 100% record in MX2 with his fourth GP win on the bounce and a fantastic eight-moto streak. The Dutchman also toasted his 100th chequered flag at the age of 21 and only two weeks after he reached a tally of 50 Grands Prix victories in his career.
Herlings had little challenge in Argentina but Wilvo Standing Construct Yamaha’s Alex Tonkov had recovered sufficiently from a virus that ruined his attempt at the Grand Prix of Europe three weeks previously to walk the box in third place overall.
“For sure I feel better than three weeks ago and I’m not sure what happened to me because I have never been that sick; I just about survived Valkenswaard and then went back to bed!” the Russian said. “So I’m happy to be better but I’m still not 100%. The team made a great job and the bike was working really well, which was important on a track like this that was pretty sketchy. It was nice racing today and I was close to the guys but could not make the pass, so I will learn from that.”
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Petar Petrov was a distant fifth overall and just beat brandmate Vsevolod Brylyakov by one rank; the Russian enjoying his best classification of the season so far and since joining the Kawasaki ranks for his second full GP term. Kemea Yamaha’s Benoit Paturel was the third Monster Energy athlete in the top seven and the talented Frenchman rued a first moto tumble out of the gate that cast him to the very rear of the field.
MXGP continues its trek through the Americas this week with the teams beginning the journey north and to Leon in Mexico for round five and the third Grand Prix at the hard-pack circuit within the city park setting.