After a short, three-week summer break the 15th round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship took place at the sandy track of Mantova in northern Italy where the GP of Lombardia (ITA) marked the return to action of Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl.
Despite just limited training on his Husqvarna FC 450, Nagl showed he’s lost none of the speed that saw him lead the MXGP championship chase up until the GP of Germany. The Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing rider started the weekend on a high note, posting the third fastest time in Saturday’s timed practise. Sitting at the MXGP gate for the first time since June, he then made a good start before making his way to the front of the race and on to the race win.
Nagl lined up for the first moto both hoping for a strong performance but also knowing that his fitness would likely hold him back. Uncharacteristically getting a poor start the Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing rider hit the ground in the first turn before managing to climb to eighth at the chequered flag.
A better start in the second moto saw Nagl holding a top five position. Battling with Evgeny Bobryshev for fourth, a small mistake a few turns before the finish saw max drop to tenth. Rounding out the GP of Lombardia with an eight place overall result, Nagl managed to collect some precious championship points, which bring him closer to a top five finish in the final championship standings.
Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Dean Ferris enjoyed a positive GP in Mantova. Once more powering his Husqvarna FC 350 to an incredible start, the Australian was able to lead the first moto for two full laps before slowly falling back to seventh place. With the soft and sandy track changing a lot for the second moto, Ferris went on to cross the finish line in eighth position and secure seventh overall.
The GP of Lombardia saw Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Todd Waters battle through a challenging race day. The Australian had to fight his way to an eventual ninth place result after being involved in a first turn pile-up. Together with an eleventh place result in moto two, Waters ended tenth overall for the GP.
Nathan Watson started the weekend posting the second fastest time in Saturday’s timed practise. A first turn fall in the opening moto on Sunday forced Watson to work extremely hard, eventually finishing 14th. The British rider made a positive start to the second moto but following a heavy fall was unable to finish the moto.
In MX2 class, it was a GP of highs and lows for Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Harri Kullas. The Finnish rider started the weekend on a high note with a fifth place in Saturday’s qualifying race. Feeling ‘at home’ in Mantova’s sandy terrain, Kullas approached the final motos with high expectations. A minor electrical issue made Kullas loose time at the start of the first moto. The first few laps saw him fight from outside the top 20 to eventually move forward and finish 17th. Luck wasn’t on his side in moto two as a first corner crash left him with a damaged injector connector, caused by the handlebars of another rider. Kullas was unable to finish moto two.
Max Nagl: “I knew this GP was going to be difficult, but it’s great to be back racing. Things could have gone better, but I feel like my speed and riding was good – it’s just my fitness that needs to improve. I got a bad start in the first moto, which was disappointing. But I rode well to come from last to eighth. Even so, after winning Saturday’s qualifying race I was hoping for better. I got a good jump over the gate in the second moto but not great drive down the straight. I was in the pack again but holding a good fifth place. It was hard to pass but I felt ok. A small fall on the last lap meant I lost some positions. Like I said it’s great to be back racing, but doing the training I need to do to get back to full fitness is still hard because of swelling around the injury.”
Todd Waters: “Two first turn crashes pretty much ruined my day. I felt great on the track and was third fastest this morning. Then I got flattened in the first turn of the opening moto. I got back to ninth and got some points but what can you do after a first turn crash. I couldn’t believe it when I went down at the start of the second moto. I lost my filter side cover and the filter got covered in sand. It wasn’t great and felt like the throttle was sticking at times. Pretty much a really frustrating day.”
Nathan Watson: “I got landed on during Saturday’s qualifying race, which made racing today really hard. I partly dislocated my collarbone, so raced with it strapped up and on painkillers. I went down in the first turn and somehow all the buckles on one of my boots came undone. I got back to 14th but it was a tough race. The second moto was going great and I was fifth after the opening few laps. Then I got pitched off and banged my legs on the bars as I went down. I feel so beat up but hopefully everything will be better for next weekend.
”Results – FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 15
MXGP Overall
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 50pts; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 42pts; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 40pts… 7. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 27pts; 8. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 24pts… 10. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 22pts… 16. Nathan Watson (Husqvarna) 7pts… 18. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 6pts
MXGP Race 1
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 17 laps, 34:31.030; 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 34:35.624; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 34:38.135… 7. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 34:53.164, 8. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 34:59.524; 9. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 35:02.769… 14. Nathan Watson (Husqvarna) 35:40.464… 18. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 34:39.302
MXGP Race 2
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 17 laps, 34:43.106; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) 34:50.745; 3. Shaun Simpson (KTM) 34:52.338… 8. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 35:05.167… 10. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 35:16.795; 11. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 35:36.727… 18. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 36:04.028
MX2 Overall
1. Max Anstie (Kawasaki) 50pts; 2. Tim Gasjer (Honda) 42pts; 3. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 42pts… 21. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 6pts; 22. Anton Lundgren (Husqvarna) 5pts; 23. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 4pts
MX2 Race 1
1. Max Anstie (Kawasaki) 17 laps, 34:33.215; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 34:36.715; 3. Tim Gasjer (Honda) 34:38.009… 16. Anton Lundgren (Husqvarna) 36:06.397; 17. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 36:17.263… 21. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 34:34.289… 25. Filippo Zonta (Husqvarna) 35:54.163; 26. Maykal Grisha Ivanov (Husqvarna) 36:20.661
MX2 Race 2
1. Max Anstie (Kawasaki) 17 laps, 35:01.640; 2. Tim Gasjer (Honda) 35:12.640; 3. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 35:15.491… 15. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 36:32.918… 25. Filippo Zonta (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 36:44.201
Championship Standings (After Round 15)
MXGP
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 597pts; 2. Gautier Paulin (Honda) 496pts; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 463pts… 6. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 384pts… 10. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 300pts; 12. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 235pts… 23. Nathan Watson (Husqvarna) 77pts… 27. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 33pts… 32. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 23pts
MX2
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 475pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 471pts; 3. Max Anstie (Kawasaki) 437pts… 12. Aleksandr Tonkov (Husqvarna) 256pts… 21. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 96pts… 27. Anton Lundgren (Husqvarna) 42pts… 35. Grisha Maykal Ivanov (Husqvarna) 13pts… 40. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 7pts