Geerts makes an astonishing recovery to join Renaux on the podium at the Dutch Grand Prix

SM Action M.C. Migliori’s Maxime Renaux celebrated the second round of the FIM Motocross World Championship from the second step of the podium. He was joined on the box by the Poleman, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Jago Geerts, who dominated race one and made an astonishing recovery in race two where he finished seventh after a spectacular crash saw him start 1-lap down.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s Geerts asserted his place at the top of the leader board with a convincing Qualifying Race victory at round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands.
The 19-year-old Belgian sensation got his YZ250FM off to a sensational start. He took the holeshot and led every single lap, 12 in total, to go Pole for the first time in his career.
After emerging from turn-one in eighth in the opening race, Geerts’ extraordinary speed and style on the rough and rugged Valkenswaard circuit was magnified as he dashed past many of the world’s quickest MX2 riders.
With less than 1-minute left on the clock, Geerts had reeled the race leader, Tom Vialle, in and dragged past the Frenchman right in front of his team and mechanics in pitlane to take over the lead. The #193 eventually won his second race of the season with a 13-second advantage over Vialle.
Renaux set the fastest lap of the race on his way to his first top-three finish of the season.
Persistent rain made for a dramatic race two. Geerts got off to yet another incredible start but clipped the rear wheel of another rider and was brutally thrown to the ground. The ‘193’ had the wind knocked out of him and was almost a full lap down by the time he had his breath back and was able to remount his YZ250FM.
While at one point it seemed inconceivable for the Belgian to bounce back from his spectacular fall, the youngster put on a compelling display of heart and determination as he charged to an absolutely mind-blowing seventh-place finish.
Renaux backed up his brilliant opening race with yet another stunning third-place performance, even after a heavy fall.
Geerts’ breath-taking performance in the final race of the day allowed him to salvage valuable championship points. He is now second place in the MX2 Championship Standings, five-points shy of the new championship leader Vialle. Renaux has moved up to fourth in the championship standings.
The riders are already looking forward to the next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, which will take place in Villa la Angostura, Argentina on the weekend of March 21.
“I didn’t have the best start in the first race, but I made some good passes on the first laps and after 15 minutes I was in second place and hunting Tom [Vialle],” said Geerts. “I managed to pass him and take the win, the track was really tough, but it was a good race for me.
“In the second heat, I had a really big crash in the first turn, and I hit my ribs and I couldn’t breathe. I started more than 1-minute down, but I got back to seventh, so I could still stand on the podium. I am already looking forward to Argentina where I can take some revenge.”
[more-from heading=”Latest News” category=”news”]