One of the most impressive result sequences in the FIM Motocross World Championship came to an end in Finland when Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek crashed in the second moto and ended his spell of 11 consecutive MXGP podiums by classifying fourth overall.
The Belgian went down in the Hyvinkaa sand while holding a comfortable second position and once he pitted to correct a damaged radiator shroud he then started a comeback from eighteenth to tenth that meant he only just missed out on continuing his run on the YZ450FM. “It was a bad GP but if I was eighth then I would have been on the podium again,” he commented.
Some Grand Prix riders do not put a lot of stock into records and numbers but Van Horebeek was clearly disappointed his streak had been ended and when he was only two rostrum appearances away from equalling Tony Cairoli’s haul of 13 trophies in a row in the premier class from 2013.
“It is a shame because I was pretty sure I could do them all on the podium but yeah, it is what it is. I’m a human, I’m not superman!” he said at his motorhome afterwards.
Van Horebeek was – and still is – Cairoli’s closest title threat coming into Finland and round 13 of 17 but the Belgian was unable to match the Sicilian’s speed around the vicious bumps of Hyvinkaa and his mistake (one of the very few so far this season) has allowed the champion to extend his margin in the MXGP standings to 62 points; over a Grand Prix with just four to go.
JVH was keeping positive however and with two favourable circuits coming next on the schedule and with Loket in the Czech Republic one of Cairoli’s least rewarding in 10 years of GP racing then the Yamaha man could still yet walk the elusive top step of the box.
“I hope I can go to Loket and win because it is one of my favourite tracks but as you can see a mistake is quickly made,” Van Horebeek reflected. “I hope I can put it aside really quick and keep going like before. If not then I will just have to ride safe.”
