INDONESIAN MUD CURTAILS SUZUKI MXGP IMPROVEMENT

2017-03-05 09:35
Indonesia saw both Kevin Strijbos and Arminas Jasikonis record their best moto results of the MXGP season so far, but there was a feeling that even more could have been accomplished were it not for the big mudhole that developed on the far side of the track.

Both riders fell victim to it at different stages of the first moto and it was then this obstacle that played a big part in the second MXGP moto being cancelled, denying the riders a chance for redemption as they look to climb the championship leaderboard.

That led to some disappointment for Strijbos, who had a decent first moto and he had this to say about the weekend: “It’s a shame that it’s been cancelled as from our side, we were here all week waiting for the GP and then they cancelled yesterday after free practice and then today after the first race. The first moto I just tried to stay on two wheels, I wasn’t riding great, a bit too tight, scared to make a mistake. Others were faster but they were getting stuck so I was doing ok. Then the last lap I got stuck in the mudhole and Rui Goncalves passed me for fifth so that’s disappointing as I felt I was good enough for that top-five. Some main guys lost a lot of points so that’s good for me in the championship; now I just need to go home, work on some weak points and get ready for Argentina.”

Arminas Jasikonis was also annoyed that after missing Qatar, his first GP on the new RM-Z450WS, was cut short to one race, which was then ruined by the mudhole. “I completely screwed up. I was running good, in like sixth place but that one mud place really messed me up each lap. I finished 16th or something so I’m really disappointed as I feel I could do so much better. My speed was good but that one part cost me everything. I was one of the fastest guys on the track and I was riding easy everywhere except that one place. I definitely feel that I can be there at the top, I just need to do it now,” commented the Lithuanian who is desperate to show his true skills in this stacked MXGP class.

These sentiments were echoed by General Manager Stefan Everts: “Kevin came through a little after an ok start but he rode tense, you could see that in his riding that he struggled although he still finished sixth. It was a pity that he got passed by Rui because a top-five would have been nice. AJ also could have had a top-five, his speed was there but he kept making mistakes in that mudhole. That was a real shame but hopefully in Argentina we’ll have ‘normal’ race and things can go better.”

Now there is weekend off before the MXGP World Championships resume in Neuquen, Argentina on March 19th where Strijbos and AJ will continue their pursuit of putting the new factory RM-Z450WS on the podium.

MXGP Moto 1: 1. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 36:06.712; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:07.725; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:12.501; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:39.427; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), +0:43.580; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:46.099; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:56.972; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:06.817; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:14.269; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +1:16.505; 11. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +1:22.216; 12. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:46.793; 13. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +2:22.026; 14. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +2:41.208; 15. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 16. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), -1 lap(s).

MXGP Moto 2: N/A (Not Available).

MXGP Overall: 1. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 25 points; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 22 p; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), 20 p; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 18 p; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), 16 p; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 15 p; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 14 p; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), 13 p; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 12 p; 10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), 11 p; 11. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 10 p; 12. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), 9 p; 13. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), 8 p; 14. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), 7 p; 15. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), 6 p; 16. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 5 p.

MXGP Points Standings: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 68 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 60 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 56 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 44 p.; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 42 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 41 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 39 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 36 p.; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 34 p.; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 34 p.; 11. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 33 p.; 12. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 26 p.; 13. Rui Goncalves (POR, HUS), 24 p.; 14. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 22 p.; 15. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 22 p.; 16. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 18 p.; 17. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 17 p.; 18. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 17 p.; 19. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), 12 p.; 20. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, HON), 10 p.; 21. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 5 p.

Source: Team Suzuki Press Office

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