Vlaanderen fights back to put himself in podium contention

2019-03-31 08:46
Things were looking very promising for Calvin Vlaanderen after the MX2 rider posted the second quickest time in timed practice at the MXGP of the Netherlands. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to capitalise on his good gate pick for the qualification race as he got caught up in a first-chicane incident that left him right at the back of the field. Once he got going though, the Honda CRF250RW fought his way through the pack extremely well, passing 26 riders on his way to a 14th place finish. While this is lower down than he would have hoped, it still gives him a chance to battle the top guys and with the speed he showed throughout today, hopes are high he can get his first podium finish of the season.

Vlaanderen’s first gate drop tomorrow at this sunny Valkenswaard facility is at 13:15 (GMT +1), which takes into account the clocks going forward tonight.

Calvin Vlaanderen 10
The day started off well, I had a good feeling on the bike and with the track. The track is completely different from how it was last year because the temperature is 20 degrees warmer but it’s quite hard pack and not so deep compared with the years before. I felt good though, but unfortunately I got involved in an incident at the start of the qualifying race and it took me 30-40 seconds to get going after that. I fought back through the pack as best I could and ended up 14th, which wasn’t too bad. My feeling was good and my laptimes were comparable with the top guys so I’m happy with that. We’re now focused on tomorrow and I’m sure things will go better and my results can reflect the speed that I’m riding.

Calvin Vlaanderen
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager - MXGP
After being second fastest in timed practice, we were hopeful that Calvin could challenge for a race win. However a rider crashed right in front of him in the first chicane and he had nowhere to go and that meant he started from way behind the field. He then showed great determination and speed to carve his way through this MX2 class to get up to 14th place. With the laptimes he put in, we know that if he can avoid trouble tomorrow off the line, he is fully capable of getting his first podium of the season.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas
Qualifying Race
Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Time/Gap
1
PRADO GARCIA
Jorge 61 SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 24:48.550
2
KJER OLSEN
Thomas 19 DEN Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 9.942
3
GEERTS
Jago 193 BEL Kemea Yamaha Yamalube Racing Team 13.514
4
JACOBI
Henry 29 GER F&H Racing Team 19.460
5
POOTJES
Davy 46 NDL Team Diga-Procross 23.120
6
VAN DONINCK
Brent 32 BEL Team Honda Red Moto Assomotor 26.980
7
RENAUX
Maxime 959 FRA Yamaha SM Action - M.C. Migliori 29.278

Source: Honda Racing Corporation

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