MXGP Patagonia – Argentina: Fernandez and Geerts kickstar the 2023 season on top!

The first round of the FIM Motocross World Championship went in a flash and witnessed an incredible fight for the podium in both MXGP and MX2 categories. In the end it was Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing MX2 Team’s Jago Geerts who clinched the win in the MXGP of Patagonia – Argentina to start their season in the best possible way.

It was the 7th edition of the Argentinian GP in Villa La Angostura and as always all its promises as it offered a thrilling show during the whole weekend, on a demanding track and in front of ecstatic fans coming in large numbers to cheer the best riders in the world and their home heroes like Argentinian brothers Joaquin and Agustin Poli, among others riders from Argentina and the region.

Saturday´s qualifying races saw Jorge Prado and Jago Geerts win their respective races to collect the first ten points of the season and the red plate heading to Sunday races. While Geerts could reply the win going to get a perfect 1-1, Prado ended up third overall despite he wins the first race.

MXGP:

It wasn´t an easy weekend for Fernandez though. In the first race, he leads the early laps in front of his countryman Jorge Prado, who eventually made a pass on Fernandez in lap 5 to take the win. Fernandez continued riding well in a steady 5th place, but on lap 14 he crashed. In the end, Fernandez claims 5th behind Prado, Febvre, Renaux, and Herlings.

In the second race, Fernadez moves quickly to the first position in the early corners. From there, the HRC rider never gave up the position. Lap by lap, he was running away from the rest of the pack to take his first-ever win in the MXGP class, as well as in the Motocross World Championship. His 5-1 was well enough to win the overall too. However, the red plate remains to Jorge Prado by 2 points thanks to the previous win on Saturday.

“It is unbelievable to have won this race and the overall. When they told me I had won the GP, it was crazy, especially after the crash in race one when I was in second. It has been a long journey to get here, and I couldn’t be happier with how things have gone. It has been great working with all of Team HRC and it feels like a family already to get all their support throughout means a lot to me. Winning the GP is a special feeling and I am really just so happy.”

The comeback of Herlings was one that everyone was waiting for, and “the bullet” did not disappoint. We saw Herlings growing confidence throughout the weekend and particularly in the second race, where he came off the gate drop on very fast to find himself third on the first lap and quickly made the move on Jonass, who displayed a strong weekend too, to get to second. He never put Fernandez under too much pressure but Herlings was exactly where he wanted to be as he showed calm, experienced, and fast. Previously, Herlings was 10th in the Qualifying race and then improved his results with a 4th on Sunday’s first race. His 4-2 gave him a well-deserved second overall.

“My goal was to be around the fifth position, so to get second here was great and it is a step in the right direction. I felt much more comfortable in the second race and it was a good weekend. It feels really good after my first race. I got better throughout the weekend. I haven’t raced these guys for sixteen months and that amount of time means you should not underestimate the class. I have done hundreds and thousands of laps in training but you cannot replicate the intensity of racing here. Every session was getting a little easier and I don’t think it is bad to 2nd. If I had this option beforehand then I would have taken it. I just want to keep on building up my race rhythm now.”

Jorge Prado started the season on fire. The Spaniard won the Qualifying race and then the first race, both races in big fashion. However, it wasn´t enough to get the overall after a bad start in the second race that put him back in 5th position. He tried to climb, but instead, he was passed by Febvre to settle in sixth and the end. Anyway, Prado will keep the red plate heading to round 2 in two weeks at the GP of Riola Sardo on March 25 & 26.

“It was a good weekend; I didn’t feel at my best in the second race although I had a decent start. But the positive is that it is my first red plate in MXGP and I am super happy about it and hopefully I can continue like this for the rest of the season”

Frenchman pair Romain Febvre and Maxime Renaux showed some great moments of speed and battles throughout the weekend. But mistakes keep both of them out of the podium, ending fourth and sixth overall, respectively. Same for Latvian Pauls Jonass who was 5h overall with a 6-4. On the other hand, Jeremy Seewer was into a nightmare. On Saturday he suffered a big crash and another crash in the early stages of the first race put him away from any chances of being at the podium. Fortunately, his speed didn´t vanish, and made a good comeback in the second race to take third and valuable points for the championship.

MX2:

In the MX2 class, Monster Energy Yamaha Jago Geerts was the one to beat the entire weekend. The Belgian marked a quiet sixth place early on Time Practice. However, he emerged with a strong win in the Qualifying race over KTM Red Bull debutant Andrea Adamo and former first-round winner Simon Langenfelder from GasGas Factory Racing.

Then in the first race, Geerts was challenged early on by Kay de Wolf and his Yamaha teammate Thibault Benistant. Geerts was riding in third, but then he regain the lead. Kay de Wolf and Benistant both collide due to a lapper. Once again out front, Geerts won by a comfortable margin over the rest of the field. In the second race, Geerts was even more dominant leading all laps en route to the perfect 1-1.

“Three great starts, three wins: it couldn’t be better, a perfect weekend. I have to admit I wasn’t expecting that at all. My preparation has been seriously disrupted by a severe flu. For three weeks I could hardly do anything. I only raced one race before I came to Argentina. I missed race rhythm, and also bike training. And still get 60 points… That’s just unbelievable. Big thumbs to my team as well. My Yamaha went out of the starting gate like a rocket three times. That makes the job a lot easier.”

Italian Andrea Adamo his made debut with the Red Bull KTM colors. At his first race as a factory rider, he didn´t disappoint and showed why he is there. Adamo went on a consistent 3-3 for 2d overall. Both times fighting hard.

“I’m really happy with this result. I changed my life quite a lot when I signed for the team: I moved to Belgium, starting training with Joel [Smets] and could work with Tony [Cairoli] as Team Manager. It is a perfect combination with lots of good guidance and advice. I didn’t have any goals this weekend apart from doing my best. We’ll keep working from here.”

Third overall was Geerts teammate, Thibault Benistant. The Frenchman was fast, especially in the first race where he chase Geerts until the checkered flag. Unfortunately, an eventful second race put him back in 8th position. Benistant wasn´t the only irregular rider out there, and his 2-8 was enough to gain the 3nd place.

“I have mixed feelings after this first race. On one hand, I’m happy with my 3rd place, on the other hand I’m frustrated because of the crashes. In the first moto I felt really good and fast, until that lapped rider took me down. That was really disappointing. I got back into Geerts’ rear wheel, but then I made a mistake in the last lap. I also made a mistake in the second race. I was very lucky that no one jumped on me. I’m glad I can go home without injuries. All in all, a third place isn’t that bad, is it?”

Kay de Wolf, from Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, was the poleman in Time Practice and a really fast dude during the weekend, but crashes and constant mistakes keep him out of contention. Same situation for Kevin Horgmo and Rick Elzinga, who where 2-3 in the second race after a bad first race. On the other hand, Mikke Haarup, third overall last year in Argentina, struggled with mechanical issues all weekend to only manage a sixth in race two.