Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Maxime Renaux has finished on the overall podium with a strong third overall at the MXGP of Italy. Showing impressive speed all weekend around the Montevarchi circuit, the Frenchman charged to a runner-up finish in Race One before securing third overall with sixth in Race Two. For Gajser, the ninth round of the MXGP World Championship was bittersweet with his Race Two victory coming shortly after a tough first race where a lap one collision resulted in a broken front wheel.
Focused on bouncing back to form after a challenging Grand Prix in Latvia, Renaux did exactly that in Italy. Despite competing with a lingering virus, the former MX2 World Champion battled at the sharp end of the field throughout Race One as he challenged for victory until the very end. At the finish he was just over one second from the win aboard his Yamaha YZ450FM, with his attention quickly turning to Race Two.
In the second race, Renaux didn’t enjoy the best of starts and spent much of the race in sixth. The 26-year-old briefly moved up to fifth, before he lost the position to Romain Febvre one lap later. For the remainder of the race, Renaux held strong to maintain sixth – a result that secured his place on the overall podium for the second time this season. Following his solid points haul in Italy, Renaux returns to fifth in the MXGP World Championship standings.
It was a mixed day of racing for Gajser at the MXGP of Italy. Having won the Qualifying Race, the 29-year-old had the speed to challenge for the overall Grand Prix victory. Frustratingly, a minor collision with another rider early on in Race One resulted in several broken spokes in his front wheel. After the wheel was replaced in pit lane, he rejoined the race and, despite his best efforts, just missed out on finishing inside the points in 22nd.
In Race Two, Gajser made amends for the unfortunate Race One incident by taking a convincing victory. After starting second, he moved into the lead on lap five and then controlled the race from the front to win by almost seven seconds. The win marked Gajser’s second first-place finish on Yamaha machinery, and he secured ninth overall to maintain fourth in the series standings.
After a largely positive Grand Prix for the team, Renaux and Gajser will now head to Agueda, Portugal, for round 10 of the MXGP World Championship next weekend, June 27-28.
