Team HRC MXGP riders Tim Gajser and Evgeny Bobryshev found luck wasn’t on their side today as they bashed through the Belgium sands on their CRF450RW.
With no more rain overnight, the track had a chance to settle and the sitting water that was a problem in qualifying yesterday had been drained, allowing for much better line choices for riders.
Although the water had cleared off the start line, Gajser still struggled with his first race start and found himself getting knocked about in the first corner. The Slovenian was unusually caught up in the pack and although he had the speed, he couldn’t get the momentum to make many passes coming in ninth. The second race started better and this meant Gajser could make some efficient passes, getting into the top six. By the end of the race he found his rhythm and was pushing for a top four finish. The relentlessly rough Lommel terrain bit Gajser back and he went down twice in the last lap in his efforts to push for a higher position.
“I am disappointed with today. We have been testing and during the test the speed was there, I was fast and comfortable on the bike,” said Gasjer.
“When I came into the race it was different I was struggling first Moto, I didn’t have a good start and I was struggling to pass the riders in front of me. My speed was there but I just couldn’t make a pass. Second race was a bit better, I had a better start and I made some decent passes. At the end of the race I was really fast, I caught Desalle and Coldenhoff and then I made a mistake and fell down and then fell again in the last lap. So, it has been a really disappointing weekend overall. That is just how it is, this season I don’t seem to have any luck but that is racing.”
Bobryshev after a difficult first race battling with the pain in his back, showed early promise in the second race with a good start in fifth place. The Russian looked more at ease and he appeared to be making headway on a now perilous track. Unfortunately, in the last five minutes of the race, a back-marker collided with the Russian knocking him off his bike and winding him, meaning Bobryshev had to retire from the race.
Next week the riders head into Switzerland for round 15 which is the also the middle race in a back to back trio.
