Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Maxime Renaux Masters Matterley Basin to Win MX2 Grand Prix of Great Britain
giugno 28, 2021 - Yamaha Racing

Maxime Renaux Masters Matterley Basin to Win MX2 Grand Prix of Great Britain

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Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2’s #maximerenaux celebrated an emphatic Grand Prix – the second of his career and first of 2021 - at the second round of the FIM Motocross World Championship at #matterleybasin, in Winchester, England. As a result, the Frenchman has moved up to second in the #mx2 World Championship standings. Meanwhile, teammates Thibault Benistant and Jago Geerts finished the Grand Prix of Great Britain seventh and 11th, respectively.

Matterley Basin this year was a lot firmer and slicker than in previous years. The hardpacked, rough and bumpy base didn’t develop the deep ruts it usually does, which meant the speed of the venue was high and lap-times were close. In Qualifying Practice, only 1-second separated the top-seven riders. Benistant set the second-fastest time with a 2:21.289, only fractionally quicker than his teammate Renaux, who posted a time of 2:21.410 for third. Geerts fastest lap was a 2:23.489. He qualified 15th. 

A good start can be the difference between winning and losing in motocross. After making changes to their YZ250FMs ahead of #racing today, both Renaux and Benistant rocketed out of the gate and fronted the field in the opening race. 

In what was a gripping race that went right down to the wire, Renaux remained poised and in control as he led all 14-laps for his first race win of 2021. Meanwhile, Benistant was the fastest man on track for much of the race but finished fifth after crashing out of a battle for second position on lap-5. 

After a mid-pack start, Geerts, who is suffering the effects of a knee injury, made some impressive passes on his way to seventh.

In contrast to the opening race, all three riders had to fight forward from the back of the pack in the final race of the day. Renaux made a series of spectacular passes with no time to waste as he stormed from 15th to seventh in the space of a lap. After a formidable ride, the 20-year-old Frenchman eventually finished second. 

With an extreme depth of talent in the #mx2 class, most riders are evenly matched in speed, making passing extremely difficult, particularly on tracks that lack technical difficulty. Benistant felt a little hesitant on the opening laps but managed to battle back from outside of the top-15 to finish ninth. 

Adding insult to injury, Geerts was disappointed to finish 22nd after a poor start and two crashes.

Renaux has moved within 5-points of the #mx2 Championship lead, while Benistant has shifted up into ninth in the series. Geerts also gained one position and is now 11th.   

The next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place next weekend in Maggiora, Italy, on July 4th. 

Maxime Renaux

MX2 Grand Prix of Great Britain Winner 47-points

2nd #mx2 World Championship Standings, 75-points

“This weekend was really good. I am so happy to bounce back after Russia because I felt like I struggled there. I made a good start in the first #moto; I got my first ever Fox Holeshot and won the first race. Then in the second race I had some good battles, and I am just really pumped with my overall performance and looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Thibault Benistant

7th #mx2 Grand Prix of Great Britain, 28-points

9th #mx2 World Championship Standings, 48-points

“I have a few good points to take away from this weekend. I am a little bit disappointed about my second #moto. I have good speed, but I had a difficult start and then in #mx2 everyone gives everything on the first lap and for me it is difficult to ride ‘without the mind’ so I lose a lot of places and then I need to try to come back through the field once I have my rhythm.”

Jago Geerts

11th #mx2 Grand Prix of Great Britain, 14-points 

11th #mx2 World Championship Standings, 33-points

“It was a really difficult weekend for me, although the first heat was okay. I had a bad start, but I felt pretty good, and I managed to get back to seventh. In the second race, everything that could go wrong, did. I had a bad start, two crashes, and it was just a terrible end to the weekend. I am not happy, but I will try to regroup and improve next weekend.”