The Monster Energy FIM Motocross World Championships are nearing the conclusion of the 2012 season, as only two rounds remain after this past weekend’s GP of Benelux. The sandy circuit is similar to what racers will be facing come Lommel for the MX of Nations, and is maybe the most thorough look for the US riders to expect from the European competition. Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli claimed all four moto wins in their respective classes and increased the gap in points between themselves and their championship rivals.
MX2
In the days leading up to the event, Jeffrey Herlings stated that he intended to win both motos by one-minute margins, a feat the sand specialist accomplished with ease. Herlings tore away with the lead early in the first moto over teammate Jeremy van Horebeek and simply decimated the field over the course of 19 laps. Van Horebeek would be the only rider of the 35-man field to not be put a lap down by Herlings at the final flag, but was back two minutes and seven seconds to the race winner. It was much the same in the second moto, as Herlings overtook Floride/Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Tommy Searle and sped away to another uncontested win. Herlings and and Searle are currently first and second in the championship standings with 65-points separating them.
MX2 Results
1. Jeffrey Herlings 1-1
2. Jeremy van Horebeek 2-2
3. Max Anstie 3-3
4. Tommy Searle 4-4
5. Arnaud Tonus 6-5
MX2 Point Standings
1. Jeffrey Herlings 622pts
2. Tommy Searle 557pts
3. Jeremy van Horebeek 519pts
4. Jake Nicholls 387pts
5. Joel Roelants 367pts
MX1
Red Bull KTM’s Max Nagal took control of the first moto after claiming the holeshot and went on to lead over two-thirds of the 18-lap race. Nagal was overtaken by a charging Antonio Cairoli, who climbed from a seventh place spot on the first lap to sweep by his teammate Nagal with only five laps to go. Red Bull KTM would sweep the top-three spots of the first moto, as Cairoli, Nagal, and Ken de Dycker handled the rest of the field. Nagal would repeat his holeshot worthy start in the second moto but would crash in a section of rollers and collect Rui Goncalves in the early moments. With Nagal out of the running, Cairoli would win the moto and overall for the day with relative ease over second place de Dycker. The win puts Cairoli just points shy of clinching his sixth world title.
MX1 Results
1. Antonio Cairoli 1-1
2. Ken De Dycker 3-2
3. Tanel Leok 4-3
4. Evgeny Bobryshev 6-4
5. Shaun Simpson 7-5
MX1 Point Standings
1. Antonio Cairoli 592pts
2. Clement Desalle 516pts
3. Gautier Paulin 468pts
4. Christophe Pourcel 452pts
5. Ken de Dycker 446pts
