Wolf prevails in MX2 class at Loket MXGP
In searing heat on the the daunting slopes of the Loketske Serpentiny the MX2 class of the Czech Republic MXGP saw another epic battle throughout the leading positions, and ultimately the red plate holder Kay De Wolf prevailed to take his fifth GP win of the year for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, and extend his points lead over his teammate, and first race winner, Lucas Coenen!
It looked like reigning Champion Andrea Adamo was going to get a confidence lift with the fastest time in Warm-Up, until RAM Qualifying Race winner Lucas Coenen dropped the hammer, and his lap time, on his very last run to claim the top time by 1.9 seconds. It was an ominous notification of what the teenage Belgian had in his locker heading into the afternoon’s races.
The first race began with Sacha Coenen taking yet another holeshot, in front of his two Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates, Adamo and Liam Everts! Sadly though, at the start of the second lap, Bike It MTX Kawasaki rider Jack Chambers crashed in front of the Pit Lane and the race had to be stopped as he was treated for concussion. We all wish him the best for a speedy recovery.
On the restart, Sacha Coenen once more emerged in front to claim his twelfth Fox Holeshot Award of the season, this time with his brother Lucas, who had been buried in the pack before the restart, right in his wheel tracks in second. Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 star Rick Elzinga was up into third and looking good on a surface which is not his usual favourite.
On the third lap, Lucas Coenen moved past Sacha into the lead, then the KTM-mounted twin hit the floor to lose second place to Elzinga!
Simon Laengenfelder held third for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, urged on by his many fans who had made the short trip over the nearby German border! However, Everts battled past him after a couple of attempts, before making a particularly sweet pass on Elzinga! Sadly, the Belgian fell a lap later, and would have to settle for fifth at the flag. Elzinga slipped back to sixth as Sacha Coenen crashed out of the race on lap 12!
In the frantic battle, Mikkel Haarup had worked his way up to third for Monster Energy Triumph Racing, behind Laengenfelder, but a late charge from Kay de Wolf led to a last lap pass by the red plate holder. Nobody could stop Lucas Coenen, however, who won by nearly ten seconds at the flag.
Race two was like a representation of the whole MX2 series so far, with frantic action all through the pack! Passes and crashes were taking place almost every lap, but somehow the series leader prevailed to take the victory again!
The first strange occurrence was no holeshot for Sacha Coenen. Instead, it was Everts who claimed the Fox Holeshot Award this time, only his third of the series, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MX2 new boy Karlis Reisulis held second early on, before being passed by Haarup on the first lap. Everts suddenly fell on the first corner of the second lap, but recovered quickly enough to re-pass Haarup on the big right-hander alongside the start straight!
That corner would be a problem for Haarup, as he was later passed there by both Laengenfelder and Lucas Coenen, on his way to a fifth-place finish. De Wolf had advanced steadily, past an impressive Reisulis on lap six, then Haarup a lap later. He had pressure from his teammate, who had started poorly, until Lucas collided with the bank coming out of turn two and crashed heavily!
Laengenfelder reeled in Everts, to take a loudly cheered leading position from lap eight, and he looked in control on his favoured hard-pack, but De Wolf suddenly lit the afterburners, battling back and forth with Everts for second place! Finally getting the pass to stick on lap 13, their battle had brought them to Laengenfelder’s rear wheel, and with a stunning move on lap 15 the Dutchman took a convincing win in brilliant style, depriving the German of his first GP victory of the year in the process!
Kay de Wolf said: “It was amazing to get the victory. I was a bit emotional on that podium. From last year I was in so much pain standing on the podium and also in 2018 when I missed the EMX85 win and finished 2nd so I’m so happy to finally get the win here as this place is amazing. I couldn’t do it without this team. They do a great job! My mechanics yesterday had to do so much job to the bike as it was in bad shape after my crash so big shout out to them, I appreciate it a lot!”
Laengenfelder added: “It was a good one! Nice to bounce back with a good physical and fitness level. It’s a shame to miss on the win in the second race but Kay was just a little bit faster. We need to work a little bit more but we make small steps in the right direction ad hopefully we’ll be at the top soon”
With Everts third, Lucas took fourth from Haarup to finish third overall. Lucas Coenen said: “For the first race nothing to say as it was good. In the second race, my start was good but got pushed wide from the inside found myself far but I came back well and was behind Kay (de Wolf) and wanted to pass him. It was a bit sketchy at some points but then I crashed and try to come back as fast as possible. Now we don’t quit and want to go to Lommel to win so see you next week! ”
With the deep sand track of Lommel on the horizon, the battle between the top two in the series, the battling Nestaan Husqvarna teammates, could prove to be sensational in what is the Belgian’s home GP! With 46 points between them the fight is still far from over!
The MXGP of Flanders is a mouth-watering prospect, and with the two Championship scraps finely poised, you do not want to miss a single wheel turning! Tune in, or better still join us in person, on the 27th & 28th of July!
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1:
Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 33:54.414; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:09.949; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:13.583; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:14.509; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:18.042; 6. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:38.431; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:54.060; 8. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:55.518; 9. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), +1:03.390; 10. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:07.250
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2:
Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 33:54.288; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:01.958; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:07.745; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:20.685; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:24.107; 6. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:33.127; 7. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:41.648; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:50.473; 9. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:59.328; 10. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:06.484
MX2 Overall:
Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 45 points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 44 p.; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 43 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 36 p.; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 34 p.; 6. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 30 p.; 7. Camden McLellan (RSA, TRI), 27 p.; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 24 p.; 10. David Braceras (ESP, FAN), 20
MX2 – World Championship Standings:
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 626 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 580 p.; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 560 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 515 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 457 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 433 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 382 p.; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 362 p.; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 236 p.; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 229 p
MX2 – Manufacturers:
1. Husqvarna, 704 points; 2. KTM, 638 p.; 3. GASGAS, 567 p.; 4. Triumph, 461 p.; 5. Yamaha, 443 p.; 6. Honda, 264 p.; 7. Kawasaki, 261 p.; 8. Fantic, 191 p.; 9. TM, 39 p
Words and images courtesy MXGP