Jeffrey Herlings wins the race and is the new master
of the MXGP class. Jorge Prado wins both motos and stake a claim for the MX2
title
Assen (The Netherlands), 17 September 2018 – The
TT Circuit Assen hosted the penultimate round of the
2018 FIM World Motocross Championship: the
Grand Prix of the Netherlands. On the soft sand of the beautiful track made within the final sections of one of the world's asphalt 'speed cathedrals', the
SCORPION™ MX Soft rear and the SCORPION™ MX32™ Mid Soft front tyres were the choice of all the Pirelli-equipped riders. A big crowd filled most of the TT Circuit’s main straight grandstands to celebrate the first
MXGP title (and the fourth world crown) obtained by
Jeffrey Herlings. The Dutchman was peerless at his home GP and fully deserved the Championship with one race remaining after an incredible season.
Antonio Cairoli was second in
Assen and also in the standings; for most of the championship the Sicilian was the only rider able to fight with
Herlings. The third step of the podium belonged to
Max Anstie in front of
Glenn Coldenhoff and
Tim Gajser for a full
Pirelli MXGP top five.
KTM dominance was also seen in the
MX2 class with a double race victory by
Jorge Prado that extends his advantage in the standings. The Spaniard, thanks to the points earned at Assen, now has a 46 point lead and only needs a top fifteen finish in the last race of the season to secure his first ever Grand Prix title.
Thomas Covington and
Thomas Olsen finished second and third respectively, ahead of
Calvin Vlaanderen in fourth. It was an unlucky Grand Prix for reigning champion
Pauls Jonass in sixth overall. The defending number one only has a mathematical chance of retaining his #1 plate.
In two weeks time the brand new track built inside the historic
Imola racetrack will host the
Grand Prix of Italy and the closing chapter in the
2018 FIM Motocross World Championship.
Race results (Pirelli riders in bold): MXGP race 11. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)3. ANSTIE Max (ENG)4. GAJSER Tim (SLO)5. COLDENHOFF Glenn (NED) MXGP race 21. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)3. COLDENHOFF Glenn (NED)4. ANSTIE Max (ENG)5. GAJSER Tim (SLO) MX2 race 11. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)2. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)3. COVINGTON Thomas (USA)4. WATSON Ben (GBR)
5. VLAANDEREN Calvin (NED) MX2 race 21. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)2. VLAANDEREN Calvin (NED)3. COVINGTON Thomas (USA)4. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)5. WATSON Ben (GBR)
GP Overall: MXGP1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)3. ANSTIE Max (ENG)4. COLDENHOFF Glenn (NED)5. GAJSER Tim (SLO) MX21. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)2. COVINGTON Thomas (USA)3. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)4. VLAANDEREN Calvin (NED)5. WATSON Ben (GBR)
Championship overall: MXGP1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED) p.8832. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA) p.7823. DESALLE Clement (BEL) p.645
4. GAJSER Tim (SLO) p.6255. FEBVRE Romain (FRA) p.5446. PAULIN Gautier (FRA) p.541 MX21. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA) p.8232. JONASS Pauls (LAT) p.7773. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN) p.6334.WATSON Ben (GBR) p.585
5. COVINGTON Thomas (USA) p.5656. VLAANDEREN Calvin (NED) p.521