SEEWER & SUZUKI SENSATIONAL WITH MX2 PODIUM

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

 Team Suzuki Press Office – March 6.

Jeremy Seewer eradicated memories of an illness-stricken non-score at the 2015 Grand Prix of Thailand by riding strongly and superbly on his works RM-Z250 to toast second place overall at a sweltering Suphan Buri for the 2016 edition today.

The young Swiss made the best of two mediocre starts at the new facility north of Bangkok and posted a 3-3 to lift his first trophy of the year and rise to second place in the FIM MX2 World Championship standings.

Concrete ruts, hard-pack, bumps and line choices were the curious blend of conditions at Suphan Buri and the fourth Thai Grand Prix in four years and third different venue. The track was demanding technically and physically and combined with the temperatures near 40 degrees forged a melting pot of adversity.

Seewer made a strong charge in the first moto that was initially perilous due to some areas of the track that had been watered and claimed several riders. He started in the top five and then enjoyed a pursuit and ‘stalk’ of American Thomas Covington before relegating his rival to fifth at mid-race distance. The #‘91’ was not done yet. He kept pushing and was rewarded with his first top-three classification of the season when he passed Benoit Paturel with four laps remaining to accept a well-earned third.

The second moto was perhaps the hardest outing of the weekend with the track in its roughest state and the temperatures high around the middle of the afternoon. Seewer rolled into the gate knowing another top three-four position would bring his first silverware since the Grand Prix of Sweden last summer and just the fourth podium finish of his young career. While Jeffrey Herlings escaped to win, Seewer made great progress to reach second spot and was only demoted on the final lap by Max Anstie. His 3-3 was still an admirable recovery after the sickness that bumped him to fourth in Qatar the previous Saturday.

“Jeremy made his first podium and it was great to see,” said General Manager Stefan Everts. “He didn't have the best starts and had to come through the pack but for the whole crew was fantastic to celebrate that second place. We are really happy, working hard and big thanks to all the guys involved.”

Seewer is now second in the MX2 table and four points ahead of Alex Tonkov, who was also on the Thai podium.

After a swift and draining start to the 2016 Grand Prix campaign Team Suzuki World MX2 now head back across the time zones to their base in Belgium. The European round at the Dutch circuit of Valkenswaard on Easter weekend will represent round three of the series and the first trip into the sand.

Jeremy Seewer:

“Last year was not my best race here in Thailand! This year we did a lot better and all the work we did paid off. I’m really happy. We need to work on my starts a little bit because we missed out both times here but we have made so many changes to my bike this winter we have made big steps. I think we will make it work. So far it has been great working with Stefan because there is a new spirit in the team. It is helping me and is very positive. I want to keep consistent now, avoid crashing and keep in the top five. I’m not too concerned about the championship yet because we are still so early in the season. It doesn't matter where you are at the start but more at the end.”

MX2 Moto1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:33.241; 2. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Yamaha), +0:32.233; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki MX2), +0:37.283; 4. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:41.235; 5. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:59.709; 6. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:12.586; 7. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Kawasaki), +1:26.229; 8. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +1:34.550; 9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +1:39.392; 10. Roberts Justs (LAT, KTM), -1 lap(s); 11. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 12. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, Honda), -1 lap(s); 13. Karel Kutsar (EST, KTM), -1 lap(s); 14. Jens Getteman (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 15. Maykal Grisha Ivanov (BUL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Freek van der Vlist (NED, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 17. Damon Graulus (BEL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 18. Nozomu Yasuhara (JPN, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 19. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), -2 lap(s); 20. Ben Hallgren (THA, Yamaha), -2 lap(s).

MX2 Moto2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:48.194; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:24.954; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki MX2), +0:26.854; 4. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Yamaha), +0:39.636; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:43.934; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:50.686; 7. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +1:30.625; 8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +1:35.213; 9. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Kawasaki), +1:36.124; 10. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:39.906; 11. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, Honda), +2:05.574; 12. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +2:21.573; 13. Roberts Justs (LAT, KTM), -1 lap(s); 14. Ben Watson (GBR, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 15. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Karel Kutsar (EST, KTM), -1 lap(s); 17. Damon Graulus (BEL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 18. Maykal Grisha Ivanov (BUL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Nozomu Yasuhara (JPN, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Shota Ueda (JPN, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s).

MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki MX2), 40 p.; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 33 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 28 p.; 6. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 26 p.; 7. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 26 p.; 8. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 24 p.; 9. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 22 p.; 10. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 22 p.; 11. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, HON), 19 p.; 12. Roberts Justs (LAT, KTM), 19 p.; 13. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 16 p.; 14. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 13 p.; 15. Karel Kutsar (EST, KTM), 13 p.; 16. Maykal Grisha Ivanov (BUL, KTM), 9 p.; 17. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 8 p.; 18. Damon Graulus (BEL, HON), 8 p.; 19. Ben Watson (GBR, HUS), 7 p.; 20. Jens Getteman (BEL, KTM), 7 p.

MX2 World Championship standings (after 2 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 100 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki MX2), 74 p.; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 70 p.; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 68 p.; 5. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 56 p.; 6. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 47 p.; 7. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 46 p.; 8. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, KAW), 44 p.; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 44 p.; 10. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 38 p.; 11. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 37 p.; 12. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 33 p.; 13. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 32 p.; 14. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, HON), 30 p.; 15. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 16. Jens Getteman (BEL, KTM), 24 p.; 17. Ben Watson (GBR, HUS), 21 p.; 18. Damon Graulus (BEL, HON), 20 p.; 19. Roberts Justs (LAT, KTM), 19 p.; 20. Karel Kutsar (EST, KTM), 19 p.



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