THOMAS KJER-OLSEN FOURTH IN MX2 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Courtesy of Husqvarna Motorcycles

With all Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders enjoying a positive round five of the FIM Motocross World Championship, MX2 team rookie Thomas Kjer-Olsen put in two solid motos to claim an impressive fourth overall at the MXGP of Trentino. Continuing his strong run in the series, the young Dane moved up to fourth in the MX2 championship standings.

Kicking off his weekend in Pietramurata on a high note, Thomas Kjer-Olsen raced his FC 250 machine to an impressive victory during Saturday’s MX2 qualifying race. Making the most of his good starting position on Sunday the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was involved in some great battles for the top three in both MX2 motos.

Battling through a small fall in moto one, Kjer-Olsen went on to cross the finish line fifth. Despite another small fall while in fourth in moto two, the Dane finished race two in sixth for fourth overall.

Following his impressive overall victory at round four in Mexico, Thomas Covington was hoping for equally positive results at the GP of Trentino. Unable to get a good start in moto one, the American found himself battling for the top eight, but a last lap crash forced him to settle for 11th. Showing more of his GP winning form in moto two, Thomas pushed hard to earn a strong third place result. Securing fifth overall at the GP he is now eighth in the MX2 championship standings.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Conrad Mewse showed improved speed in Pietramurata. Claiming 10/16 moto results the young Brit earned his best overall result of season to date with 10th in MX2.

In the MXGP category, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin enjoyed a strong weekend of racing in Italy. Finishing second in the qualifying race the Frenchman then delivered both speed and consistency to finish Sunday’s opening moto in fourth place. Wrapping up the weekend with a solid sixth in moto two, the FC 450 mounted rider earned fifth overall at the MXGP of Trentino.

For Paulin’s Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Max Nagl, the GP in Pietramurata was an event of mixed fortunes. Starting the weekend with a strong fifth in qualifying, the German rider collected 11/9 results for ninth overall at round five of the series.

Missing the MXGP of Trentino due to a knee injury, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie is expected to return to competition at the next round of the series in Valkenswaard.

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team will return to action at round six of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship in The Netherlands on April 22/23.

Thomas Kjer-Olsen: “I’m really satisfied with how things are going at the moment. After winning the qualifying race I secured a good starting position and managed to earn two very good starts in the final motos. Despite an early crash in moto one I came back from eighth to cross the line in fifth place. Then in moto two I was there again battling for the top for most of the race but a fall before the finish dropped me to sixth. Overall, we keep on making big steps forward in each GP. My riding is good at the moment and I’m looking forward to the following GP in Valkenswaard.”

Thomas Covington: “It was a good GP for us. We had some ups and downs but we showed the speed is there. I had a bad start in the opening moto and then it was really hard work to come through the pack. I made some good passes but as I was battling to get inside the top six I went over the bars so had to settle for 11th. Then in moto two my start was a lot better. I was fourth for most of the race but felt really good and pushed hard for third. Overall, I’m really happy with my riding in Italy. The goal is to minimise mistakes so that we can consistently fight for the top three in each of the coming GPs.”

Conrad Mewse: “It’s been a good weekend for us. We had two solid motos battling with the top guys in MX2 and that’s been a great improvement compared to previous GPs this season. Taking some time off during these past few weeks has massively helped regain my confidence, so mentally I feel a lot stronger. There’s a few more things we need to improve, but we’ll keep working as hard as we do. Getting 10th overall in this one-lined track is very positive and I’m looking forward to the races to come.”

Gautier Paulin: “We had a good feeling throughout the weekend here in Italy. From the qualifying races to the final motos we showed the speed was there to battle for the top three. We’ve done a tremendous amount of work during the last few months and I feel that we deserve to be on the podium. I’m also very happy that my starts were good in both motos. The plan is to continue working as hard as we do and I’m pretty confident results will slowly start coming our way.”

Max Nagl: “We know this track really well so the feeling was good as soon as we got to Italy. Getting fifth in the qualifying race I managed to secure a good spot on the starting grid. During the final motos I felt I did my best, but for some reason I struggled to remain in the battle for the top. With the track being one-lined it was quite hard to make passes. There were some aggressive moves from other riders in both motos, so we had to stay focused on keeping it on two wheels. Earning ninth overall under such circumstances is not bad but we need to improve on our speed. We have a two-day testing session scheduled for this week before heading to Valkenswaard. The hard work continues with the goal to step it up and be able to consistently battle for the top in MXGP.”

Results – FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 5 

MXGP - Overall
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 47pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 45; 3. Arnaud Tonus (Yamaha) 36… 5. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 33… 9. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 22… 17. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 8… 20. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 7

MXGP - Race 1
1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 19 laps, 33:35.084; 2. Arnaud Tonus (Yamaha) 33:37.362; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 33:41.242; 4. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 33:42.453… 11. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 34:24.465… 15. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 34:42.862; 16. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 34:44.214… 25. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 18 laps, 33:42.043

MXGP - Race 2
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 19 laps, 33:36.300; 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 33:40.465; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 33:42.447… 6. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 33:47.014… 9. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 34:00.245… 18. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 34:39.811… 20. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 34:47.977; 21. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 34:58.575… 27. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 18 laps, 33:56.340

MX2 - Overall
1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 47pts; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 47; 3. Julien Lieber (KTM) 36; 4. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 31; 5. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 30… 10. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 16… 12. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 14… 15. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 13… 24. Karel Kutsar (Husqvarna) 2… 26. Ivan Petrov (Husqvarna) 1

MX2 - Race 1
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 19 laps, 34:10.629; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 34:12.127; 3. Julien Lieber (KTM) 34:13.516… 5. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 34:44.614… 8. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 34:51.945… 10. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 35:00.718; 11. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:02.284… 14. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 35:05.431… 20. Ivan Petrov (Husqvarna) 35:22.965… 25. Karel Kutsar (Husqvarna) 35:46.819… 27. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 18 laps, 34:19.523… 32. Gabriele Arbini (Husqvarna) 34:33.825; 33. Enzo Toriani (Husqvarna) 34:58.015

MX2 - Race 2
1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 19 laps, 33:41.859; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 33:43.869; 3. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 33:44.937… 6. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 34:04.942… 14. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 34:44.401… 16. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 34:49.972… 19. Karel Kutsar (Husqvarna) 35:07.048… 22. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 35:19.820… 26. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 18 laps, 33:47.182… 33. Enzo Toriani (Husqvarna) 34:15.533; 34. Ivan Petrov (Husqvarna) 34:35.451; 35. Gabriele Arbini (Husqvarna) 35:02.462

Championship Standings (After Round 5) 

MXGP
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 201pts; 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 183; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 151… 5. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 145… 9. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 95… 14. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 69… 17. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 42… 18. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 37

MX2
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 192pts; 2. Jeremy Seewer (Suzuki) 183 points; 3. Julien Lieber (KTM) 175; 4. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 158… 8. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 113… 18. Iker Larranaga (Husqvarna) 43… 20. Anton Gole (Husqvarna) 38… 23. Conrad Mewse (Husqvarna) 22; 24. Caleb Ward (Husqvarna) 14… 26. Brian Hsu (Husqvarna) 13… 31. Karel Kutsar (Husqvarna) 2; 32. Ivan Petrov (Husqvarna) 1… 35. Aaron Tanti (Husqvarna) 1

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