TOP-10 FOR SUZUKI WORLD MXGP TEAM IN TRENTINO

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

 Team Suzuki Press Office – April 16.

Arminas Jasikonis – 12-11 for 10th
Kevin Strijbos – 9-26 for 15th

On an extremely difficult track to pass, the Suzuki World MXGP duo of Arminas Jasikonis and Kevin Strijbos battled throughout both their motos to score as many points as possible at the MXGP of Trentino in Italy today.

Starts were a key factor on this track, but unfortunately neither of the riders were able to get out the gate well enough to really make an impact on the top-10 and were instead left to try and make as many passes as possible in the 30 minutes plus two laps. It wasn’t easy and the pair are both glad to be heading to Valkenswaard next weekend where passes are easier to come by and starts aren’t quite so critical.

Jasikonis was still pretty happy with his two results though as he aims to break into the top-10: “It was a good day, I’m improving in every GP I think and 12-11 isn’t too bad when you look at all the experienced GP riders in front of me. It’s been a good weekend for me considering the track was so narrow and there were no lines to pass but I still could make it through the pack. Not many guys could do that so I’m pleased with that aspect; I just need to work on my starts a bit. I’m happy, there are some positive things and I owe a big thanks to my team for working so hard to help me get better on the new RM-Z450WS. The next GP is sandy, so again we will try to improve and put everything together for a better result.”

Unfortunately a problem with Strijbos’ bike robbed him of another top-10 overall but there were some improvements in the races that he can be pleased about: “I didn’t get good start in the first moto and was around 20th in the first corner but then I started to make a lot of passes in the next couple of corners which has previously been a weak point of mine, so that’s a positive thing. I ended up getting to ninth which was the best I could do on this track which was so difficult to pass on. I was feeling good, laptimes were decent, fifth or sixth could have been possible.

“Then I pulled a wheelie in the second start so once again I was down the field, but like in the first moto I was able to make a lot of passes in the first few corners and was running 10th. I had good speed but I couldn’t quite close the gap to the rider in front and then with one lap to go the bike stopped working so obviously I dropped down the placings.”

General Manager Stefan Everts said: “I think AJ had a fantastic day after yesterday when he really struggled with the track. We made some improvements with the suspension so he felt more comfortable today and it really showed. He made a lot of passes, one of the only guys who could come through the pack and he didn’t make any mistakes which is a good improvement. He is just outside the top-10 right now but the ambition is to do that and I think it could be possible in the next few GPs.

“Kevin did his top-10 ride and would have a similar result in the second moto too which is all you can expect after bad starts and with such a deep class of riders. It was a hard track to pass on so he couldn’t get past any of those riders in front of him.”

The one DNF was obviously a disappointment but with almost a ‘home’ MXGP next weekend at the sandy Valkenswaard track in the Netherlands, there is the perfect chance to rectify that and get both riders inside this tough top 10.

MXGP Moto 1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 33:35.084; 2. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:02.278; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:06.158; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:07.369; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:09.722; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:11.423; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:40.550; 8. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.972; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:44.773; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:47.504; 11. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:49.381; 12. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:58.602.

MXGP Moto 2: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 33:36.300; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:04.165; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:06.147; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:06.881; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:08.830; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:10.714; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:12.642; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:15.933; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:23.945; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:31.173; 11. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:37.583; 26. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), -1 lap(s).

MXGP Overall: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 47 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 45 p.; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 36 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 34 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 33 p.; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 32 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 22 p.; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 19 p.; 11. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 18 p.; 12. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 17 p.; 13. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 17 p.; 14. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 15 p.; 15. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 12 p.

MXGP Points Standings: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 201 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 183 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 151 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 145 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 145 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 144 p.; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 106 p.; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 101 p.; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 95 p.; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 90 p.; 11. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 88 p.; 12. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 84 p.; 13. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 77 p.; 14. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 69 p.; 15. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 56 p.





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