SWEDISH TOP 10 FOR JASIKONIS AND SUZUKI MXGP

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

Team Suzuki Press Office – August 20.

Arminas Jasikonis – 10-9 for 9th
Kevin Strijbos – 31-13 for 16th 

Arminas Jasikonis put his RM-Z450WS inside the top 10 at the MXGP of Sweden, on what was a strange day at the Uddevalla track. Rain showers and bursts of sunshine meant that the riders never knew what conditions they’d be facing when they lined up at the gate but Jasikonis fought hard in both his motos to get a ninth overall and a little confidence boost before the trip to America. Kevin Strijbos also put in a hard-charge in the second moto to come home in 13th, after a nasty incident in the first moto meant that he wasn’t even sure he’d be lining up. 

“It’s been a struggle all weekend with my riding but it turned out quite good today actually”, said Jasikonis. “My riding was much better, and I was making good passes despite getting stuck behind Jeremy van Horebeek. I couldn’t make the pass and I made mistakes when I was changing the lines, which allowed Antonio Cairoli and Romain Febvre to pass me and that’s why I finished in 10th place. The second moto I rode even better, I didn’t have the best start but after a couple of laps I made some good passes again and got into sixth place. Everyone was there, not too far in front but a few silly mistakes dropped me back from that unfortunately. My riding was good though, I was happy with that, and now we are going to build upon that to prepare myself for the USA, and take another step forward.” 

For Strijbos, it was disappointment to get his first moto cut short, but he showed real guts in the second race to line-up and still put in the third fastest lap of the race on his RM-Z450WS. “In the first moto I didn’t get the best start and then in the first lap I just stuck out my left leg and it got caught in the rut and I ran over my leg with my own footpeg. I twisted it really badly and it was really painful. I couldn’t stand on it, and it was throbbing in my boot and if it does that I know it’s not good. I even thought it could be broken so I pulled into the pits and got my boots off. I put some ice on it, took some painkillers and taped it up. It was still painful to walk but I wanted to try for the second moto still and it actually felt better when I put my boot on again. Unfortunately I got a similar start in race two and in the beginning my mobility was limited but it gradually got better and I put in some good laps. I think I had the third fastest laptime in the second race so that shows I have the speed, I just need to get better starts. Now we’re going to go back and find something for America, so people can see my true potential on the track.” 

Team Manager Stefan Everts said: “Kevin hurt his ankle in the first moto and didn’t get the best starts in both motos and at this level it’s tough to come and battle the top 15 with any sort of injury. For AJ, in both races he came though the pack really well and I think in the first moto it was possible to get a top six finish. Unfortunately he dropped it at one point. The second moto was almost the exact same scenario, he came through well before dropping it again. It’s the small mistakes which he needs to work on but speed-wise he is performing well and I’m really happy with that. He came away with a 10th and a ninth so it is still positive but we can always aim for more.” 

MXGP Moto 1: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:57.413; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:09.286; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:12.301; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:17.530; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:19.141; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:20.596; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:22.919; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:25.946; 9. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:27.326; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:29.405; 31. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), -16 lap(s). 

MXGP Moto 2: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), 35:40.541; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:04.402; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:13.010; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:16.251; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:18.148; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:21.519; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:35.840; 8. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:38.986; 9. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:40.499; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:44.403; 11. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +0:45.500; 12. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:46.602; 13. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:48.925. 

MXGP Overall: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 47 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 40 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 40 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 36 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 24 p.; 9. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 23 p.; 10. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 22 p.; 16. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 8 p.

MXGP Points Standings: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 631 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 530 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 526 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 519 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 453 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 441 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 377 p.; 8. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 364 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 352 p.; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 344 p.; 11. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 328 p.; 12. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 328 p.; 13. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 283 p.; 14. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 184 p.; 15. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, HON), 164 p.; 16. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 149 p. 


  Was this post helpful? Add yours to our service or subscribe to our feed above.