SEASON BEST OVERALL FOR STRIJBOS AT ASSEN MXGP

Courtesy of Team Suzuki Press Office

Kevin Strijbos – 5-7 for 6th 

Kevin Strijbos posted his best results of the 2017 Motocross World Championship, getting sixth overall and making it a positive penultimate round for the Suzuki World MXGP team. The Belgian rider got two good starts on board his RM-Z450WS and kept up the pace throughout both races to score 30pts and give the team something to celebrate. 

Strijbos gave his comments after the motos about what was a tough, but rewarding weekend of racing: “The first moto went quite well, I got a good start and was aggressive in the beginning, which is something I wanted to improve upon from yesterday. Unfortunately, the second lap was off and I didn’t find my rhythm and some people passed me but thankfully I got back up to speed and some people in front of me crashed, so I ended up fifth. I was happy with that result and wasn’t too tired coming off the track so I felt like I could do the same in race two. 

“Again, I got a good start, I ran wide a bit too much and lost a couple of spots but I was still around fourth early on. However, I had some issues with my tear-offs and they snapped which meant I had to slow down and fix that problem. I lost quite a few places when I did that which was a bit annoying. After that I was pushed hard trying to pass Gautier Paulin but it was so difficult, and in the end, I did get him and finished seventh. Overall I’m happy though; my second moto could have been a bit better if I didn’t have that small problem but I tried my best and got my best results of the season.” 

General Manager Stefan Everts was also impressed with his rider and pleased that despite it being the end of the season, he is still trying his hardest to get good results: “Kevin is riding better and better, with his fifth place in America giving him good confidence. Coming here it wasn’t too easy but he was quite aggressive in the first laps and his finished fifth which was another good result for him. His joint-best so far. Then in the second race he just missed out of being a part of the pack in front but we’re seeing some progressive in his results which is nice to see and a positive end to year.”

Arminas Jasikonis is recovering from his dislocated hip so was unable to compete, nor will the Lithuanian rider be in France for the last round of the championship when Strijbos and the rest of the MXGP riders take on the completely different challenge of Villars-sous-Ecot next weekend.

MXGP Moto 1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:21.318; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.010; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +1:11.012; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +1:11.079; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), +1:19.644; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +1:23.810; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:42.530; 8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +1:49.273; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 10. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s).

MXGP Moto 2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:14.288; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:34.469; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:37.286; 4. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:42.378; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:44.058; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:45.593; 7. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), +1:06.082; 8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +1:17.173; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:39.157; 10. Harri Kullas (EST, Husqvarna), +1:39.315. 

MXGP Overall: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 38 p.; 3. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 38 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 37 p.; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 33 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 30 p.; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 26 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 24 p.; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 21 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 21 p.

MXGP Points Standings: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 710 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 627 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 571 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 544 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 485 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 479 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 423 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 416 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 398 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 396 p.; 13. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 283 p.; 15. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 195 p. 

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