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GP Bits: MXGP of Emilia Romagna | Round 8 3

Our last visit to the Faenza circuit, check out this inside look at Round 8 of the 2020 MXGP series.

Vital MX member Klinger 64408 Klinger https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/64408/avatar/c50_26116344_1575006865915996_1026050971127524528_o_1529038953.jpg?1529037957 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Klinger,64408/all 06/14/18 200 3 8 6 26 30 97 1

Klinger
9/14/2020 5:50 PM

GP Bits: MXGP of Emilia Romagna | Round 8

All photos by Juan Pablo Acevedo 

Last set of gate drops for the MXGP's three round visit to the Faenza race track in Italy.

Not sure who's this is because neither Seewer nor Paulin are Italian. But no problem with some Italian family love.

Speaking of family, here is Ciaroli's better half and little ripper.

Rough, bumpy, chunky ruts...

Got to follow the rules.

My Italian isn't strong, but this is rad shot of pitboard and rider.

Antonio had a good weekend with a 2-2 moto score to get the overall victory in his home country. He also takes the red plate from the injured Herlings.

Tony Cairoli: “I’m really happy to win again, especially because I was struggling a lot with the knee in the morning. 18th in Timed Practice was not good for confidence but I know I can defend a good rhythm in the race and I had the fitness to push. It’s great to win and have the red plate. Of course, we miss Jeffrey. We wish him a speedy recovery.”

Italian's and their footwear.

Honda HRC rider Tim Gajser had an up and down day to get second overall with 5-1 moto scores, and bumped up to second in the points behind Cairoli.

Tim Gajser: "I didn’t have a good start in either moto, they were solid and I tried to make quick passes in the beginning but I would have liked to have been nearer to the front. The first lap of the first moto I came together with Toni and I fell so I was back in the pack, eventually coming back to fifth. I was a bit disappointed but that was the result so I had to refocus for race two. I got a better start in this race and made a couple of good early passes to get into the lead. I pulled out a gap of a few seconds and controlled the race from there to get myself another moto win. It was a tough week of racing and not everything has gone my way but the championship is really close and we are all working hard in Team HRC to get the best results possible. Now there is a weekend off so I will go home and prepare myself for the next race in Mantova."

Red Bull KTM's Jorge Prado round out the overall podium with his first ever moto victory in The MXGP class going 1-6.

Jorge Prado: “I’m feeling quite good with the bike at the moment and speed-wise it’s positive. I’m happy I could get my first moto win today. I used a lot of energy and I gave my maximum to get that win and I had an empty tank for the second moto because I was sick in bed yesterday. I’m happy I can be up here on the podium. I think I did a very good result in the circumstances.”

The lone American in the MXGP class, Thomas Covington got 16th overall, his best overall result this year.

As long as it passes sound, I guess that's ok...

And here is Jasikoni's FC 450 getting checked.

Is that aluminum foil on Febvre's tank? They know about heat wrap, right?

Before we get into the MX2 class, one last look at one of the EMX125 race bikes. This time it is the #12 of Hakon Osterhagon on the Creymert Racing Team.

Like a lot of moto two-strokes, they are using a VHM head.

That HGS pipe has seen better days. Also, check out the extended rear master brake cylinder. That orange cap allows for a little more break fluid, helping with brake fade.

This must be the practice bike.
Since this has the A-kit. Cool WP fork protectors.

I don't think you can get any more different kinds of glitter and shine on this thing.

Red Bull KTM's Tom Vialle rode a consistent 2-1 to get another overall victory.

Tom Vialle: “After finding the first moto a bit difficult I was feeling really good in second moto. My lines were coming easily, so I was pushing and everything was flowing. I’m really happy to win again: twice in a row is fantastic. It was a really good weekend.”

Now let's look at the Assomotor Honda CRF250R of Stephen Rubini. Those are some sweet fork protectors. Check how the match the edges of the lower clamps perfectly.

STM is on clutch duty and they have a Twin Air guard over the external oil cooler lines.

I still don't get the logic of allowing MX2 riders to run whichever number/background combo they want on the side plates (front has to be black background, white numbers). You can also see the seat cover from Blackbird that we saw on Gajser and Evan's factory machines.

Interesting hub set up with four disc mounting bolts rather than five or six on stock bikes.

Normally, race teams add coatings, not take them off. The ignition cover is black on a stock bike. But, that can scratch and look beat in a short amount of time. This way, it should look fresher longer.

Silky and Nouvell are haircare companies. Maybe we can get Head and Shoulders into moto.

Yamaha's Jago Geerts swapped moto scores with Vialle to get 1-2 and second overall.

Jago Geerts: “I had a really good start in the first heat, I got the holeshot. Vialle passed me after a couple of corners but I could get him back after five or six laps. I felt really good on the track and I won the first race. I was really happy with that. I got another good start in Race 2 but I was fourth after the first lap because they watered the track a lot, so it was really sketchy. In the beginning it was difficult but I managed to find my rhythm and got back to second place but by then Vialle was already too far ahead. I felt good on the bike and I’m on the podium again, so I am happy with that.”

Rockstar Husqvarna's Jed Beaton got his first podium with 4-3 scores to land him in third.

Group shot!

Jed Beaton: “It feels great. It’s been a long time coming and it’s great to finally get the monkey off my back and have a great first moto. My starts weren’t the best today but I made it work, especially in the second moto. I’m really happy to finally get onto the podium this season for myself and the team. It’s extra special because it’s my first podium result for Husqvarna. I’ve had a few second-place finishes, but the first moto has let me down so it’s great to turn it around and get on the podium with two good results. My riding was good today. My bike was great so thanks to the team and we’ll build on this ahead of Mantova.”

That's a fun mask.

Jeremy Seewer. Just throwing in some mug shots because with helmets and masks, we start to forget what people look like.

Jeremy Seewer: “First moto I had a decent start. I had some bar-banging with Tony (Cairoli), luckily we didn’t crash and I won it. I followed (Jorge) Prado for the whole moto and I struggled to pass. He made it very difficult and I couldn’t make a pass stick. I pushed, but I lost all of my energy doing so, and then I crashed because I hit the limit. I didn’t make a mistake really, it was just something that can happen in racing. I still managed third. In the second race I got stuck behind Prado again, but I could make a pass stick this time but I already lost some ground. Honestly, I felt a bit empty. I used a lot of energy in the first race battling for the win, and it just took it out of me. It’s a bummer to miss the podium, but I have taken good points for the championship, and I have no injuries and stuff so that is positive. Now it’s time to recover and keep pushing.”

If your bike has a battery, you need to make sure its charged or have a jumper.

Rockstar's Thomas Kjer Olsen is still getting good finishes but not where he wants to be and has the speed to be. 3-6 moto scores got him 4th overall.

Thomas Kjer Olsen: “Another good day in Italy. The plan for these races in Faenza was to podium at least one race, which we did on Wednesday and then another today in the first race, so it’s been a good week for me. It feels great to get another strong overall result. First moto I felt really good and comfortable on my bike. I challenged Vialle for second place and then Jed was right on me at the finish. Race two was tricky. It was slick from the track watering and I think I rode a little too cautiously. I wasn’t aggressive enough early in the race, but I pulled through to sixth and that gave me fourth overall, so I’m really happy with that and we’re consistently up front so everything’s good now.”

Roan Van De Moosdijk was fifth on the day overall. Here are some bike details... (and if you are wondering, his last name is pronounced 'mose dike')

Normally, teams tuck foam between the shifter and engine, but here we see a full wrap set-up. Also, not just custom pegs, but custom peg brackets as well.

F&H Kawi is like the European PC team. And they use a lot of PC product. It looks like that is straight grip tape on the frame... Hate to be his boot supplier.

A bigger shock reservoir is going to put those clickers just out of reach with the stock opening. And holy sparkle, Batman that frame is shiny.

They take that shine down to the swingarm as well.

Just like the PC team, they run a very familiar custom engine hanger.

That's it from Faenza. The next three races are in Italy as well, but moving to Mantova.


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