GP Bits: MXGP of Kegums | Round 5 - Motocross Feature

All photos by Juan Pablo Acevedo

Three consecutive MXGPs at the Kegums circuit are in the books. Even with a similar layout each race, we saw three different overall winners in the MXGP class.

Jeffrey Herlings got the overall, but not the way he wanted. The Red Bull KTM rider went 4-1 on the weekend.

Digging the custom goggles as well.

Hey look, a nice message on a pitboard.

That's one way to pass the time. Neighboring pits might have some issues though.

Google translate might have been a little off.

On one hand, a section of a 4x4 would be just as effective, but on the other hand, you got to respect the trick-ness.

Seewer's custom Tech 10s.

Jasikonis needs a little extra lift on his starting blocks.

One of the Monster Energy Kawasakis. Without the plastics you can appreciate the CF subframe/airbox. And the oil cooler on the radiator.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Arminas Jasikonis had another great ride for 2-3 moto scores and second overall on the weekend.

Jasikonis is quite patriotic.

Rounding out the podium in the MXGP class was past MX2 champion Jorge Prado with 3-4 moto scores.

Airoh looks to be trying to pack as much sparkle and shine on their rider's helmets as possible.

Honda HRC rider Tim Gajser had the most extreme up and down day. He one moto one only to DNF with a mechanical in moto two for eighth overall.

Tim is still a proponent of the neck brace.

Perhaps some marketing and PR people are stoked that people have to wear masks... one more thing that can be branded.

Organized workspace, organized mind, organized day. Factory pits are always pretty much an OCD wonderland. Standing Construct GASGAS use Beta tools which seem to be pretty legit.

Those split design triple clamps look good in red, I wonder if they would fit a Honda. And the silver hub/rim combo is really growing on us.

9-2 moto scores aren't what Antonio Cairoli is used to but they were good enough for fourth overall.

Febvre was consistent with 5-5 moto scores for fifth overall.

This photo puts into sharper contrast just how much I stare at my front wheel and don't look far enough ahead! Febvre is straight-up looking into the future.

Thibault Benistant won the overall in the EMX250 class. Here is a closer look at his Monster Energy Yamaha YZ250F. That airbox cover looks much bigger, which would create a larger static air volume for the intake.

Here is a closer look at the other side. It's a carbon fiber cover with a fine wire mesh covering huge intake ports.

Benistant is running both the XTrig ROCS triple clamps and the PHDS bar mounts.

No CF subframe here and you can see they leave the sideplate extension piece that covers the lower section of the subframe that US Yamaha teams sometimes cut off. What do you think of the black backgrounds with black numbers?

That's one way to use a lift stand.

Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha rider Thomas Covington had a better showing in the last Latvian MXGP with 21st overall.

Thomas Covington: "Today was a good step forward scoring points in the second race. It’s still obviously not where I want to be but we’re getting there. I am looking forward to the next GP’s."

Jago Geerts gets another overall victory.

His 2-1 moto scores put him on top of the podium.

Jago Geerts: “It was a good day for me. In the first race, I didn’t get a great start, but I made a lot of really good passes in the beginning and I think after 10-minutes I was in second. I got really close to Tom (Vialle) and I wanted to make one last move, but I crashed with a lapper. In the second race, I got the holeshot and rode a really good race for the win, so I am happy with that.”

Neck and neck and neck and neck...

Looks like the Red Bull team reuses the styrofoam packing from the Akropovic boxes.

The sand sucks gas. Topping off after the sight lap.

Ribbed seat cover? Nah, Honda's got that new new. Plus you can see the new "behind the bar" cable routing for the 2021 Honda CRF450R.

Another look at the traction pads on Tiga243's seat. Seewer looks to prefer more subtle butt/bike interface.

Are those river rocks or is it Ninja Turtle skin?

Arnaud Tonus rocking his personal logo on his VX-PRO4. Tonus hasn't had the best week in Latvia. “I don’t feel great. It was a hard day. I crashed at turn one and couldn’t find my rhythm and finished 17th. In the second race, I just did not feel good on the track at all. I was low on energy and overall, not good. I just need to get back, regroup and come back strong in the next one.”

Tom Vialle traded moto wins with Geerts to end up second overall, though the Red Bull KTM rider retains the red numberplate.

Roan Van De Moosdijk was the top finishing F&H Kawasaki rider in the MX2 class. The last race both him and Boisrame were making things difficult for Vialle and Geerts. 4-3 moto scores got him on the podium with third overall.