MX2: Vialle dominates Lombardia race one as Geerts falls

After one week off, the MX2 World Championship was back in action at Mantova for the MXGP of Lombardia. Maxime Renaux was the fastest rider in timed practice, where one second covered the top 10.

Mathys Boisrame took the first holeshot of the day, but it was not long before Tom Vialle took the lead, exchanging places with his compatriot at the second turn. 

From there, it proved to be a fairly straightforward affair for the championship leader, who went unchallenged from the moment he took the lead in turn two until the chequered flag. It was Vialle’s eighth race win of the season, and saw him extend his points lead by 15, meaning he has a 36-point advantage going into the second moto and that he is guaranteed the red plate in the second Mantova round on Wednesday. 

Behind Vialle there were two trains. The first was headed, for most of the race, by Maxime Renaux. The Frenchman cleared Boisrame early in the race and spent much of it alone, but was caught by Thomas Kjer Olsen and Roan van de Moosdijk and had to deal with their attention for the second half of the race. Conditions did not lend themselves to passing, however, and this was the case throughout the field, as the track was perhaps over-watered after MXGP timed practice in the morning. 

It was not until the penultimate lap that the fight for second place saw a position change, as Olsen passed van de Moosdjk for third with a tough move in the switchbacks before the waves. The Dane was then able to pass Renaux on the final lap and secure second place in the first moto, six seconds down on Vialle who backed it off in the closing stages. 

Renaux was able to hold onto third place after being passed by Olsen, partly thanks to some visibility issues for van de Moosdijk. Still, although he was unable to conquer the top three, it was van de Moosdijk’s best race since the MXGP of Kegums, the sand proving once again kind to the Dutchman. 

Boisrame proved something of a roadblock for much of the race. Missing fitness, he lacked the speed of those around him, and suffered noticeably in the waves and the long left-hander before that section. The defensive display, though, to hold off the likes of Ben Watson and Jago Geerts for half the race or more was impressive, even if assisted by conditions. 

Watson finished sixth in the end, which he inherited after Geerts crashed trying to pass Boisrame. Behind Watson over the finish jump for the final time was Jed Beaton, who was two seconds ahead of Stephen Rubini. Isak Gifting, in his first ride as a fill-in at Diga Procross GASGAS, was ninth, whilst Bailey Malkiewicz completed the top 10. 

Jago Geerts was 11th at the chequered flag, costing him 15 points in his championship battle with Vialle. There is a big job ahead of the Belgian in the second moto to regain some ground on his rival who was dominant in this first race. 

Behind Geerts was Alberto Forato, 12th on his return from the injury sustained in Latvia, whilst Ruben Fernandez was 13th. Nathan Renkens was 14th at the flag, while Michael Sandner, also filling in at GASGAS, rounded out the top 15. 

Morgan Lesiardo took 16th place, ahead of Mikkel Haarup and Conrad Mewse who took 17th and 18th respectively after starting outside the top 20. Behind them, Fillipo Zonta was 19th, whilst Alvin Ostlund completed the top 20.