MX2: Renaux Holds Off Vialle, Geerts, for First GP Victory

The MX2 World Championship was back in action at Faenza for the MXGP of Italy, and after winning the first moto earlier in the day, Jago Geerts was in a good position to reclaim the championship lead from Tom Vialle who led by one point coming into the second race.

Maxime Renaux and Jago Geerts were almost level over the holeshot line, but it was the #959 who took the early advantage. Tom Vialle also found his way past Geerts before they reached the finish line for the first time, as did the Kawasaki of Roan van de Moosdijk, although the Dutchman’s spell in third place did not last long as lost his footing in a rut on one of the downhills.

Van de Moosdijk’s mistake cost him a position to his teammate, Mathys Boisrame, but the two F&H Kawasaki riders were soon pressuring Geerts again. That pressure seemed to push Geerts on himself, as he closed the gap up to Tom Vialle, who was not able to match the early pace of Renaux.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, Vialle and Geerts started to slowly edge their way back towards Renaux, but it was not until they entered the final three laps that Vialle was within range of his compatriot. 

However, Vialle was unable to find a place to pass Renaux, who withstood the pressure of the championship leaders for 20 minutes to take both his first moto win in Grand Prix racing, as well as his first Grand Prix overall. 

For Vialle, there was more frustration after his crash in the first race, as he missed the moto win, but he recovered from his fourth place in the first race after his crash to take third on the overall podium with a 4-2 scorecard. Additionally, with Jago Geerts in third place in the second race, Vialle was able to fetch two points back in the championship battle – the gap between the #28 and #193 stands now at three points. 

Mathys Boisrame had a lonely race to fourth, with not enough pace to fight with the top three but more pace than those behind him, who were led by his teammate, Roan van de Moosdijk after the Dutchman did not score in the first race due to early mechanical problems. 3-4 was enough for fourth overall for Boisrame, whilst van de Moosdijk’s top five in the second place salvaged a 12th overall for the #39. 

Jed Beaton completed the top six, repeating his result from the first race, enough for fifth overall. Thomas Kjer Olsen followed his teammate over the finish jump for seventh, netting the Dane sixth overall as he finished ahead of the wildcard and EMX250 regular, Mattia Guadagnini who finished eighth, ahead of Ben Watson and Ruben Fernandez who completed the top 10. 

Stephen Rubini was 11th, ahead of Jan Pancar, Morgan Lesiardo, Alvin Ostlund and Bailey Malkiewicz who completed the top 15. 16th over the finish jump was Simon Laengenfelder, ahead of Conrad Mewse, Nathan Renkens, Cyril Genot and Gianmarco Cenerelli who completed the top 20 of the second moto.