NAGL FIFTH IN MXGP SERIES AFTER PENULTIMATE GP

[totalmotorcycle]

#NAGL FIFTH IN #MXGP SERIES AFTER #PENULTIMATE GP



Despite challenging track conditions Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl delivered a strong performance at the MXGP of Leon, climbing up to fifth position in the championship standings with one race remaining.

A heavy rainstorm prior to race day in Mexico completely changed track conditions at the penultimate round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship. Nagl rode to a strong fourth place finish in the dry conditions of Saturday’s qualifying race, but like all riders then had to deal with track full of mud and ruts during Sunday’s opening moto.

Failing to get a good jump from the start, Nagl found himself sitting 15th at the end of the first lap. Forced to stop for fresh goggles the German soon started to charge towards the front and eventually finished in eighth place. Conditions were drier for the second moto but parts of the track were still extremely slippery. A much better start helped Nagl finish sixth. Getting seventh overall he moved to fifth in the MXGP points standings despite having missed five rounds due to injury.

Once again Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Dean Ferris powered his Husqvarna FC 350 to the holeshot in the opening MXGP moto. The Australian was having a great race in fourth before a mistake dropped him to eighth. Not giving up, Ferris kept on pushing and crossed the finish line sixth. Along with a 10th place finish from moto two Ferris rounded up the GP of Leon with eighth overall.

Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s MX2 rider Harri Kullas had to work hard in both races. In the opening moto the Finn ran wide to escape a first corner pile-up. Resuming the race in 13th place he managed to hunt down the leading pack and cross the finish line sixth. Kullas then started inside the top 10 in moto two. With his best lap time coming towards the end of the race he finished eighth to capture eighth overall from the GP of Leon.

Starting inside the top 10 in MXGP moto one, Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Todd Waters battled his way up the rankings. Putting in consistent lap times the Australian was running fifth when a spark plug issue temporarily halted his progress. Able to fix the problem Waters charged hard to cross the finish line in 11th. Suffering a mid race crash in the second moto Waters placed 11th to finish 11th overall.

The final round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship will take place in Glen Helen, USA on September 19/20.

Max Nagl: “It’s been a pretty rough weekend for me. The heavy rain during Saturday night meant that the first MXGP race was always going to be difficult. The lap times were 25 seconds slower than during qualifying, which shows just how tough the track was. Something went wrong for me at the start and I got too much wheel spin. Being at the back I was immediately covered in mud and needed to stop for new goggles. It was about surviving after that, so to get back to eighth wasn’t too bad. The second moto started great, with the holeshot. I pushed hard but my level isn't where it needs to be yet. I dropped to sixth, but that was the maximum for me.”

Todd Waters: “I feel like I was able to do a lot more than I did this weekend. I love racing in muddy conditions and the first moto was going great for me. The track was a battleground – it was all about staying on the right lines, and trying not to get too roosted. I was moving forward when my bike stopped. I guess the mud and water caused the spark plug to come off. It took a while to fix it but the bike was fine afterwards. Finishing 11th was disappointing having been fifth. The second moto I felt like I rode well, but I dropped it when I was eighth so again I feel my result doesn't reflect how well I was riding.”

Results – FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 17
MXGP Overall
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 50pts; 2. Shaun Simpson (KTM) 44pts; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 40pts… 7. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 28pts; 8. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 26pts… 11. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 20pts

MXGP Race 1
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 15 laps, 36:35.450; 2. Shaun Simpson (KTM) 37:20.681; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 37:50.049… 6. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 38:41.650… 8. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 38:56.269… 11. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 14 laps, 38:26.658

MXGP Race 2
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 17 laps, 35:32.826; 2. Shaun Simpson (KTM) 35:35.128; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 35:37.709… 6. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 35:43.962… 10. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 36:11.832; 11. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 36:13.519

MX2 Overall
1. Thomas Covington (Kawasaki) 43pts; 2. Tim Gasjer (Honda) 38pts; 3. Benoit Paturel (Yamaha) 36pts… 8. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 28pts

MX2 Race 1
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 14 laps, 35:48.318; 2. Max Anstie (Kawasaki) 35:52.795; 3. Benoit Paturel (Yamaha) 36:14.488… 6. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 13 laps, 36:06.788

MX2 Race 2
1. Thomas Covington (Kawasaki) 16 laps, 34:34.352; 2. Tim Gasjer (Honda) 34:41.188; 3. Julien Lieber (Yamaha) 34:56.854… 8. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 35:48.799

Championship Standings (After Round 17)
MXGP
1. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 688pts; 2. Gautier Paulin (Honda) 566pts; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda) 539pts… 5. Max Nagl (Husqvarna) 442pts… 9. Todd Waters (Husqvarna) 344pts; 12. Dean Ferris (Husqvarna) 284pts… 23. Nathan Watson (Husqvarna) 95pts… 28. Rui Goncalves (Husqvarna) 32pts… 32. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 23pts

MX2
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 556pts; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 538pts; 3. Max Anstie (Kawasaki) 506pts… 14. Aleksandr Tonkov (Husqvarna) 256pts… 19. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 153pts… 27. Anton Lundgren (Husqvarna) 50pts… 37. Grisha Maykal Ivanov (Husqvarna) 13pts… 43. Davide Bonini (Husqvarna) 7pts