Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Tim Gajser and Maxime Renaux have both fought hard for valuable MXGP World Championship points at a gruelling MXGP of Sardegna. Crashes in each Grand Prix race restricted Gajser to an eventual eighth-place overall result, while Renaux battled a sickness bug on his way to placing ninth.
Two weeks on from delivering a double podium for the team in Switzerland, Gajser and Renaux were eager to maintain their form at Riola Sardo in Sardegna. The weekend began encouragingly, with Gajser fastest in Time Practice before placing third in the MXGP Qualifying Race, while Renaux, riding low on energy, finished ninth.
In the opening Grand Prix race, Gajser delivered an impressive charge through the field after crashing in turn two. By halfway, he was up to 12th, then continued to push forward and moved into 10th with three laps to go. On the penultimate lap, the Yamaha YZ450FM rider passed Pauls Jonass to secure ninth.
Race Two started much more positively for the five-time world champion. However, while running fourth and challenging for third, he crashed heavily and remounted near the back of the pack. After taking a couple of laps to regroup, Gajser delivered another spirited ride through the field, and thanks to his exceptional pace, he reached eighth on the penultimate lap. Finishing eighth overall on the day sees Gajser remain fifth in the series standings.
Having placed second overall last time out in Switzerland, Renaux was feeling confident ahead of the trip to Sardegna. In the days leading up to round four though, he picked up a stomach bug that resulted in him riding below full fitness. A fall in Race One made the former MX2 World Champion’s Grand Prix even tougher, and he recovered to finish 12th.
Renaux delivered a much-improved ride in the second race. Starting from 12th, he maintained a strong pace and found his rhythm quickly to move inside the top 10. By the finish, he had reached sixth to complete the weekend on a positive note. For his efforts, the Frenchman claimed ninth overall and heads to round five ranked sixth in the championship.
Following a demanding Grand Prix, both Gajser and Renaux will now regroup and prepare themselves for the MXGP of Trentino, which takes place next weekend at the picturesque circuit of Arco di Trentino.
Click here for all the results from the MXGP of Sardegna.
Tim Gajser
8th MXGP of Sardegna, 25-points
5th MXGP Championship Standings, 149-points
“It was a difficult Sunday for me. In the first moto I crashed twice and had to come back from the back of the field, so it was all about salvaging as many points as possible. In the second race I got a better start and felt strong early on, making some good passes and moving into third, but then I had a big high-side crash in a fast section and hit the ground pretty hard. It took me a couple of laps to recover and get back into a rhythm, but I kept pushing and managed to work my way back up to eighth. It’s not where we want to be, but I gave it everything and we’ll take the points and move forward.”
Maxime Renaux
9th MXGP of Sardegna, 24-points
6th MXGP Championship Standings, 143-points
“It was a really tough weekend for me. I’ve been quite sick all week, coming into the race feeling far from my best, and that made things difficult from the start. We tried to manage it as best as possible, and although I felt a bit better on Sunday, I was still not at full physical capacity. In the first moto I had an unfortunate crash in the second corner, which meant I had to come back from the back of the pack. In the second moto I gave everything I had and managed to finish sixth. Considering the circumstances, it’s a solid result, but now the focus is on recovering properly and coming back stronger for Arco.”
Michael Le Pard (“Mr. Totalmotorcycle”) is the Founder of Total Motorcycle, the world’s largest motorcycle information site, trusted by over 430 million riders since 1999. With over 34 years of experience in motorcycles, gear and rider culture, he has built a global community dedicated to empowering and inspiring motorcyclists.
Total Motorcycle remains his passion project. Combining expert research, hands‑on knowledge and a commitment to helping riders make informed decisions about bikes, gear and safety worldwide.
