Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team’s Maxime Renaux has finished fifth overall at the penultimate round of 2025 MXGP World Championship, with Calvin Vlaanderen close behind in sixth. Jago Geerts rounded out a positive MXGP of China for the squad, finishing 10th.
Following their strong results at the previous round in Turkiye last weekend, all three riders delivered improved results in China. Competing at the brand-new Shanghai International Off-Road Circuit in the Fengxian District of Shanghai, the trio adapted well to the racetrack and the hot weather conditions.
Renaux charged to the Race One holeshot aboard his Yamaha YZ450FM and led the way at the front of the field. The former MX2 World Champion opened up a comfortable margin, however, in the closing stages, the heat began to take its toll and he slipped to third at the finish.
The Frenchman executed another strong start in Race Two, but as he entered the second turn, Lucas Coenen fell in front of him, and he had nowhere to go. Rejoining the race near last, Renaux rode with a blisteringly fast pace to reach 12th by the end of lap one. A crash one lap later dropped him downfield again, before he delivered an impressive race-long charge that saw him cross the line in fifth position. On the day, Renaux secured fifth overall to maintain seventh in the championship standings.
A fall in the first turn of Race One gave Vlaanderen a lot of work to do. Within a handful of laps, he was up to 11th before making the pass on Jeremy Seewer for 10th. With ninth just out of reach, Vlaanderen placed 10th. The second race was much more rewarding for the 29-year-old, as he started in fifth and held this position throughout. Vlaanderen placed sixth overall and now lies sixth in the series standings.
Geerts bounced back from a tough first race – where he fell multiple times and finished 15th – to place seventh in Race Two. The Belgian was running in sixth until the final few laps when Renaux moved him back a position. By placing 10th overall, Geerts moves up to 12th in the MXGP World Championship standings with one round remaining.
With a positive penultimate round complete, the team now head to Darwin, Australia, for the final Grand Prix of the season next weekend
Maxime Renaux
5th MXGP of China, 35-points
7th MXGP Championship Standings, 525-points
“Overall, it’s been a positive weekend. I took the holeshot in Race One and led until near the very end when the heat really affected me. I finished third so it was still a good result. I crashed at the start of the second race, and after that I was climbing through quite well until I crashed again. I was really happy with my pace in that one, and it would have been nice to see how the race went if I had a good start, but that’s how racing goes sometimes.”
Calvin Vlaanderen
6th MXGP of China, 27-points
6th MXGP Championship Standings, 560-points
“Quite a tough day today. In the first race I fell in the first turn and I was right at the back. I pushed really hard to get back to 10th and used up a lot of energy. My start was good in Race Two and I was fifth. I tried to conserve some energy for the end, because it was so hot, but at the end I felt good so I could have pushed a little harder. So, it was a little frustrating to leave something in the tank but overall, I can be happy about my day.”
Jago Geerts
10th MXGP of China, 20-points
12th MXGP Championship Standings, 297-points
“It’s been a good weekend although the results might not show it. We made some small adjustments to the bike for this weekend and they really worked. I felt really comfortable on the track, however in Race One I crashed too many times. The second race was much better though. I felt good, I was in some battles, and I enjoyed that race a lot. My goal for the final GP is to ride like this in both races and finish the year with a strong result.”
Posted on September 14, 2025 by Michael Le Pard
