With the Semarang track hosting round 13 of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Thomas Covington has secured a strong fifth overall in the MX2 category. Battling through an early fall in moto one, the FC 250 powered rider came back stronger to cross the line third in the final moto at the Indonesian track.
The second consecutive stop of the 2018 series in Indonesia saw competitors faced with slick track conditions around the hard-packed Semarang track. Securing a strong fifth in the MX2 Qualifying Race, Thomas Covington entered the final motos aiming for a potential fourth consecutive podium result in the 250cc category.
Victim of an early fall in moto one, the American put his head down to cross the line in seventh position. Getting a strong third in moto two, Covington remains sixth in the provisional 2018 MX2 World Championship standings.
For Covington’s Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team partner Thomas Kjer-Olsen, the GP of Asia was one of mixed fortunes. Involved in the same moto one incident that saw both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MX2 team riders crash, Kjer-Olsen went on to claim 11th at the chequered flag. Improving to fourth in moto two, the young Dane earned seventh overall at the GP of Asia. Kjer-Olsen remains third in the provisional 2018 MX2 World Championship standings.
In the MXGP category, two strong performances at the Samarang track allowed Max Anstie to wrap up the GP of Asia in sixth overall. Securing an 11th place result in moto one the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was able to show more of what he is capable of in the second moto. Claiming sixth in moto two, Max was just one-point outside a provisional top five overall result in Indonesia.
Joining Anstie in the battle for a provisional top five overall result in the MXGP category was Gautier Paulin. Enjoying a steady moto one performance for fifth at the chequered flag, the Frenchman was racing in fifth position again in moto two but a crash late in the race forced him to settle for 11th at the line.
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team will return to action at the 13th round of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship in the Czech Republic on July 21/22.
Thomas Covington: “I felt I had good speed this weekend and I took the battle for the overall podium down to the last laps in moto two. I got off to a good start in the opening race but a few corners later Olsen crashed right in front of me and I had nowhere to go. Picking myself up I pushed hard to cross the line in seventh place. Things were better in moto two and I quickly managed to put myself in second place. Pushing a bit too much in moto one following the crash I felt I was running out of energy at the last few laps of moto two, so I had to settle for third at the finish line. I am happy with fifth overall following what happened in moto one and I’m looking forward to returning to Europe now.”
Thomas Kjer-Olsen: “It was an up and down weekend for us, but I am happy with my performance in the second moto. Getting a good start in the opening moto I ended up crashing after the landing of a jump and this made it all harder for me. As a result of the crash the front brake line was damaged, so I had to race the rest of the moto without a front brake. Things were better in the second moto. I quickly found myself in fourth position and then did my own race to finish in that same place. I tried my best this weekend and if it wasn’t for the crash in moto one my overall result could have been a lot better.”
Max Anstie: “I’m quite pleased with my second moto. Conditions were slick and slippery and it was easy to make mistakes on this track. In moto one I struggled to get a good race pace but during the break we made some good improvements on the bike. I can’t thank enough my team and especially our mechanics who work hard in these overseas GPs. I felt good in the second moto and I managed to push for sixth at the line and sixth overall at the GP. It was a good way to end our trip to Indonesia and now I’m looking forward to going back to Europe.”
Gautier Paulin: “Everything was working quite well for me this weekend but a crash in moto two did not let me get the results I expected. In moto one I had a good start and pushed hard for the rest of the race. Putting in some consistent lap times I finished moto one in fifth place and that was positive going into moto two. I got another good start in moto two and after a few small mistakes in the opening laps I was racing in fifth position. After a big jump the front washed out and I hit the ground. I got up and started again, doing the best I could. Luckily the crash only caused some muscle pain and we avoided any injury. Getting eighth overall is not what we hoped for, but I am confident we can come back stronger as the series heads back to Europe now.”
Download high-res images from the MXGP of Asia here.
Results – 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 13
MXGP – Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 50pts; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 42; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 40… 6. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 27… 8. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 26… 18. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 10… 20. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 6; 21. Aidi Lazaroni (Husqvarna) 6; 22. Andre Sondakh (Husqvarna) 2
MXGP – Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 17 laps, 33:54.179; 2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 33:55.965; 3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 34:08.058… 5. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 34:14.783… 11. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 34:53.289… 16. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 34:49.931; 17. Aidi Lazaroni (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:11.000; 18. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 35:17.426
MXGP – Race 2
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 17 laps, 34:21.626; 2. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 34:27.163; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:32.937… 6. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 34:47.624… 11. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 35:03.752… 18. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 35:33.966… 20. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:26.025
MX2 – Overall
1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 47pts; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 40; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda) 38… 5. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 34… 7. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 28… 9. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 24… 12. Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 17; 13. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 15; 14. Jy Roberts (Husqvarna) 15; 15. Hilman Maksum (Husqvarna) 13… 18. Yoshua Pattipi (Husqvarna) 3
MX2 – Race 1
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 17 laps, 34:59.013; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 35:03.150; 3. Ben Watson (Yamaha) 35:21.114… 7. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:56.183… 9. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 36:13.146… 11. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:27.883; 12. Jy Roberts (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 35:42.137; 13. Muhammad Devintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 35:49.748; 14. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:10.957
MX2 – Race 2
1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 17 laps, 35:13.784; 2. Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda) 35:16.715; 3. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:18.868; 4. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:35.436… 9. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 36:32.899… 12. Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 36:01.271; 13. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 15 laps, 35:51.454; 14. Hilman Maksum (Husqvarna) 35:55.861
Championship Standings – After Round 13
MXGP
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 583pts; 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 559; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 447… 6. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 389… 12. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 212… 21. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 65… 28. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 15; 29. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 15; 29. Ander Valentin (Husqvarna) 8; 31. Aidi Lazaroni (Husqvarna) 6; 32. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 6
MX2
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 550pts; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 550; 3. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 422… 6. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 331… 9. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 223… 12. Iker Larranaga (Husqvarna) 185… 18. Brent Van Doninck (Husqvarna) 116… 27. Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 28; 28. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 24… 33. Hilman Maksum (Husqvarna) 20… 36. Jy Roberts (Husqvarna) 15… 41. Yoshua Pattipi (Husqvarna) 8; 42. Dylan Walsh (Husqvarna) 6… 46. Enzo Toriani (Husqvarna) 3; 47. Anthony Bourdon (Husqvarna) 3; 48. Andrea Zanotti (Husqvarna) 2
