Entering the penultimate round, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Van Horebeek and Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s duo of Jeremy Seewer and Shaun Simpson are set for a strong end to the twenty round MXGP series, with the nineteenth round set to take place at the Dutch TT Circuit in Assen, The Netherlands this weekend.
In the past, Jeremy Van Horebeek has shown good speed at the unique man-made track in Assen. If it weren’t for some bizarre crashes, the Belgian could have been on the podium, which is exactly what he is aiming for this weekend. Van Horebeek is currently ninth in the MXGP Championship Standings, 19-points adrift ofJeremy Seewer in eighth.
Familiar with the podium in Assen, Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Shaun Simpson won the Grand Prix back in 2015, on the same weekend that Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre wrapped up the 2015 MXGP World Title. After showing some good speed and peak fitness form at the Belgian Championship a few days ago, Simpson is ready and confident for a good result this weekend.
Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer is not a fan of the circuit in Assen, but nevertheless he is set for another new experience onboard his YZ450F and looks forward to seeing what he can achieve at the venue inside the premier class.
After breaking his collarbone in practice at the MXGP of Switzerland four weeks ago, Jago Geerts will make his highly anticipated return to racing this weekend at the MXGP of The Netherlands. The talented young Belgian did not lose any positions in his absence and remains seventh-place in the championship chase, and is hoping for a strong end to his rookie season.
As the 2018 Dutch Masters MX2 Champion, Geerts has proven his speed in the sand and looks forward to lining up on the all-new 2019 YZ250F, the same bike that teammate Ben Watson set the fastest lap of the race on at the MXGP of Turkey two-weeks ago. Watson is looking to carry that momentum into Assen this weekend where he would like to mount the podium for a second time this season. Watson is still a comfortable fourth-place in the MX2 Championship Standings.
Completing Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s line-up this weekend, Anthony Rodriguez has impressed with his progress since his MX2 World Championship inception back in May. The Venezuelan has been inching towards the podium, and will head into this weekend with an extra boost of confidence after winning a round of the Belgian Championship on Sunday last week. He is expecting to improve on his fifteenth place position in the Championship Classification.
The FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship is classically close, and following the devastating news that the current championship leader Altherm Yamaha Official WMX’s Courtney Duncan is out with injury, the title is hanging by a thread for the duo tied on points in second-place, FontaMX Yamaha Official WMX’s Kiara Fontanesi and No Fear Yamaha Official WMX’s Nancy van de Ven. After this weekend, the red-plate is likely to go to one of the two starlets.
As the only rider to have finished inside the top-five at every single round this year, that includes two podium finishes and three race wins, MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Thibault Benistant has a 39-point advantage over his closest competitor going into the final EMX125 Championship round this weekend, and with only 50-points left on the table, there is a good chance that the young Frenchman will be able to clinch the 2018 EMX125 Title.
Adding to the excitement, this weekend marks a home Grand Prix for Dutch super talents, ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha Official EMX250’s Roan van de Moosdijk – who is currently third in Championship Standings heading into the final EMX250 Championship round this weekend – and MJC Yamaha Official EMX125’s Rick Elzinga who bounced back from his injury struck season with an incredible podium finish at the MXGP of Switzerland. Both riders hope to put the Dutch flag on the podium where they can celebrate the success of their seasons, with an enormous amount of support from their fans.
Jeremy Seewer
8th MXGP Championship Standings, 423-points
Assen is definitely not my favourite track. I feel like I struggle there, last year I almost won the last moto and I did stand on the podium but I just find it’s a tricky track, not like your usual sand track. I am curious how it will be on the 450cc bike, with the power I need in the deep sand and at the same time I am looking forward to it because it will be technical and tricky and that will work in my favour. The goal remains, top-five.
Shaun Simpson
16th MXGP Championship Standings, 205-points
I had a solid weekend off. I raced at this classic old school track in Belgium, and I really enjoyed that. It was a real nice change, and it was nice to stand on the podium and to get a race win against some pretty decent competition. I feel like my speed was good and my fitness level was as well. Assen, I expect to be a tough and heavy weekend, but not something that I am too worried about because I feel like I am prepared. My bike is feeling good, we have been working on it quite heavily since Turkey and I feel like we have taken another step in the right direction. I am really looking forward to this weekend. Assen has been good to me in the past, I won the GP in 2015 and won a moto in 2016, and I am going there this weekend to do business.
Jeremy Van Horebeek
9th MXGP Championship Standings, 404-points