There was a weird contrast of energy at Glen Helen for the return of MXGP to the United States and the Californian hills for the first time since 2011. Teams were thankful for the familiar surroundings of team trucks and awnings – provided by AMA squads commonly linked by brands – even if some were more tightly wedged than others (Yamaha in particular fitting all three of their crews – six riders – into a singular cramped setting). Still it was better than the boxes and crates that formed the set-up in Mexico six days previously.
To a man, the riders were excited to attack Glen Helen; all rolling and plunging drops, groomed jump take-offs, dramatic banked first turn and immaculately terrain. It was an apt setting to stage the MXGP finale particularly after a campaign in which track preparation and conditions have often been a controversial subject. But there was also a general lethargy; common for the end of a long season and in which staff and paddock personnel could not talk of ending the year on a happy note but instead their rushed plans to get back to Europe and prepare for the Motocross of Nations. The impracticality of the scheduling hitting home in California for the second of three events in a row and one in which collective hair-letting-down would have added an extra special touch.
When the riders finally scratched their itch to be let out on the loose soil they proceeded to lap while trying to deal with temperatures that had easily crested the thirties. Rockstar Suzuki’s Glenn Coldenhoff was one that struggled while some of the other Grand Prix stars were getting their bearings while surrounded by the best AMA spread of participation in the third edition of this fixture. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Josh Grant set off without peer in the qualification heat and ran lap-times with the force and comfort of a man who could do it blindfolded. The 29 year old is local to Glen Helen and had already been testing extensively at the venue. Opinions among the American contingent of the paddock was that Grant will happily run that pace – particularly when nailing the quad so smoothly, a section that Shaun Simpson said was so difficult to get right – but the extent of his speed is debatable over two full motos. Still, Grant has Pole Position in his GP debut and was almost matched in the ‘impressive’ stakes by Cooper Webb on his maiden MXGP/450 outing. The youngster is gaining race time with a view towards the Nations next week and barely gave the pursuing World Champion Romain Febvre a crumb of respect as the Frenchman challenged his brand-mate and then decided to save energy for the real competition tomorrow.
A first lap pile-up between Adam Sterry, Ben Townley (in action with his Honda and also in Nations-prep mode at the site where he won his last GP moto in 2010) and Dean Wilson caused a mess. Tony Cairoli admitted that he was “following the bike” after three laps and came across the finish line flapping his left arm in what was possibly a harder return to the Grand Prix stage than he thought. The Sicilian admitted his appearance at the Grand Prix was as much for testing duties as it was for fun after missing the last five rounds.
The MX2 championship still has to be decided with eighteen points dividing leader Tim Gajser and Pauls Jonass; the former hoping to give Honda and HRC their first world title since 2000 and the latter loosely relying on some misfortune to affect the Slovenian so he can keep KTM’s championship record in the MX2 class, a streak alive since 2008. Today provided a nervy preview with Jonass and Gajser passing each other in a dispute for second place behind the composed figure of Shane McElrath. Jonass would experience mechanical trouble that would cause a few furrowed brows at KTM and Gajser fell off on the last lap and lost a place to Valentin Guillod who was looking slightly more like the rider that has claimed three Grand Prix victories this year.
The ‘Jonass or Gajser?’ question was prevalent during the day and it seems that the Honda man is the popular and the safer choice, as well as perhaps deserved with the most GP wins (five). There has been something plucky about Jonass’ rally to keep the whole chase afloat and the fascinating narrative of being a rookie and the sole KTM rider bearing the weight of all the orange. As well as surviving that huge crash in Mexico. Can he do it?
Tomorrow will be Monster Energy Kawasaki Tyla Rattray’s last bow as a competitive racer after having initially announcing his retirement at the German Grand Prix in June. Wife Sam has a celebration planned for the South African post race that will no doubt involve many well-wishers, among them Townley as the pair exploding onto the Grand Prix scene and in the 125cc class together back in 2002.
MXGP Qualification Heat
1. Josh Grant (USA, Kawasaki), 26:39.978; 2. Cooper Webb (USA, Yamaha), +0:05.940; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:12.397; 4. Jason Anderson (USA, Husqvarna), +0:23.408; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:26.050; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:29.519; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:31.512; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:33.099; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:34.947; 10. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:40.697; 11. Ben Townley (NZL, Honda), +0:57.650; 12. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +1:00.108; 13. Davi Millsaps (USA, KTM), +1:01.054; 14. Dean Wilson (GBR, KTM), +1:11.682; 15. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:12.837; 16. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +1:13.877; 17. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +1:17.847; 18. Kirk Gibbs (AUS, KTM), +1:24.565; 19. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +1:31.514; 20. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +1:33.208; 21. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +1:46.636;
