Features 1 Oct 2019

Countdown: Assen MXoN individual rides

Eight performances that stood out during the 2019 edition.

The 2019 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at Assen in the Netherlands proved to be a chaotic affair as continuous rainfall soaked the man-made circuit, offering up demanding and treacherous conditions that tested both the riders and their machines. Amongst the team triumphs, there were a number of individual rides that stood out across the three races.

Image: Supplied.

8. Dean Ferris:
Bringing a wealth of experience to Team Australia in 2019, Dean Ferris rose to the occasion in Assen, however much like the rest of the squad, he battled his share of misfortune. The three-time Australian champion rode strongly in the opening encounter, although a fall in the later stages saw him cross the line in 15th. Looking to redeem himself in race three, the Raceline Recover8 KTM rider was hit with a mechanical, calling for an early end to the outing after what was a gutsy effort.

7. Jorge Prado:
It was an incredibly tough event for two-time MX2 world champion Jorge Prado to make his premier class debut, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider displaying great form despite his limited time on the 450 SX-F. Prado led laps of the opening encounter before finishing third, while the Spaniard was seventh in his second outing for fourth in the MXGP individual classification.

6. Thomas Kjer Olsen:
An extremely consistent performance from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen saw him earn top honours amongst the MX2 field, the rider from Denmark lodging a pair of eighths in races one and two, despite being underpowered on the FC 250.

5. Regan Duffy:
At 17 years of age, Raceline KTM Thor’s Regan Duffy put on the ride of his life the second moto, which saw the MX2 riders combined with the Open class. The Western Australian came from outside the top 20 before crashing with a lap to spare while battling for a top 10 position, recovering for an incredible P11. He would once again find himself in the battle for a top 10 in the final encounter against the MXGP riders, however his bike expired 11 laps in.

Image: Supplied.

4. Kyle Webster:
Luck wasn’t with the green and gold in 2019, although Kyle Webster displayed the true Australian way as he pushed through two demandingly tough motos. The first outing saw the Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing contender hold down a top 10 position against the 450s for much of the race until his CRF250R became stuck in the treacherous mud, demoting him to last. Never giving up, Webster pushed on for P23. He once again put on a glowing performance in race two, charging through to finish 14th. In the MX2 classification, he was ranked seventh.

3. Jeffrey Herlings:
There’s no question that Jeffrey Herlings was tipped to dominate the event, and even though that’s not how it panned, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing contender put in some spirited rides. Deep in the pack during race one, the Dutchman put on a phenomenal charge in the back half, finishing just shy of P1, while in the final moto of the day, he crossed the line in fourth. He was ranked second amongst the MXGP riders, but earned the MXoN win with Team Holland for the first time ever.

2. Tim Gajser:
Honda HRC’s Tim Gajser showed why he was recently-crowned the 2019 MXGP world champion, earning victory in the MXGP individual rider results. The Slovenian charged to the front in race one, and despite his win coming under threat from Herlings in the dying moments, he fended off his fierce rival to secure the top spot. He didn’t quite have the edge on Coldenhoff in race three, although second was enough for him to be the best MXGP rider on the day.

1. Glenn Coldenhoff:
It was truly a phenomenal day for Standing Construct KTM’s Glenn Coldenhoff, the Dutchman securing victories in both of his motos, while winning the Motocross of Nations with Team Holland on home soil for the very first time. It was a dominant performance from the KTM pilot, and he was granted P1 in the Open class rider standings.

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