The Grand Prix of Patagonia Argentina was again a memorable event for Team Suzuki World MX2 as Jeremy Seewer guided his RM-Z250 to second position in the MX2 class and for what was the fourth round of 18 in 2016 MXGP and run in front of 29,000 spectators.
The FIM Motocross World Championship enjoyed another hectic and frenzied reaction to its presence in Patagonia in what was only the second visit by the series to Neuquen; and after an impactful inauguration in 2015.
Aside from the large and vocal crowd, the other standout feature of the Grand Prix was the wide, snaking track formed from earth typical of the region and somewhere between sand and loose soil covering a hard-packed base. Speed and bravery were two ingredients key to tackling the lines and deceptive berms of the course; a real Grand Prix layout and challenge to some of the world’s fastest.
On Saturday, Seewer took his time to acclimatise to the conditions. He earned fifth position in the qualification heat, which gave him the same pick in the gate for the two 30-minute and two-lap motos on Sunday.
The first moto started dramatically as Seewer made contact with Benoit Paturel off the line and the Frenchman crashed as the Swiss was then held-up approaching the opening turn. He had to quickly regroup and then battle past Samuele Bernardini and then Thomas Covington to reach a fine fourth place.
His recovery meant he was in with a chance of his second podium result in a row in Argentina and third in succession this season as the riders filtered into the gate for the second moto on Sunday afternoon. A much better start saw the Suzuki man infiltrate the top-six on the first lap and then take part in a gripping scrap with three other riders until Max Anstie retired with mechanical problems and #‘91’ just had to contend with the constant presence of Aleksandr Tonkov as the Russian kept tow with the rear wheel of the RM-Z for the second half of the duration. Despite constant pressure Seewer finished second for a 4-2 and more silverware. In doing so he consolidated second place in the championship and is 21 points ahead of Tonkov in the standings.
“After the first race I thought an overall podium would be difficult for Jeremy because he’d pushed through so well from that start,” commented General Manager Stefan Everts. “He held off Tonkov for a long time in that second moto and took confidence by not making any big mistakes and keeping consistent. To take second place and get back on the podium was a really nice way to end the weekend.”
Next week the Parque Metropolitano de León will host the Grand Prix of Mexico for the third year-in-a-row and will be the last ‘flyaway’ for Team Suzuki until the latter stages of the 2016 season.
Jeremy Seewer:
“Second overall; I’m so happy. I couldn't get going with the track yesterday so I had to make the best of it. We changed the bike a lot and it worked out well. Someone cut across me at the start of the first moto and I had to use a lot of energy to come through and it was a hard fight with Alex in the second. I want to thank the team and my mechanic because we have been working so hard for this and now I’ll look forward to Mexico.”
MX2 Moto1: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:29.494; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:34.840; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Yamaha), +0:36.815; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:49.465; 5. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +0:56.817; 6. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:07.056; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), +1:09.327; 8. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Kawasaki), +1:13.359; 9. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, Honda), +1:22.090; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:23.679.
MX2 Moto2: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:54.991; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), +0:30.746; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Yamaha), +0:33.248; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:41.457; 5. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.160; 6. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), +0:51.648; 7. Roberts Justs (LAT, KTM), +0:57.064; 8. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +0:58.093; 9. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Kawasaki), +1:03.564; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:11.648.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 40 p.; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 31 p.; 5. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 28 p.; 6. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 25 p.; 7. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 24 p.; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 22 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 22 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 4 of 18 rounds): 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 200 points; 2. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki World MX2), 152 p.; 3. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, YAM), 131 p.; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 130 p.; 5. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 104 p.; 6. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 99 p.; 7. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, TM), 91 p.; 8. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 84 p.; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 78 p.; 10. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 70 p.
