Strijbos and Suzuki round-out 2016 Motocross with 11th

Team Suzuki World MXGP brought their 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship campaign to an end with Kevin Strijbos scoring 11th position under hot sunshine at Glen Helen for the Grand Prix of USA, and confirming the same spot in the series standings. The 18th and final round of MXGP was played out in front of a 27,000 crowd in southern California.

One week after weathering a new layout at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina MXGP faced a different kind of American test with the rapid layout and relentless hills of Glen Helen. The weather was typically Californian and the venue an hour east of Los Angeles cooked in temperatures that reached the mid-30s under a rich blue sky.

It was a prime motocross location at which to end the 2016 season and Strijbos hinted at promising form on Saturday when he captured fourth position in the qualification heat. The Belgian Grand Prix winner made a decent launch in the first 30-minute and two-lap chase and ran with Dean Wilson for company, but was unable to pass the Brit and crossed the line in ninth place.

In the second moto Strijbos couldn’t make the same break and struggled to find his rhythm around a track that was rougher and with the dipping sun making the uphill drags extra tricky. A slight stomach problem robbed his stamina in the final phases of the race and the GP season and he came home with 13th. Twenty points meant that Strijbos was at least able to secure 11th position in the MXGP table for the year.

Arminas Jasikonis hobbled to San Bernardino with a sore right ankle for his second outing in the United States and around a track as quick, steep and distinctive as Glen Helen. The 18-year-old rookie also had a tough time in the hot conditions. The ‘#177’ rode to 19th in the first moto and the same ranking in the second race after coming back from an early race crash.

Team Suzuki World MXGP ended a turbulent term with one Grand Prix victory and a single podium appearance but with Strijbos showing progress in his comeback from a wrist injury and in the form of Jasikonis a youngster with massive potential in the premier class for what will be his first full-time roll in 2017.

“Yesterday it looked good with Kevin and he rode well; and normally if Saturday goes well then you expect Sunday to follow but today it didn't work out,” evaluated General Manager Stefan Everts. “We’ve had it before this season when Kevin has had a good Saturday and a difficult Sunday. I think for him it is also tough to accept this and end the season in this way. For AJ: I brought him here to make him even more aware of what he needs to do in the next months to be ready for next season. He is going to need to work hard to get stronger and fitter. His speed is good – it could be better – but the first big step is his fitness. So we’ll be working and preparing the programme for the winter.”

Grand Prix duty for Suzuki may well be over but Strijbos has still to represent his country at the 70th Motocross of Nations taking place at the Maggiora circuit in Italy in two weeks. The team will also contest the new Supermotocross Cup at the Veltins Arena in Germany on October 8th.

Kevin Strijbos:

“The first moto wasn't too bad and neither was my speed. I was in front of most of the guys out of the gate but then they just seemed to pass me on the main straight. I was seventh when Eli and Dean passed me. It was a struggle that became a bit better by the end. Before the second moto I didn't feel that great. I had a lot of stomach pain and was a bit of a mess. I went backwards on the first lap and couldn't find any lines that I wanted. After about 10 minutes my rhythm finally came back but then I tired and felt weak. I was just cruising and it was a real shame because I felt good on Saturday and wanted to do good for the last GP and for the team but it was a mess today. They worked hard on my bike and I couldn't pay them back with a good result.”

Arminas Jasikonis:

“I don't think I have ever ridden in such heat and it was tough at the end of the motos and my head was spinning. I fought all the way and it was a great experience. I know I must work a lot. I had a good start in the second moto and this was a positive thing but then I crashed and had to push hard to come back. It has been an exciting few months and now we just have a couple of races left before we start our preparation. I was happy to get out of here healthy because the track was really fast and I haven’t ridden anything quite like it. It was all about experience and not making stupid mistakes.”

MXGP Moto1: 1. Eli Tomac (USA, Kawasaki), 36:36.218; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:15.622; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:28.537; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:34.082; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:36.509; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:38.664; 7. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:43.174; 8. Dean Wilson (GBR, KTM), +0:46.822; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), +0:50.421; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:54.314; 19. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), +2:12.526.

MXGP Moto2: 1. Eli Tomac (USA, Kawasaki), 34:58.974; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:16.031; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:19.041; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:25.660; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:27.302; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:33.516; 7. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Kawasaki), +1:01.351; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:04.094; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:04.386; 10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:07.854; 13. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), +1:31.783; 19. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), -1 lap(s).

MXGP Overall result: 1. Eli Tomac (USA, KAW), 50 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 38 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 38 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 27 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 24 p.; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 23 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, KAW), 22 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 21 p.; 11. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 20 p.; 20. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 4 p.

MXGP final World Championship Standings: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 731 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 647 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 603 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 564 p.; 5. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 545 p.; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 536 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 406 p.; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 372 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 352 p.; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 343 p.; 11. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki World MXGP), 331 p.; 18. Ben Townley (NZL, Suzuki World MXGP), 128 p.; 24. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki World MXGP), 51 p.


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