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Cycle News Team | September 22, 2021
Jeffrey Herlings is the new 2021 MXGP championship red plate holder after winning both races of the Sardinian Grand Prix, located on the Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea, on September 19. The Red Bull KTM rider won both races (for the first time this season), while his teammate Jorge Prado finished 2-2 for second place overall.
Photos: Ray Archer
The sweep puts Herlings at the top of the championship one point ahead of defending champion Tim Gajser, who entered the race recovering from a broken collarbone (and surgery) suffered during the week during training.
Gajser was involved in an incident at the first corner of the first race which put him at the back of the field, where he was only able to finish 19th. Gajser started better in the second run, but the Honda rider, who was not feeling 100% due to an injury, finished eighth.
Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) finished third overall with a 3-3.
Herlings leads the standings with 371 points against 370 for Gajser. Febvre is third with 367, followed by Prado with 359.
Antonio Cairoli, who recently announced his impending retirement, was injured in practice and did not race. It is not yet known whether the injury will prevent him from representing Italy at this weekend’s Motocross of Nations.
“With Tim and Tony’s injuries, it’s a sad way to take that red plaque,†​​Herlings said. “It doesn’t mean anything at the moment. I know what an injury looks like so hopefully they will be healthy before the next GP.
“It was a small mistake which cost a lot of energy and affected me,†Cairoli said. “When I was on the ground, I didn’t feel so good. I was scared enough. With control afterwards, it was a relief to know that everything was fine.
Tom Vialle of Red Bull KTM won both MX2 races, with Maxime Renaux (Yamaha) second overall with a 2-3 and Dutchman Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) third overall with a 4-4.
Renaux leads the championship with 403 points, followed by KTM’s Mattia Guadagnini (who retired from the second run) with 332. Jago Geerts (Yamaha) is third with 325 points.
Liam Everts, the son of 10-time world champion Stefan Everts, made his long-awaited debut in the MX2 class. The Belgian qualified 23rd and finished 16-11 to place 13th overall.
Everts will replace compatriot Jago Geerts, who recently retired from MXoN, in order to focus on the MX2 championship. Everts will run alongside Brent Vandoninck and Cyril Genot. CN
MXGP
- Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 1-1
- Jorge Prado (KTM) 2-2
- Romain Febvre (Kaw) 3-3
- Calvin Vlaanderen (yam) 4-4
- Jeremy Seewer (yam) 6-5
MX2
- Tom Vialle (KTM) 1-1
- Maxime Renaux (Yam) 2-3
- Kay de Wolf (Hus) 4-4
- Jago Geerts (yam) 8-2
- Gift of Isaac (GG) 6-6
Click here for all the latest MXGP news.
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