A hot and sunny Grand Prix of Belgium saw Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe's Jeremy Seewer post one of his best results in the sand with the works RM-Z250 with seventh position overall today.
A crowd of 24,200 entered the Lommel circuit with the waving bumps and ruts of the terrain some of the hardest and most technical of the season.
Temperatures hit the mid-20s for a splendid spell of summer conditions in the north of the country at the racing venue only a few kilometres from the team's workshop and main base of operations. Round 14 of 18 got underway with the Swiss slotting into a top-six position on the first lap. The opening exchanges were fierce and chaotic and Seewer found himself in the group going for fourth place. In the end he had to follow Jordi Tixier and confirmed eighth place by riding smart and at his own pace.
The '#91' almost took the holeshot in the second race and blasted around the outside of the first turn in second place. From there he settled into a speed good enough for the top-five and maintained his performance until the 12th lap of 15 when a crash on the corner before the waves-section cost him a position and then another accident meant he elected to ride-out the remaining time of the race in eighth.
Seewer is at the heart of the tussle for a final position in the top-three of the MX2 championship. He rests fifth and is only 32 points from second.
Lommel also hosted the penultimate round of the EMX250 European Championship and Bas Vaessen rode his RM-Z250 with eye-catching speed on his preferred surface to lead a moto for the first time. Team-mate Brian Hsu was ninth overall. Vaessen unveiled pace and guile in the first moto to rise from a first-lap position of 16th to reach sixth. He briefly held fifth but was passed by series leader Nick Kouwenberg on the last circulation. Hsu had an eventful moto with various position changes and mistakes to finally arrive home in 12th despite suffering with leg cramps.
The second race saw Vaessen riding superbly and a late race charge pulled him all the way up to lead EMX250 for the first time. With two laps to go Lars Van Berkel put the youngster under pressure and he tipped over while vying to keep his role as race leader. Sadly he lost time and positions and dropped out of the running. Hsu weathered the bumps to take ninth place.
In the EMX250 championship picture Hsu is fifth and likely to stay with this slot in what is his first term of competitive racing on the RM-Z250.
MXGP now breaks for two weeks but Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe will keep busy with the sixth and seventh rounds of eight in the 2015 ADAC MX Masters German Championship to tackle at Ried and Lichtenvoorde. The Grand Prix of Lombardia at Lommel will pull the international competition together again on August 22-23rd.
Jeremy Seewer:
"I knew it would be tough even though I've done plenty of sand practice but the problem with practice is that it's never like that! We find Lommel like this once a year. It was unbelievable; and you can never find anything like that on a practice track. I started really well in the first race - and also in the second - but the guys went pretty fast on the first laps and I thought 'I'm not 'gonna do that, I'm going to keep my rhythm and save some energy.' I came back to the group a little bit but not enough. I almost had the holeshot in the second moto and was better in the first laps. I was safe in fifth place but then I started to get a bit tired and I made a mistake and then lost the rhythm and energy. I pulled the bike back up but then crashed again a bit later; luckily it was not a big one. I'm happy with my riding in the second race because in these conditions I think it is the best I have ever done.'
Bas Vaessen:
"I'm pretty happy with my riding but my will-to-win was a little bit too much! I'm disappointed with my results but I was the fastest guy on the track because I came back from 16th to first. Before I crashed I was with Lars [Van Berkel] and it was like 'who will shut off the gas first?' Lars did it first...but he was also the smartest."
MX2 Moto1: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 34:55.901; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:24.619; 3. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +0:35.480; 4. Harri Kullas (FIN, Husqvarna), +0:38.503; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:41.961; 6. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:51.635; 7. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:57.168; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:08.248; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +1:20.572; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:30.448.
MX2 Moto2: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 35:42.426; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:25.396; 3. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:51.575; 4. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:01.671; 5. Harri Kullas (FIN, Husqvarna), +1:04.599; 6. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +1:10.159; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +1:16.493; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:29.739; 9. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:40.929; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, Kawasaki), +1:49.133.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 50 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 38 p.; 4. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 35 p.; 5. Harri Kullas (FIN, HUS), 34 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 30 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 26 p.; 8. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 23 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 18 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 14 of 18 rounds): 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 433 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 429 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 423 p.; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 408 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 395 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 393 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 387 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 340 p.; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 262 p.; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 259 p.
EMX250 European Championship Overall result: 1. Lars van Berkel (NED, KAW), 47 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 29 p.; 5. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 28 p.; 8. Frederik van der Vlist (NED, KAW), 26 p.; 9. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 21 p.; 10. Nicholas Adams (RSA, KAW), 19 p.; 11. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 18 p.; 12. Magne Klingsheim (NOR, KAW), 15 p.; 13. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 15 p.
EMX250 European Championship (after 8 of 9 rounds): 1. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 284 points; 2. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 251 p.; 3. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 243 p.; 4. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 235 p.; 5. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 190 p.; 6. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 186 p.; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 177 p.; 8. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 166 p.; 9. Steven Clarke (GBR, HUS), 118 p.; 10. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 114 p.; 11. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 100 p.; 12. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KAW), 96 p.; 13. Lars van Berkel (NED, KAW), 95 p.; 14. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 86 p.; 15. Frederik van der Vlist (NED, KAW), 83 p.; 16. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 80 p.; 17. Nicholas Adams (RSA, KAW), 78 p.; 18. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 71 p.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe Lommel Image Gallery: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
A crowd of 24,200 entered the Lommel circuit with the waving bumps and ruts of the terrain some of the hardest and most technical of the season.
Temperatures hit the mid-20s for a splendid spell of summer conditions in the north of the country at the racing venue only a few kilometres from the team's workshop and main base of operations. Round 14 of 18 got underway with the Swiss slotting into a top-six position on the first lap. The opening exchanges were fierce and chaotic and Seewer found himself in the group going for fourth place. In the end he had to follow Jordi Tixier and confirmed eighth place by riding smart and at his own pace.
The '#91' almost took the holeshot in the second race and blasted around the outside of the first turn in second place. From there he settled into a speed good enough for the top-five and maintained his performance until the 12th lap of 15 when a crash on the corner before the waves-section cost him a position and then another accident meant he elected to ride-out the remaining time of the race in eighth.
Seewer is at the heart of the tussle for a final position in the top-three of the MX2 championship. He rests fifth and is only 32 points from second.
Lommel also hosted the penultimate round of the EMX250 European Championship and Bas Vaessen rode his RM-Z250 with eye-catching speed on his preferred surface to lead a moto for the first time. Team-mate Brian Hsu was ninth overall. Vaessen unveiled pace and guile in the first moto to rise from a first-lap position of 16th to reach sixth. He briefly held fifth but was passed by series leader Nick Kouwenberg on the last circulation. Hsu had an eventful moto with various position changes and mistakes to finally arrive home in 12th despite suffering with leg cramps.
The second race saw Vaessen riding superbly and a late race charge pulled him all the way up to lead EMX250 for the first time. With two laps to go Lars Van Berkel put the youngster under pressure and he tipped over while vying to keep his role as race leader. Sadly he lost time and positions and dropped out of the running. Hsu weathered the bumps to take ninth place.
In the EMX250 championship picture Hsu is fifth and likely to stay with this slot in what is his first term of competitive racing on the RM-Z250.
MXGP now breaks for two weeks but Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe will keep busy with the sixth and seventh rounds of eight in the 2015 ADAC MX Masters German Championship to tackle at Ried and Lichtenvoorde. The Grand Prix of Lombardia at Lommel will pull the international competition together again on August 22-23rd.
Jeremy Seewer:
"I knew it would be tough even though I've done plenty of sand practice but the problem with practice is that it's never like that! We find Lommel like this once a year. It was unbelievable; and you can never find anything like that on a practice track. I started really well in the first race - and also in the second - but the guys went pretty fast on the first laps and I thought 'I'm not 'gonna do that, I'm going to keep my rhythm and save some energy.' I came back to the group a little bit but not enough. I almost had the holeshot in the second moto and was better in the first laps. I was safe in fifth place but then I started to get a bit tired and I made a mistake and then lost the rhythm and energy. I pulled the bike back up but then crashed again a bit later; luckily it was not a big one. I'm happy with my riding in the second race because in these conditions I think it is the best I have ever done.'
Bas Vaessen:
"I'm pretty happy with my riding but my will-to-win was a little bit too much! I'm disappointed with my results but I was the fastest guy on the track because I came back from 16th to first. Before I crashed I was with Lars [Van Berkel] and it was like 'who will shut off the gas first?' Lars did it first...but he was also the smartest."
MX2 Moto1: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 34:55.901; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:24.619; 3. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +0:35.480; 4. Harri Kullas (FIN, Husqvarna), +0:38.503; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:41.961; 6. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:51.635; 7. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:57.168; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:08.248; 9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), +1:20.572; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:30.448.
MX2 Moto2: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), 35:42.426; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:25.396; 3. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:51.575; 4. Petar Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), +1:01.671; 5. Harri Kullas (FIN, Husqvarna), +1:04.599; 6. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +1:10.159; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +1:16.493; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:29.739; 9. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:40.929; 10. Thomas Covington (USA, Kawasaki), +1:49.133.
MX2 Overall result: 1. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 50 points; 2. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 38 p.; 4. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 35 p.; 5. Harri Kullas (FIN, HUS), 34 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 30 p.; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 26 p.; 8. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 23 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 18 p.
MX2 World Championship Standings (after 14 of 18 rounds): 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 433 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 429 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 423 p.; 4. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 408 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 395 p.; 6. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KAW), 393 p.; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, KAW), 387 p.; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, YAM), 340 p.; 9. Petar Petrov (BUL, KAW), 262 p.; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 259 p.
EMX250 European Championship Overall result: 1. Lars van Berkel (NED, KAW), 47 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 29 p.; 5. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Kevin Wouts (BEL, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 28 p.; 8. Frederik van der Vlist (NED, KAW), 26 p.; 9. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 21 p.; 10. Nicholas Adams (RSA, KAW), 19 p.; 11. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 18 p.; 12. Magne Klingsheim (NOR, KAW), 15 p.; 13. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 15 p.
EMX250 European Championship (after 8 of 9 rounds): 1. Nick Kouwenberg (NED, HON), 284 points; 2. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 251 p.; 3. Damon Graulus (BEL, YAM), 243 p.; 4. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 235 p.; 5. Brian Hsu (GER, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 190 p.; 6. Alvin Östlund (SWE, YAM), 186 p.; 7. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, KTM), 177 p.; 8. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 166 p.; 9. Steven Clarke (GBR, HUS), 118 p.; 10. Simone Zecchina (ITA, KAW), 114 p.; 11. Michele Cervellin (ITA, HON), 100 p.; 12. Nicolas Dercourt (FRA, KAW), 96 p.; 13. Lars van Berkel (NED, KAW), 95 p.; 14. Ken Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 86 p.; 15. Frederik van der Vlist (NED, KAW), 83 p.; 16. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), 80 p.; 17. Nicholas Adams (RSA, KAW), 78 p.; 18. Bas Vaessen (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 71 p.
Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe Lommel Image Gallery: CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
