Pauls Jonass puts together two solid races for fifth overall in Afyonkarahisar
Bouncing back from a truly spectacular crash just three days ago, Pauls Jonass put in a champion’s performance at MXGP round nine. At the second of two visits to the Afyonkarahisar circuit, Jonass again looked at home on the hardpack soil, capitalizing on great starts in both races to secure fifth-overall. Not bad for a guy who hit the ground hard just last weekend! Jonass’ Standing Construct teammate Brian Bogers also had a solid day, placing 12th-overall despite taking a rock to the face in moto one.
Pauls Jonass: “Not my best day, but not the worst! I’m a little sore from my crash on Wednesday but when I’m on the bike it’s all good. The track was a little sketchy and I wasn’t too confident pushing too hard, so I focused on consistent riding and I would say it paid off with a fifth and a sixth in the races. Having said that, in the second moto I picked up on some good lines towards the end but by then it was too late. It’s cool though, back to the sand in Riola Sardo next week so that should be a good one.”
On the gas last weekend, Pauls Jonass brought that same speed to MXGP round nine to secure an impressive fifth-overall in the MXGP class. A great start in race one ensured the Latvian stayed away from trouble, before he slotted into fifth place on lap four and rode a relatively quiet moto to the finish.
In race two, Pauls emerged from turn one in third place, up front and ready to battle. Breaking away from the chasing pack with the leading riders, Pauls dropped to sixth place early in the moto but maintained his pace to the end. Nothing spectacular, but another big points haul for our MXGP ace who lined up a little battered and bruised following his big crash last weekend.
For Pauls’ Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing teammate, Brian Bogers, a first turn crash in race one was made worse by taking a rock to the face while battling his way through the pack. Despite feeling a little dizzy, the Dutchman soldiered on for a 17th-place finish.
Brian Bogers: “A bit of a frustrating day today as in the first moto I crashed on the start, so that wasn’t good. After that I felt good and I was working my way up to the front, but then a rock hit my nose and I got a little dizzy from that. I finished 17th and scored a few points, though. In the second moto I had a good jump off the start, but I messed it up in the first two corners and I was pushed back to 15th. I came through for 10th at the finish so that wasn’t too bad. It’s a shame that I couldn’t put two solid races together, but I am happy with my riding second moto. We will bounce back in Riola Sardo in the sand though, I’m really looking forward to that one.”
Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing will now look forward to lining up at the MXGP of Sardegna on September 19, round 10 of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
Results – 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 9
MXGP – Overall
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 47pts
2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 45
3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 42
5. Pauls Jonass (GASGAS) 31
12. Brian Bogers (GASGAS) 15
MXGP – Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)
3. Tim Gajser (Honda)
5. Pauls Jonass (GASGAS)
17. Brian Bogers (GASGAS)
MXGP – Race 2
1. Tim Gajser (Honda)
2. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM)
6. Pauls Jonass (GASGAS)
10. Brian Bogers (GASGAS)
Championship Standings – After Round 9
MXGP
1. Tim Gajser (Honda) 355pts
2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 327
3. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 326
7. Pauls Jonass (GASGAS) 231
13. Brian Bogers (GASGAS) 124
