Ben Watson explains his MXGP of Spain race two absence
By Andrew Hill on 18th Oct 21
Ben Watson did his best to collect points at the MXGP of Spain, despite an ankle injury suffered one round earlier.
Watson got a great start out of the gate and held 12th place in the opening seven or eight laps of the first race, but his efforts were not helped after twisting his injured ankle. He started to drop back, but the brave Brit pushed through the pain for two points at the chequers.
That uncomfortable dab meant he would not line up for the second points-paying moto.
"I had a good start to the day," said the 24-year-old. "After twisting my ankle last weekend, I tried not to ride too much in qualifying. I had a good feeling and managed to get a better lap time this weekend. Unfortunately, during race one, I put my foot down like usual and just re-tweaked my foot.
"I felt good, but of course, with only one week, it just wasn't quite strong enough. We decided to miss the second moto in order not to make things worse and hopefully be able to go to Arco feeling myself again."
With the first of an Arco triple-header awaiting him this weekend, with hindsight, the smart move would have been to duck the Spanish GP to have a better chance of competing well at the remaining rounds. Could it be the MXGP rookie is possibly feeling the pressure of an impressive Maxime Renaux moving up and snatching his seat away in 2022?
If that did happen, it would be an injustice on Ben. But how often does unfairness sway decisions in professional sport?
Many of his fans will feel rightly so Ben has done more than enough for a contract extension with the factory Yamaha team.
More like this…
1-2 for Herlings and Prado at packed Spanish Grand Prix
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing continued their streak of premium results and podium presence in the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship as Jeffrey Herlings celebrated his sixth MXGP victory of the season ahead of Jorge Prado around the Spanish hard-pack of Intu Xanadú Arroyomolinos for round 13 of 18 in the current series.
Beaton vs Todd MXGP of France: Dixon hits out at shenanigans
A manoeuvre from Jed Beaton wrecked a promising top-10 finish for Wilson Todd at the first French Grand Prix for two years, and Bike It MTX Kawasaki team boss Steve Dixon was less than impressed.
Fourth 2021 Grand Prix sweep for Herlings and Vialle as French Grand Prix falls to Red Bull KTM
The Grand Prix of France and Round 12 of 18 in the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Tom Vialle own the MXGP and MX2 classes together for the fourth time this season.