MXGP of Germany: Teutschenthal set for action this weekend
By Infront Moto Racing on 9th Jun 22
The 11th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship returns to Teutschenthal, Germany, for this year's Liqui Moly MXGP of Germany, the 26th edition of the German Grand Prix.
Last year, the MXGP of Germany returned for the first time since 2019 and delivered an explosive weekend that saw the title chase between Red Bull KTM Factory Racings Jeffrey Herlings, Romain Febvre of Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP and Team HRCs Tim Gajser intensify.
While this year the MXGP championship appears to be a one-horse race, the MX2 title bout is closer than ever with just 11 points separating Red Bull KTM Factory Racings Tom Vialle and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racings Jago Geerts and this weekends races will be crucial.
The hardpack track of Teutschenthal has been part of the FIM Motocross World Championship since the 70s and first hosted a 250cc Grand Prix in 1971 which was then won by the six-time world champion Jol Robert.
Alongside the main MXGP and MX2 action, this weekends races will also see the rounds of EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing, EMX250 as well as the Junior e-Motocross series. As it stands, Fantic Factory Team Maddiis Cas Valk heads the 125cc championship while the 250cc class continues to thrill with Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racings Rick Elzinga currently leading by just a one-point margin over Fantic Factory Team Maddiis Cornelius Toendel.
MXGP
One of the biggest news of this weekend is that Romain Febvre of Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP will make his much-awaited return behind the gate after six months away from racing. Febvres injury came with some complications, but the Frenchman now feels this is the time to make his comeback to MXGP.
The German Grand Prix is going to be an important one for Team HRCs Tim Gajser who has a chance to bounce back after some tough races since picking up an illness before Sardinia. Now over his sickness struggles, Gajser can put behind him the last three GPs that have seen the four-time world champion miss the podium. If last years race in Teutschenthal is anything to go by, the Slovenian should have no trouble returning to the top step of the podium and putting himself back on course for title #5.
Gajser leads the championship by a mighty 73-points over Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racings Maxime Renaux who had a hard home GP and will no doubt be looking to make amends in Germany, a GP that he won last season after Red Bull KTM Factory Racings Tom Vialle was issued a penalty.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racings Glenn Coldenhoff and Jeremy Seewer are real threats for the podium this weekend, after Coldenhoff secured his third overall top-three finish on the bounce in Erne with a race win in race two, while his team-mate Seewer was the big winner with a 1-2 result in the races. For both riders, it seems like the last couple of GPs have been a turning point, in terms of overall set-up and confidence, so it will be interesting to see if they can carry on with this winning momentum for the second half of the season.
Red Bull GasGas Factory Racings Jorge Prado has been building towards the top step of the box since making his return from a shoulder injury in Sardinia. Last weekend, Prado was the leading man in both races before being caught by the Yamaha guys, which just proved that the Spaniard is not 100 per cent physically yet, but can still be competitive at the sharp end nonetheless.
Home hero Henry Jacobi of JM Honda Racing will be looking to put on his best performance in front of the German fans, and his qualifying race victory from the French GP will no doubt be a confidence boost and an extra push of motivation in order to challenge for his best result of the season.
MXGP of Germany 2021 MXGP Top 3
- Tim Gajser
- Jeffrey Herlings
- Romain Febvre
MX2
This weekend, Red Bull KTM Factory Racings Tom Vialle is once again the heavy favourite after dominating the last three GPs in a row. He will be full of confidence after the victory at his home GP and with 11 points ahead of Jago Geerts from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing, he will no doubt be fired up to take as many points from the Belgian as possible.
Last weekend in France, Geerts again had moments of struggle. The crash in qualifying left him feeling second hand but nonetheless, he managed two very consistent second-place finishes after intense battles with Vialle and his team-mate Thibault Benistant of Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing. Geerts needs a victory in order to take the extra points from Vialle if he wants to keep the title within touching distance.
Benistant is another rider who we could see battling at the sharp end, after winning a race in front of his home fans and securing his second podium of the season. He is also a strong hard-pack rider which he proved this season already, but good starts will be a key to getting ahead of the likes of Vialle and Geerts.
Home rider Simon Lngenfelder of Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing is another rider who will be expected to challenge at the forefront this weekend. The German won the qualifying race in France last time around and had some strong starts that put him at the front with Vialle and Geerts. If he can do the same again this weekend, it could be a dream race for the German who will be hoping to get on the box in front of his home fans.
MXGP of Germany 2021 MX2 Top 3
- Maxime Renaux
- Tom Vialle
- Rene Hofer
MXGP and MX2 timetable
(local time CEST - one hour ahead of UK)
Saturday
10:50 MX2 Free Practice
11:20 MXGP Free Practice
13:25 MX2 Time Practice
14:00 MXGP Time Practice
16:25 MX2 Qualifying Race
17:10 MXGP Qualifying Race
Sunday
10:25 MX2 Warm-up
10:45 MXGP Warm-up
13:15 MX2 Race 1
14:15 MXGP Race 1
16:10 MX2 Race 2
17:10 MXGP Race 2
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