Tim Gajser on Oss strategy that paid off and prospect of Loket
By Press Release on 19th Jul 21
Team HRCs Tim Gajser took his second overall victory of the 2021 MXGP World Championship season after two solid motos at the sandy Oss circuit in the Netherlands.
Not only were his three-two scores good enough to secure the top step of the podium, but he also increased his lead in the title standings from six points to 23 points, giving the Slovenian an almost full-moto advantage over his nearest rivals after just four rounds.
The riders knew they would be in for a tough day at the office as sand is well-known for sapping energy, and then combined with temperatures touching 30C at the Dutch track, it really made them work for every point.
However, Gajser was up to the challenge, riding a smooth consistent first moto as those around him had erratic races. The #243 rounded the first lap in third place and made sure to avoid any mistakes, as he eventually crossed the line in the same position.
In race two, another top three start meant he was in a really strong position for the overall, and when he moved into second on lap three, it was all but secured. However, the Honda CRF450RW rider wanted to seal the moto win as well as the overall, and after pressuring the leader for 10 laps, he eventually swept into first.
Unfortunately, that battle had knocked him out of his rhythm and he had to surrender the race win later on, but it was done, safe in the knowledge that hed still be standing atop the podium, and with an even more secure grasp on the championship-leading red-plate.
The gap at the top now stands at 23 points but with the races coming thick and fast, and on all kinds of terrain, Gajser knows he cant afford to rest on his laurels. Next weekend (July 25) is the MXGP of the Czech Republic, which is hosted at the old-school venue of Loket, known for its hard-pack surface and hilly layout.
Like all races this season, the MXGP action will take place on Sunday, with a morning practice followed by the two motos in the afternoon, where Gajser will be once again be continuing his quest for his third world title in a row.
"Overall, I am happy with the day," said Gajser. "Coming into the event I knew it would be difficult to take the victory as it was a new track for me and there are a lot of good sand riders, but I tried to ride smoothly, not taking too many risks and it paid off.
"Of course, I would have liked to have finished off with a win in the second moto but increasing my championship lead and getting on the top step of the podium was a good finish to the day.
"I know I still need to keep working hard though and I will make sure Im ready for the hard-pack of Loket next weekend where hopefully there will be a lot of Slovenian fans who can cheer me on.
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