Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Maxime Renaux made a very welcome and positive return to action with a sixth place overall at the MXGP of Switzerland. At Round 17 of the 2024 season, a strong and consistent 5-7 finish in the two races, as well as the holeshot in each race, highlighted an encouraging day of racing for the Frenchman. Andrea Bonacorsi was also consistent, improving on his 12th place in Race 1 with a 10th in Race 2 to secure 10th place overall.
A week after his seventh place overall in the Netherlands, Bonacorsi was looking forward to racing in tough conditions after much success in mud racing earlier in the season. A mid-field start, a crash and a very single track in race one prevented the Italian from breaking into the top 10 and he finished 12th. After a much better start in race two, Bona was initially pushed back but then fought hard to secure tenth place in the end and tenth overall. He remains 12th in the championship standings.
Renaux showed he hadn’t lost any speed or starting ability during his injury layoff. He took a holeshot in the opening race and led until championship leader Tim Gajser passed on the first lap. The Frenchman then followed Gajser until halfway through the race when Jeffrey Herlings pushed him back into third. As the laps wound down, Renaux lost a few more positions and crossed the line in fifth – a solid result for his first race since the MXGP of Spain in March.
Renaux again took the holeshot in the second race and this time led for six laps. Understandably, the former MX2 World Champion lacked the necessary stamina to stay at the front for the entire race after his long break from racing and his Yamaha YZ450FM. In the end, he slipped to seventh place, taking sixth place overall, but leaves Frauenfeld with a positive feeling and is looking forward to the upcoming races. Renaux is 19th in the championship standings despite only taking part in three rounds.
A week after his seventh place overall in the Netherlands, Bonacorsi was looking forward to racing in tough conditions after much success in mud racing earlier in the season. A mid-field start and a very single track in race one prevented the Italian from breaking into the top 10 and he finished 12th. After a much better start in race two, Bona was initially pushed back but then fought hard to secure tenth place in the end and tenth overall. He remains 12th in the championship standings.
Calvin Vlaanderen was absent from the Swiss GP due to a minor knee injury sustained last weekend in the Netherlands. Currently fifth in the MXGP World Championship, Vlaanderen hopes to return to racing as soon as possible to maintain his top-five position.
Jago Geerts was also unable to take part in the MXGP of Switzerland after his crash in the first round of the qualifying race on Saturday afternoon. Despite being free of injuries, the 24-year-old Belgian made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Grand Prix to prioritise his recovery.
Next on the calendar is the MXGP of Turkey at the hardpack Afyonkarahisar circuit. The event will take place on the weekend of September 7th and 8th and will mark the 18th round of the 2024 MXGP World Championship.
Click here for all the results of the MXGP of Switzerland.
Maxime Renaux
6. MXGP of Switzerland, 30 points
19th MXGP Championship, 100 points
“I’d say my return to racing was OK. I had two good starts to build on and my sprint speed in the first four or five laps was really good too. I’m really sore after so much time off the bike but I just need more time on the bike to get back into racing shape. Overall it was a decent first race back and we’ll only get stronger from here.”
Andrea Bonacorsi
10th MXGP of Switzerland, 20 points
12th MXGP championship, 268 points
“I was consistent this weekend so that was good. The first race was OK, not the best start and then I dropped back a bit but after overtaking people I crashed and lost places again so I ended up 12th. My start in the second race was much better, just inside the top 10 and it was a really tough fight and I finished 10th, 10th overall. It was a decent weekend but I want more so the hard work continues before Turkey in two weeks.”
Photo credit: Full Spectrum Media
