eventually finished the race in
26th position.
Struggling further down the
field were Cairoli and Coldenhoff,
who were looking for a way inside
the top 20, as Team Germany's
Max Nagl retired from the race.
At the top end of the field,
though, Olsen was all over Sabu-
lis and he took over the lead on
lap five.
Cairoli eventually found his way
inside the top 20, but moments
later made use of the goggle lane
which meant he dropped posi-
tions as a result. But with clearer
vision, the Italian was able to fight
back to 21st.
His younger countryman, Gua-
dagnini was having a strong race in-
side the top 10 and he only climbed
further up as the race progressed.
The MX2 rookie was able to find his
way around Team Sweden's Isak
Gifting, who crashed, and then
later Tonus and Sabulis.
With three laps to go, it was
Olsen who led Vialle, with Watson
still in third, followed by Tonus
and Guadagnini. In the end,
Olsen was able to hold off both
Vialle and Watson to win the first
heat for Team Denmark.
In the second moto, Team
Switzerland's Valentin Guillod
took the holeshot, though it was
Jeffrey Herlings of Team Nether-
lands who was quick to take over
the lead with Guillod dropping to
second and Team Austria's Rene
Hofer starting well in third.
Meanwhile, Vialle had a night-
mare start and was down in 15th
position, while Guadagnini and
Lupino started strong in fifth and
sixth, respectively.
Hofer then set the fastest lap
of the race as he was just 1.017
seconds down on Herlings after
taking second from Guillod. The
Austrian was having a great ride
for Team Austria.
Things then went from bad to
worse for Team France and Vialle
who struggled with his bike and
was eventually forced to retire
from the race.
Team Germany's Henry Jacobi
then started to apply the pressure
onto Lupino, while Guadagnini
made a mistake and ended up on
the ground, losing four positions as
a result. He dropped to seventh.
There was more drama for
Team France and Team Neth-
erlands as Mathys Boisrame
and Roan van de Moosdijk both
crashed, the pair eventually fin-
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 39 SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 P33
Jeffrey Herlings won
two of the three motos
(and the Open class),
but his Dutch team
came up one point
short of winning.
Ben Watson (7), the MXGP-class winner, helped get the British team on
the podium for the fourth consecutive time. The Brits finished one point
behind the Dutch, making it one of the closest finishes in MXoN history.
