Vlaanderen Captures Maiden
MXGP Win in Italy
T
he eighth round of the MXGP
Championship played out
in extreme heat at the MXGP of
Sardegna in Italy, May 15. But the
challenging conditions on a soft
and physically demanding track
didn't seem to faze The Nether-
lands' Calvin Vlaanderen (Gebben
Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing) who
had a perfect week in the sun,
topping Saturday's time qualify-
ing and qualifying race, and both
MXGP motos on Sunday. While
many riders wilted in the heat,
Vlaanderen stayed strong, going
1-1 for his first career MXGP win,
and his first victory since 2019 in
the MX2 division.
"I'm speechless," said the
Dutchman. "Just honestly, it
was a perfect weekend. I was
first in every single session that
mattered. First in time practice,
first in the qualifying race and
then both races. It's just, I don't
know what to say, just years and
years of hard work, this is what I
dreamed of coming into MXGP.
You know, winning and to be here
right now. It's like a dream.
"I think it all started with the week
leading up to this, like mentally it's
such a big thing in the sport, espe-
cially at this level to believe you can
win," Vlaanderen said. "And coming
to this weekend, I honestly believed
for the first time in my career, I can
win it. And it's such a nice feeling,
just confidence and it showed
today that I could do it".
Red Bull KTM's Jorge Prado
was second overall with a 3-3,
while Dutchman Glenn Colden-
hoff (Yamaha) was third overall
with a lopsided 8-2.
The heat got to many of the
riders by late in the second moto,
including championship leader Tim
Gajser, who struggled in race two
after taking second in moto one.
Gajser was seventh overall on the
day. However, Gajser still enjoys
a comfortable lead in the MXGP
Championship, 367-288 over Ya-
IN
THE
WIND
P40
Calvin Vlaanderen
claimed his first
career MXGP win in
the heat at the MXGP
of Sardegna.
