Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1520301
shame because the first moto was a good one for me. I got the holeshot and had a good battle for the lead and eventu- ally won in difficult conditions." Prado finished outside the top 10 in both races, going 15-12 for 13th overall. "I was the fastest when the track was dry early in the weekend, but then the rain came on Saturday and Sunday," Prado said. "In the qualifying race, I struggled a bit with getting the bike set up, but by Sunday, I was the fastest again. I had good speed, but the starts from P7 were tough: there were mistakes, crashes. The conditions on Sunday made it super tough. I had to make two pit stops in the first moto, and then I crashed after a good start in the second moto. It was a pity, because I know I've been hard to beat on this track—but sometimes, that's just how it goes!" MX2 Everts was the star of the show in Portugal as he kicked off the weekend by winning the Ram Qualifying Race. He rolled that into two holeshots and two race victories, sweeping the muddy weekend with relative ease. The Red Bull KTM rider stayed out of trouble and avoided the messy carnage going on behind him. This is his second consecutive GP overall win and puts him third in the championship standings. "These are the kinds of week - ends you dream of," Everts said. "Everything goes so well and you are just in the zone, just your focus, your bike and the track. These days don't come often. You win a championship on tough days, but this was a good one! I know tougher ones will come but this was something special." Yamaha's Rick Elzinga landed second overall after two con - sistent motos. The Dutch native started up front in race one and traded spots with Simon Laengen - felder in the early stages before finishing fourth, matching his career-best finish. He's credited with the holeshot in race two and kept it upright to finish second in the moto and second overall. This marks his first-ever overall podium and bumps him up two spots in the points standings. "I really can't be happier," said Elzinga. "My first MX2 podium is just amazing. I really like this track, so it was a shame about the mud, but, in race one, it wasn't too bad. I started third then moved into second but then made a few mistakes. I ended up fourth, but overall I was happy with my riding. I took the hole - shot in race two but ran too wide, so I lost a couple of places. I was third for a while and then moved into second and made no mis- takes, stayed up, and finished second for second overall and my first-ever podium in MX2." Elzinga's teammate, Thibault Benistant used 5-4 results to claim third overall. While not finishing on the podium in either moto, the French rider battled all weekend long and avoided mistakes to put together two consistent race fin - ishes. This is his second consecu- tive podium as well. "It was a really tough week- end because of the weather, but there is plenty to be positive about," said Benistant. "Tough conditions are part of motocross and to get on the box with a 5-4 is good and good points for the championship." Simon Laengenfelder (GasGas) and MX2 points leader Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) finished second and third in race one but off the box in race two. Laengenfelder hit the deck hard in the second moto and exited the track holding his collarbone. De Wolf finished ninth in race two, which dropped him to fourth on the day. He still main - tains the points lead. CN MXGP (Top 5) 1. Pauls Jonass (Hon) 2-2 2. Romain Febvre (Kaw) 3-4 3. Tim Gajser (Hon) 1-10 4. Brian Bogers (Fan) 5-7 5. Cornelius Toendel (KTM) 12-3 MX2 (Top 5) 1. Liam Everts (KTM) 1-1 2. Rick Elzinga (Yam) 4-2 3. Thibault Benistant (5-4) 4. Kay de Wolf (Hus) 3-9 5. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 6-7 WIND IN THE P54 Tim Gajser is the new MXGP points leader after former leader Jorge Prado had two disastrous motos in the mud.