Today’s MXGP of the USA at the iconic Glen Helen marked the end of the 2016 season, and one in which Honda celebrated winning the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Gautier PaulinzoomGautier Paulin Gautier PaulinzoomGautier Paulin
Gautier Paulin delivered a solid performance in the final moto today to take fifth, and fifth overall in the Grand Prix, whilst Evgeny Bobryshev overcame starting from the very outside gate to take an eighth place finish, which was enough for seventh overall.
Combined with the performance this season of Tim Gajser on the Honda Gariboldi CRF450RW, Honda dominated the Manufacturers’ Championship this season to win that particular title by 70 points, adding to the double crown of 2016 Riders’ and Manufacturers’ World Championship titles.
Today’s MXGP of the USA marked the end of the 2016 season, but that’s not to say racing is now finished. In two weeks, the Italian track of Maggiora hosts the Motocross of Nations, which is followed a fortnight later by the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup at the Veltins Arena in Germany.
Evgeny BobryshevzoomEvgeny Bobryshev
Honda Comments
Gautier Paulin:
Race Result: 10th, 5th 5th overall“Today was a little bit up and down because I was tenth in the first moto but then fifth in the second, which was much better. In moto one I knew that my position today was fifth. I tried to push to pass Max in race two but I couldn’t make it, so in the end fifth was exactly where we finished, in the second race and overall. Romain has been on it this weekend and he finished behind me in the second race so we know that the speed was there. I struggled a bit on the bike yesterday and in the first moto when the track was flat, but in the second race it was rougher so I could be more technical so we could do a better job. It’s great for Honda to have taken the Manufacturers’ title too, so I want to congratulate the team and all the HRC staff for all their work this season, and also thank them for all their support and all the work of the team this season.”Evgeny Bobryshev:
Race Result: 11th, 8th 7th overall“Yesterday really set the tone of this weekend as starting from the outside made my races tough today, even though I could still make some passes in the first corner as I hoped. It was difficult to come back through the field though. The first moto was a little tricky and at the finish I was only three points ahead of Jeremy van Horebeek in fifth overall in the championship, and I really wanted to keep that position. Then the second race was much better and we could make our way up to eighth. I’m really proud to have ridden the new 2017 CRF450RW for the last two races of this season, and I know it has so much performance that we’ve been finding out how to maximize these last two races ahead of next season. The team have worked so hard all season and I really want to thank them all for their support, and it’s a good reward that Honda won the Manufacturers’ title this year. Along with Tim’s championship, it’s been a fantastic year to be riding a Honda.”Roger Harvey: HRC General Manager - MXGP“These last two Grands Prix in America have been a great way to end the season – Bobby was fighting for the top three in Charlotte on the new CRF, Tim took two podiums and of course won the World Championship title, and Honda also took the Manufacturers’ Championship title, so it’s been a great year and we’re all very satisfied with what 2016 has brought us. The team have all worked so hard and the support from HRC has been incredible, so I think this is really a deserved result and I want to congratulate everyone in our Honda family. The conditions this weekend were hot at Glen Helen, but both Gautier and Bobby rode well, especially in the second moto today, where they were making progress until the flag. The MXGP season has now finished, but there’s not really any rest as we head to the Motocross of Nations where Gautier, Bobby and Tim are all selected once again, and we hope there we can continue the run of success on the Honda CRF.”
Tim GajserzoomTim Gajser Team Honda Gariboldi RacingzoomTeam Honda Gariboldi Racing
Gajser Rounds Out 2016 MXGP Season on the Podium in the USA
Recently-crowned 2016 MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser rounded out his stellar rookie season with his 16th podium of the year, taking third overall at the MXGP of the USA at Glen Helen.
After a fight-back in yesterday’s qualifying race, today was much more plain sailing for Gajser. Launching to third from the start in race one on his #243 CRF450RW, the Slovenian dropped to sixth before mounting a charge back up to fourth.
In race two, Gajser soon blew into second by the exit of turn two, and spent the race chasing down then-leader Antonio Cairoli. As the pair were passed by eventual winner Eli Tomac, Gajser kept the pressure on Cairoli to come home a close third, which took him to third overall and his 16th podium of the season.
His run of form this season has been spectacular, taking him to the MXGP crown and making him the first back-to-back MX2 and MXGP winner in this era of the championship. His results also contributed in no small part to Honda dominating the Manufacturers Championship crown for the perfect double in 2016.
Honda Comments
Tim Gajser
Race Result: 4th/3th Championship position: 1st“I’m happy overall with this weekend, and very happy with the way this season has gone. To finish 16 times on the podium from 18 races this year has been amazing, and the team has done such a great job to give me such a great bike all year. Yesterday was a tough day so it’s great to have come out stronger today. I pushed too much early on in race one, but in the second race we had a better tactic and had a battle with Toni all race. It’s been a long season, but I’m so happy to have taken the title and also to end the year in this way back on the podium. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone around me this season – all the fans that have travelled all around the world in support of me, Honda and HRC for all their support and such a great bike, the Gariboldi team for all their really hard work all season, and all my sponsors like Fox, Monster and Just1, and of course my family and my father. This season has been a joint effort between us all, and I’m so grateful for everything. It’ll be nice to have a very short break now after three GPs in a row, but I’m looking forward to the Nations already now!”Giacomo Gariboldi: Team Principal “It’s been a great season for Tim and for Honda, and it’s a good feeling to end the season in this way, back on the podium. Sixteen podiums from 18 races, and in Tim’s rookie year, is incredible and proves the decision to take Tim straight into the MXGP class after winning in MX2 last year was totally the right one. We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved this season, with all the support from Honda and HRC and all our partners, and of course the fans. It’s been like a dream year. Actually a dream two years, beyond anything we could have imagined. To finish with the Manufacturers’ title too is a great reward for Honda for all the work they’ve put in this season, and I am delighted that we can share this together.”
2016 FIM MXGP / MX2 World Motocross Championship
Round 01: Glen Helen – United States
MXGP - Race 1 Result
Rank
Rider (Machine)
1 Tomac, Eli(Kawasaki)
2 Cairoli, Antonio(KTM)
3 Nagl, Maximilian(Husqvarna)
4 Gajser, Tim(Honda)
5 Van Horebeek, Jeremy(Yamaha)
6 Coldenhoff, Glenn(KTM)
10 Paulin, Gautier(Honda)
11 Bobryshev, Evgeny(Honda)
18 Lupino, Alessandro(Honda)
20 Yamamoto, Kei(Honda)
23 Aeck, Colton(Honda)
26 Benenaula, Andres(Honda)
30 Pauk, John(Honda)
34 Gustavsson, Nicklas(Honda)
MXGP - Race 2 Result
Rank
Rider (Machine)
1 Tomac, Eli(Kawasaki)
2 Cairoli, Antonio(KTM)
3 Gajser, Tim(Honda)
4 Nagl, Maximilian(Husqvarna)
5 Paulin, Gautier(Honda)
6 Febvre, Romain(Yamaha)
8 Bobryshev, Evgeny(Honda)
16 Lupino, Alessandro(Honda)
20 Yamamoto, Kei(Honda)
21 Aeck, Colton(Honda)
25 Gustavsson, Nicklas(Honda)
28 Benenaula, Andres(Honda)
MX2 - Race 1 Result
Rank
Rider (Machine)
1 Herlings, Jeffrey(KTM)
2 Martin, Jeremy(Honda)
3 Forkner, Austin(Kawasaki)
4 Covington, Thomas(Husqvarna)
5 Harrison, Mitchell(Yamaha)
6 Paturel, Benoit(Yamaha)
21 Martin, Vann(Honda)
MX2 - Race 2 Result
Rank
Rider (Machine)
1 Herlings, Jeffrey(KTM)
2 Martin, Jeremy(Honda)
3 Seewer, Jeremy(Suzuki)
4 Anstie, Max(Husqvarna)
5 Harrison, Mitchell(Yamaha)
6 Van doninck, Brent(Yamaha)
19 Martin, Vann(Honda)
