A busy Grand Prix of Spain on the outskirts of Madrid was the scene for round two of twenty in 2024 MXGP and for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing to chase their first podium silverware of the season. World Champion Andrea Adamo won the second MX2 moto with his KTM 250 SX-F and finished 3rd while Jeffrey Herlings classified 4th in the MXGP class with the KTM 450 SX-F; tying on points for 3rd place.
MXGP landed into European soil for the second Grand Prix of the season and into the compact confines of the Spanish circuit constructed specifically for the MXGP fixture and on the southern outskirts of Madrid. Decent weather coated the weekend as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing were back to full strength with a four-rider roster in both MXGP and MX2 classes and with the KTM 450 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F in play.
On Saturday Jeffrey Herlings recovered from two big ‘moments’ from the start and during the formative phases of the RAM Qualification Heat to work his way to 4th position by the checkered flag and therefore earn the same choice in the gate for Sunday’s motos. In the MX2 affair Liam Everts completed a solid return from injury to confirm 3rd. Andrea Adamo was 6th with Sacha Coenen taking 8th place
Herlings started brightly in the first MXGP moto on Sunday. He fought in the beginning and towards the end with Tim Gajser and captured 3rd for his first top three result of 2024. In the second race he made it to 4th on the first lap but a static affair saw little passing opportunities and he crossed the line in the same berth.
Liam Everts was the best starting and highest finisher from MX2 Moto1. The Belgian’s dependable level of consistency ensured 4th while Adamo was 6th and Coenen weathered some mistakes to take 12th. Coenen grabbed the holeshot in the second moto but it was Adamo who resiliently bossed the race for his first P1. His 6-1 scorecard was good enough for the final step of the rostrum. Everts was 6th in the race (5th for the GP) and Coenen took 8th (for 9th overall).
From Spanish earth to deep Italian sand: the Riola Sardo circuit on the island of Sardinia will entertain the third Grand Prix of 2024 during the first weekend of April.
Jeffrey Herlings, 3rd and 4th for 4th overall in MXGP: “Pretty OK. I was 5th in the first moto and worked my way to 3rd and pretty much stayed there the whole time. I put a challenge on the 2nd placed guy but couldn’t make the pass. An ‘OK’ start in the second moto and stayed in 4th. No excuses. Things went better than Argentina but still not a great weekend. We made a step in the right direction because we were closer to the leaders than round one. We’ll put our heads down and look to Sardinia where we can hopefully get on the podium and where a win would be absolutely great.”
