MOTOCROSS MXGP OF AMERICAS 2016

GP17: AMERICAS (Charlotte) - First ever GP podium for Forkner

For the first time in its history, the famous Nascar facility of Charlotte (North Carolina) met one round of the FIM Motocross World Championship on a new venue designed in the speedway arena. It was a great opportunity for some top US riders to join the series, and young talent Austin Forkner was one of the GP heroes, celebrating his first GP podium in his first ever attempt.First of the two US rounds of the series before Glen Helen (California) next weekend, Charlotte has been a success even if a hurricane forced the organisers to reduce the racing program to one single day. Both Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser will keep a great memory of this venue as they clinched the 2016 World titles after the first heat, while Americans Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac dominates the GP.

Member of the Pro Circuit Kawasaki team, Austin Forkner just celebrates its 18th birthday prior the event and show to the world his huge potential. Fastest rider in the timed practice period and twice fastest in action at the start of the races, the young American led both races but failed to win anyone as Jeffrey Herlings in race one and Cooper Webb in race two passed him in both races. Third of the GP behind Webb and Herlings, Austin had some good time in Charlotte. "I even surprised myself today. I really didn't know what to expect and even the start was different as we had to prepare our own gate. I set fastest time in practice and took the lead on the opening lap in each moto. That mistake in race one cost me the win and I just handed it to them, but they were inching me in in race two. We Americans go for it from the beginning of the motos, while the GP riders are stronger at the end. I was getting pretty tired at the end, but it was pretty special today," he said. Regular GP contender Petar Petrov didn’t attend the last rounds of the series, as he undergoes a shoulder injury on Friday.Winner one week ago in Assen, Clement Desalle was once more the best Scott representative in the MXGP class. But the Belgian missed any good start to race for a podium result, while Eli Tomac dominates both races to beat new World Champion Tim Gajser and Belgian Jeremy Van Horebeek. Fifth of the GP, Desalle was pretty disappointed by his performance. “Once more the starts were very important here as the track was really fast. It was difficult to make the difference, tough to pass and I just missed better starts to fight for the podium. In the first race I earn one position with three laps to go, then in the second one I had a good start but I lost some positions in the first corner when I slid out wide, and then it was impossible to come back.”

Results MXGP.

1.Tomac (USA, Kawasaki)

2.Gajser (SLO, Honda)

3.Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha)

5.Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

8.Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

13.Simpson (GBR, KTM), Scott Athlete

MXGP World standings:

1.Gajser, 693 (2016 World Champion)

2.Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 603

3.Nagl (ALL, Husqvarna), 565

8.Desalle, 372

10.Simpson, 322

Results MX2.

1.Webb (USA, Yamaha)

2.Herlings (PB, KTM)

3.Forkner (USA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

11.Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

MX2 World Standings

1.Herlings, 689 (2016 World Champion)

2.Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), 595

3.Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), 485

6.Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete, 378

9.Petrov (BUL, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete, 351Kawasaki), Scott Athlete, 351