Gajser Dominates Samota Circuit

KOMPAS

Team Gajser from the Honda Racing Team, donated the Rocket Motor Samota Circuit, Sumbawa, NTB, Sunday (26/6/2022).

SUMBAWA BESAR, KOMPAS — After two years’ delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Motocross World Championship (MXGP) returned to Indonesia on Sunday (26/6/2022). At the newly built Samota Rocket Motor Circuit in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, Tim Gajser from the Honda Racing Team emerged the fastest among the world's elite motocross riders.

Becoming familiar with the layout of the 1.9-kilometer circuit from the free practice and qualifying session on Saturday, the riders went all out on their bikes in the two-round race. Gajser proved a hard nut to crack.

His performance prompted the spectators that packed the circuit’s stands to applaud raucously every time he maneuvered the route.

In the first race at 1:15 p.m. Central Indonesian Time, Slovenia’s Gajser started dominating the competition from the first grid, managing to cunningly pass all obstacles. His performance prompted the spectators that packed the circuit’s stands to applaud raucously every time he maneuvered the route.

He confidently held off the pressure from Red Bull Gasgas Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado Garcia to notch up the best time of 1 minute 59.345 seconds in the third lap.

He completed 17 laps in 34 minutes 55.151 seconds to finish first, followed 4.931 seconds later by Prado Garcia in second with a time of 35 minutes 0.82 seconds. The third position went to Honda 114 Motosport’s Ruben Fernandez Garcia, who booked a time of 35 minutes 2.823 seconds.

Prado Garcia remained Gajser's biggest threat in the second round, which started at 4:10 p.m. Gajser trailed in third position in the opening lap, behind Prado Garcia in first and Romain Febvre in second position.

However, Gajser, who emerged as the winner in seven of the previous 11 series in the 2022 MXGP, was able to regain his pace. He managed to overtake Febvre in the second lap and Prado Garcia in the third. Afterwards, he held on the lead until the finish line.

Fierce race

The fight for first place in the second round was so fierce it delighted the spectators, who shouted and clapped. Prado Garcia fought hard throughout, only to settle in second place at a narrow 3.834 seconds behind the champion. Gajser chalked up a time of 35 minutes 12.673 seconds, while Prado Garcia finished at 35 minutes 16.507 seconds, and Romain Fevbre came third with a time of 35 minutes 18.678 seconds.

KOMPAS/ISMAIL ZAKARIA

Kroser Honda Racing Team MXGP Team Gajser at the Rocket Motor Circuit, Samota, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, Saturday (25/06/2022).

The victories in the two rounds at Samota not only crowned Gajser the king of the new circuit, but also consolidated his position at the top of the overall standings in this year’s Motocross World Championships.

Gajser has collected 535 points, 125 points ahead of Prado Garcia in second-place with 410 points. The additional 44 points Prado amassed at Samota has allowed him to push Monster Energy Yamaha’s Jeremy Seewer to third place with 405 points. The 2022 season has eight more grand prix remaining.

“I'm really happy. I enjoyed the weekend, especially because I could win the two races,” said Gajser, attributing his win to hard work and his team’s achievements in preparing his bike. He thanked his Indonesian fans for their extraordinary support.

Gajser’s really difficult to stop. I tried my best.

Prado Garcia said he was happy over his “good result” at Samota. “It’s a really tough track. Gajser’s really difficult to stop. I tried my best. I started well, but his pace was better so he overtook me," he said.

Meanwhile, Farhan Hendra Fahrodjie, the only Indonesian rider in the MXGP, finished 19th with a time of 36 minutes 8.103 seconds. This was far below his initial target of reaching the top 15, but he said he was happy with his performance.

In the MX2 class, local hopeful Delvintor Alfarizi, who competed for the Honda Racing Team, performed well but had to be content with reaching the top 10 in two races. He finished 10th in the first race and 9th in the second.

Delvintor said he made progress in every stage of the day’s program, from the free practice to the qualifying session and to the actual race.

“The circuit is really challenging. It requires precise technique, proper bike settings, and more. I learned a lot,” he said.

(This article was translated by Musthofid)