MXGP of Flanders - the famous sand track of Lommel
Round 14 - MXGP of Flanders (Belgium) - 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship
Our supported MXGP team and rider - JWR Honda and Alvin Östlund - competed at Lommel for the MXGP of Flanders at the weekend. This was the first time back racing in the FIM MX World Championship after competing in 2 rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship a few weeks ago. And what a track to come back to the Championship on - probably the most iconic sand track in the World with it's soft and heavy beach sand, consisting of rolling corners and technical sections, the surface changing drastically as each lap passes. The weekend was a hot and dry one and attracted a huge crowd. We were lucky to be there too supporting the team!
The famous Lommel sand track - 2024 MXGP of Flanders
2024 MXGP of Flanders - Timed Practice & Qualifying Race
On the Saturday, weather conditions were cloudy but warm and dry. With some good rest since racing in America, Östlund felt energised heading into the day. In Timed Practice though he couldn't really get it together, but it was a different story in the Qualifying Race. He took an inside line off the start, avoiding heavy traffic on the outside of turn 1 and from there moved through the field well during the race. He came home P13 with a good gate pick for Sunday's Race Day. For a slo-mo video of Östlund in the Qualifying Race, click here.
JWR Honda's Alvin Östlund on the way to P13 in the MXGP Qualifying Race. Ph. Niklas Hampinen
2024 MXGP of Flanders - Moto 1
With clear blue skies and the temperature rising through the day, the track got drier, deeper and bumpier. Östlund got a great start on his CRF 450 R, running around P10 on the first couple of laps. Unfortunately, a technical issue surfaced on the bike, forcing Östlund to pull out and giving the team the first DNF of the season. This was a real shame as the pace was there for a top 10, but this is part of racing sometimes. Click here for a video of Östlund heading from the paddock to the starting gate.
2024 MXGP of Flanders - Moto 2
The mechanics worked hard on Östlund's bike before moto 2. After a fairly decent start, Östlund perhaps was feeling the heat during the first few laps of the second moto. He unfortunately crashed in a deep sand section, adding to the exhaustion no doubt and he brought it home in P20. This gave him and the JWR Honda team 1 point from the weekend. Not what they wanted but they learn from these experiences and will push on in the next round - their home GP - The MXGP of Sweden at Uddevalla on 10th & 11th August. Well done to the whole team at Lommel and we look forward to seeing them get a lot of points at home in a couple of weeks.
JWR Honda's Alvin Östlund DNF'd after a few laps in moto 1. Ph Niklas Hampinen
Who won the 2024 MXGP of Flanders?
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Dutch rider Jeffrey Herlings (#84) won the 2024 MXGP of Flanders. Herlings, known as "The Bullet", finished 1st in Race 1, winning with a time of 35 minutes and 19 seconds, 10 seconds ahead of 2nd placed finisher Jorge Prado (#1 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing) with 3rd placed finisher - Yamaha's Calvin Vlaanderen - 35 seconds adrift. Herlings took the win again in Race 2, with a time of 35 minutes and 30 seconds, again 10 seconds ahead of Prado in P2. P3 this time went to Kawasaki Racing Team's Romain Febvre (#3). Herlings won the overall with a maximum 50 points, Prado was 2nd overall with 44 points and Febvre took 3rd overall with 38 points.
How many MXGP wins does Jeffrey Herlings have?
This win in Lommel was The Bullet's 3rd overall win of the 2024 season, giving him a total of 105 MXGP wins (including MX2 Class) in his career. Herlings currently holds the record for number of overall wins! For a video of Jeffrey Herlings on his KTM 450 SX-F on the way to the pit lane and start gate, click here.
Who were the home (Belgian) MXGP Class riders competing at Lommel?
JM Racing Honda's Brent van Doninck took 12th Overall with two solid motos. Unfortunately, big home crowd favourite - Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP's Jago Geerts had to pull out of Sunday's race day after an issue in Qualifying on the Saturday.
Alvin Östlund & his Mechanic Andrea looking relaxed on the Saturday at Lommel. Ph. Niklas Hampinen
Who won the MX2 Class overall at the 2024 MXGP of Flanders?
Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing's Dutch rider Kay de Wolf (#74) won the 2024 MXGP of Flanders MX2 Class. De Wolf finished 1st in Race 1, winning with a time of 35 minutes and 52 seconds, 4 seconds ahead of 2nd placed finisher and compatriate Rick Elzinga (#44 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP) with Monster Energy Triumph Racing's Camden McLellan in 3rd, only 7 seconds adrift. Race 2 saw Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing's Simon Längenfelder take the win, with a time of 35 minutes and 33 seconds. Kay de Wolf was 2nd, 7 seconds back and P3 went to KTM's Liam Everts. De Wolf won the overall with 47 points, Elzinga was 2nd Overall with 40 points and Längenfelder took 3rd overall with 38 points.
Where was the 2024 MXGP of Flanders?
The MXGP of Flanders (Belgium) takes place at Lommel MX Park and has done since 2008! The deep, dark sand is iconic and many Pro riders base themselves in Lommel to practice on it's unforgiving surface. With a total length of 1850 metres and the way the track surface gets deeper and bumpier as each lap passes by, it is seen by many as the toughest track in the World. Crowds are massive at the MXGP with an attendance of 34,500!
Lommel 2024 post racing showing how deep and bumpy the track gets
2024 MXGP of Flanders Results - Who were the MXGP class Top 5 overall?
1. Jeffrey Herlings (#84), KTM
2. Jorge Prado (#1), GasGas
3. Romain Febvre (#3), Kawasaki
4. Tim Gajser (#243), Honda
5. Glenn Coldenhoff (#259), Fantic
2024 MXGP of Flanders Results - Who were the MX2 class Top 5 overall?
1. Kay de Wolf (#74), Husqvarna
2. Rick Elzinga (#44), Yamaha
3. Simon Längenfelder (#516), GasGas
4. Liam Everts (#72), KTM
5. Mikkel Haarup (#11), Triumph
