Crazy weather conditions played a huge role once again in the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship, as the series reached its halfway point in Maggiora. Fantic Factory Racing MXGP’s Brian Bogers came close to the podium at the Italian brand’s home GP.
Qualifying day was heavily affected by the rain but Brian Bogers handled the muddy conditions perfectly. The Dutchman was among the fastest riders on the iconic track of Maggiora from the get-go and set the second fastest lap time in time practice, followed by an impressive qualifying race in third place.
It was a tougher Saturday for Glenn Coldenhoff in P14 but he fought back in race 1 on a rain-free Sunday. Both the Fantic Factory MXGP riders were battling in the top 10 all moto long, with Bogers crossing the finish line in sixth just ahead of his teammate in P7.
At the start of the second moto, Coldenhoff was involved in a second turn crash and had to charge through the field. He still salvaged a tenth place. Bogers managed to avoid the pile up at the start and quickly moved into the top 5. A strong race pace allowed him to finish in fourth place for fifth overall, just three points shy of the podium. With Coldenhoff in sixth overall, two Fantic XXF 450 placed in the top 6 at the Italian brand’s home round.
Brian Bogers: “Another top 5 and this time a completely unexpected one because I got sick on Friday. I still felt good in the motos though. Normally, Maggiora is a difficult track for me. But before the weekend I said, with how I feel with this Fantic, I can ride on any track. I think that is what I showed, on the mud on Saturday and in the dry on Sunday. I was in the top 5 all weekend long, except for the sixth place in the first moto. Having missed the beginning of the season, I am still catching up on my physical form compared to the other riders. I miss a bit of the basic fitness which means they recover a bit faster during the week but in the motos I don’t feel it, that is where I am getting better and better. I feel good.”
Glenn Coldenhoff: “I was struggling big time on Saturday and I was still a bit off on Sunday. The riding was a bit better but my starts weren’t great this weekend. In the first moto I made some good moves and the result was acceptable. In the second moto I was not able to pass, I should have been much more in front but it was just one of those weekends. It didn’t start off well on Saturday and in the end, it is good that I ‘survived’ this one. Now we have a weekend off, to work hard and get ready for Indonesia. I got a podium there last year, so I keep the positives and I hope to be on the box there again.”
news
