Another podium at home GP for Fernandez
LugoHonda HRC’s Ruben Fernandez got his second podium in a row as the Spaniard went three-four for third overall in Lugo, Spain, which hosted the eighth round of the 2025 MXGP World Championship
Torrential rain hit the circuit early in the day to really make conditions difficult, but due to the nature of the soil, it never got as bad as Agueda last weekend. However, like in Portugal, starts were critical and despite only having 15th gate-pick after yesterday’s qualification race, Fernandez utilised the power of his Honda CRF450R to jump out of the gate and put himself in a position to get on the podium. Both races, he was inside the top five by the third corner and by running a good pace and making no mistakes, that’s where he stayed for the duration of both races, much to the delight of the home supporters around the circuit. After these two rounds on the Iberian Peninsula, he now sits just 16 points off the rider above him in the championship and well within reach of third place in the standings.
In the MX2 class, Ferrucco Zanchi showed his mud skills once again, backing up his fifth from yesterday with a fourth in race one on the rain-hit circuit. Like Fernandez, he got a great start and just rode a consistent race, keeping pace with the guys in front, whilst resisting any advances from those behind. Things looked even better in race two early on as the #73 was in second place for the first lap, giving him a virtual podium. Unfortunately, that was short-lived as a mistake on one of the downhills dropped him down the standings. He still fought back to 10th at the chequered flag, giving him seventh overall on the day, but the young Italian was left thinking of what could have been as he heads into this weekend off.
Like the last round in Portugal, Valerio Lata struggled to get to grips with the conditions and found himself fighting for the top 10 spots all weekend. In the end he went 10-9-12 over the course of the two days and never really showed the speed needed to challenge higher. It was unfortunate that rain has consistently hit these GP weekends, but the feeling is that if Ernee, France is dry, the #18 will be back mixing it up with the best of the class.
MX2 Race 1
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 34:41.232; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:01.638; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.171; 4. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:38.306; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:42.941; 6. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:50.569; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:56.244; 8. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +1:23.628; 9. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +1:28.925; 10. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:30.926;
MX2 Race 2
1. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 34:30.697; 2. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:02.191; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:03.808; 4. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:06.977; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:07.679; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:10.181; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:11.098; 8. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:25.719; 9. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +1:01.969; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:03.194; 11. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:09.420; 12. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +1:27.635;
MX2 GP Classification
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 43 points; 2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 37 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 37 p.; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 36 p.; 6. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 33 p.; 7. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 29 p.; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 28 p.; 9. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 21 p.; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 21 p.;
MX2 World Championship Standings
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 380 points; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 365 p.; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 359 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 313 p.; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 271 p.; 6. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 264 p.; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 241 p.; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 203 p.; 9. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 196 p.; 10. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 182 p.;
Last year I wasn’t able to race here in Lugo, which was a massive shame but this year I am very happy to get to stand on the podium and see all the friends, family and fans who came out to support me. It is a special feeling to do so at a home GP and now I want to keep getting up on the podiums more in the future. I actually would have liked a little bit more coming into the weekend, but the conditions weren’t easy and in the end, this was all I could manage, especially after yesterday. I really enjoyed the past couple of rounds, racing in Portugal and Spain and getting podiums in both, so let’s keep the feeling going.
Last year I wasn’t able to race here in Lugo, which was a massive shame but this year I am very happy to get to stand on the podium and see all the friends, family and fans who came out to support me. It is a special feeling to do so at a home GP and now I want to keep getting up on the podiums more in the future. I actually would have liked a little bit more coming into the weekend, but the conditions weren’t easy and in the end, this was all I could manage, especially after yesterday. I really enjoyed the past couple of rounds, racing in Portugal and Spain and getting podiums in both, so let’s keep the feeling going.
Overall, I should be happy with my performance, but I know I left a possible podium visit on the table after crashing in that second moto. The first race I got a good start and rode in fourth the whole race. I stayed consistent and didn’t let the pressure from behind phase me. In the second moto, I got an even better start and was in second position and feeling really good, but made a mistake coming into one of the 180s on a choppy section of the track. I remounted down in 14th and did make it up to 10th but I know I could have stayed with those guys up front and really fought for a podium. So yes, a disappointment, but still an improvement on previous rounds, which I guess I have to be happy about.
Overall, I should be happy with my performance, but I know I left a possible podium visit on the table after crashing in that second moto. The first race I got a good start and rode in fourth the whole race. I stayed consistent and didn’t let the pressure from behind phase me. In the second moto, I got an even better start and was in second position and feeling really good, but made a mistake coming into one of the 180s on a choppy section of the track. I remounted down in 14th and did make it up to 10th but I know I could have stayed with those guys up front and really fought for a podium. So yes, a disappointment, but still an improvement on previous rounds, which I guess I have to be happy about.
A weekend to forget really as I never really felt comfortable around the track. The rain certainly didn’t help things but I know I need to improve in this weather because being outside the top 10 isn’t good enough. Now we have a weekend off, so I will work hard to get better and come into Ernee looking to get back to fighting for the top five positions.
A weekend to forget really as I never really felt comfortable around the track. The rain certainly didn’t help things but I know I need to improve in this weather because being outside the top 10 isn’t good enough. Now we have a weekend off, so I will work hard to get better and come into Ernee looking to get back to fighting for the top five positions.
A tough weekend, with really bad weather once again but some good moments for Ruben to get on the podium with all his friends and family here to support him. He now has two in a row and I think he is really believing that he is a top three guy and can now progress to fighting for wins. Ferro also had a good first moto and was looking good in the second before the crash, so we want to try and keep that positivity going into Ernee.
A tough weekend, with really bad weather once again but some good moments for Ruben to get on the podium with all his friends and family here to support him. He now has two in a row and I think he is really believing that he is a top three guy and can now progress to fighting for wins. Ferro also had a good first moto and was looking good in the second before the crash, so we want to try and keep that positivity going into Ernee.
