It was his grit; determination and unworldly talent in the sand that saw Geerts mount the podium for the first time this season. The phenomenal 18 year-old got his weekend off to an incredible start with a third-place finish in the qualifying race yesterday, but struggled to find that same rhythm in the opening race today.
In Race 1, the track was smoother than the riders had hoped for. The speed was high and making passes was difficult. Geerts fell from seventh place in the early stages, but managed to recover the positions he lost and finished in that same position.
Mistakes also spoiled Watson's attempt to stand on the podium. The Briton had to work hard to recover time and positions as a result of an average start and a small crash. His 'never give-up' attitude saw the 21 year-old claim fifth place.
Geerts potential generated headlines in the second race as the ambitious youngster started fifth and raged past some of the quickest MX2 riders in the world. His tenacity was magnified as he hounded the championship leader, Thomas Olsen, in the closing laps and eventually made an incredible pass in the last 50m of the race to finish second-place.
Watson is often described as a Diesel engine. He takes his time in the opening laps of the race to pick up speed. He has consciously been working on his instant fast laps and the hard work paid off in race two as he rushed from ninth up into sixth in the first two laps. Realizing the risk of pushing ones limits around an unforgiving track like Valkenswaard, the '919' rode smart for another solid fifth place finish and sixth overall.
A third place finish for Geerts has seen the '193' move up the leader board to seventh position. He is now 14-points shy of his teammate Watson who is currently in fifth.
The next round of the FIM MX2 World Championship will take place in five days time at the picturesque venue of Pietramurata, Italy.
