The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team arrived in Pietramurata, Italy, for the 14th round of the 18 round FIM Motocross World Championship, determined to finish on the podium. Seewer got the day off to a sensational start, securing his first pole of 2021 with a 1’37.314 lap to qualify ahead of the championship leader, Jeffrey Herlings, and Italian legend Antonio Cairoli. Fellow YZ450FM rider, Coldenhoff qualified ninth with a 1’38.812, while Ben Watson was 22nd with a 1’40.023.
In the opening race, the ‘91’ powered his YZ450FM to an impressive holeshot and led the MXGP title protagonists for the first 20-minutes.
The battle for the lead was an absolute thriller. Herlings demoted Seewer to second position with nine minutes left on the clock, leaving the Yamaha star to defend a charge from former World Champion Romain Febvre and the defending Champion Tim Gajser.
Febvre and Gajser pushed Seewer hard for the final 10-minutes, but in the end, the Swiss rider held onto second; demonstrating an impressive return to full health while proving his potential to win races.
In a race that saw riders struggling to make passes around the picturesque Ciclamino circuit, Coldenhoff did his best to dice his way through the pack. The ‘259’ was eighth on lap one and made a few brilliant passes to finish inside the top-five in fifth.
Watson fell from second position on the opening lap but managed to fight back to 15th.
A dramatic start to race two saw all three YZ450FM riders narrowly avoid some carnage that occurred at turn-one. Coldenhoff emerged in third position and quickly passed Henry Jacobi for second, as Watson battled to retain a place inside the top-five.
As the title contenders Herlings, Febvre and Gajser closed in on each other, an intense four-way battle ensued. Coldenhoff dived down the inside of Febvre and made a spectacular pass for the lead on lap-13. He led the way for five laps until a fast and furious Herlings made a pass with three laps remaining.
Going into the final lap, Coldenhoff went bar-to-bar with Gajser, and impressively defended the challenge from the current champion to secure second overall.
Seewer showed an astonishing return to form as he fought from the back of the pack to finish the race in fifth position, as Watson turned a decent start into a seventh-place finish.
After tying on points for second overall at the MXGP of Trentino, Seewer has moved within 8-points of the top-five in the championship chase. Coldenhoff remains eighth as Watson gains one position and moves up into 12th.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team will be back on the gate here in Pietramurata in two days, with the 15th round of the 2021 series taking place on Wednesday 27th October.
