Red Bull KTM 1-2 in MX2 championship standings after double Swedish GP podium
The Grand Prix of Sweden began the final five round run-in of 2023 MXGP during the next six weeks and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrated another podium ‘double’ through overcast, changeable and cool conditions at Uddevalla. Liam Everts and Andrea Adamo used their KTM 250 SX-Fs to take 2nd and 3rd positions in MX2 for the fifteenth race of the season and the duo are now 1-2 in the championship.
- Liam Everts rises to P2 in the MX2 world championship after his sixth rostrum of the 2023 calendar and two more top three race results.
- Andrea Adamo maintains control of the MX2 red plate as standings leader after recovering from 10th in the first moto to win the second and classify 3rd overall.
- Jeffrey Herlings finishes in the top four on his second Grand Prix appearance since returning from back injury.
- Sacha Coenen takes 6th and makes a moto top five for the third time in his rookie season. MXGP will move direct to the Netherlands for round 16 next weekend.
After three back-to-back Grands Prix in Czech Republic, Belgium and Finland, MXGP resumed racing duties with the annual trip to Uddevalla, Sweden. Located a short distance north of Gothenburg and consisting of a tight course formed from stony and slick hard-pack dirt that was difficult for overtaking, Uddevalla provided warm but changeable weather through the weekend.
Red Bull KTM’s top performer through the two RAM Qualification Heats on Saturday was Liam Everts, with a flight to 2nd position but teammate Andrea Adamo was not far away in 3rd. Jeffrey Herlings rode his KTM 450 SX-F to the top four in the MXGP outing.
Sunday morning began wet and grey but soon brightened. Heavy overnight rain had a marked effect on the track conditions making it softer, slower and rougher. Herlings didn’t have the best start in the first moto and contact with another rider broke his right front fork guard; he negotiated the opening phase of the race with the guard flapping and in danger of jamming his front wheel. Once the component had dropped away, he tried to gain positions and arrived to 8th. The Dutchman then posted 4th in the second moto: a sustained shower made the track even more one-line and he could not demote Maxime Renaux to enter the top three.
In MX2 Liam Everts rode steadily to 2nd spot in the first dash. Sacha Coenen managed to reach the top five despite a few mistakes. Andrea Adamo was a victim of the swampy state of the start straight and almost crashed. He paid for his poor luck with 10th.
The second moto was all about improved launches for the trio as they flew 2-3-4 around the opening lap. Adamo was the most proactive on a drier surface and swept past Kevin Horgmo to take the lead and ride to his fourth race victory of the season. Everts pushed hard to rise to 3rd and secured a 2-3 scorecard. Coenen’s 8th allowed 6th overall. The results represented the ninth and sixth podiums respectively for Adamo and Everts and the fourth Grand Prix they have appeared on the box together.