Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP tackled the scenic track of Pietramurata today, that being the same track that hosted the two previous races. The Grand Prix of Garda marked the end of the triple header and the sixteenth stop of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship. The YZ450FM stars carried momentum into the day, following some recent success.

Jeremy Seewer shined at the Grand Prix of Garda, not that it was a surprise to the thousands of fans at the venue. The writing has been on the wall over the last seven days! Seewer rocketed to the holeshot in moto one and then ran an unbelievable pace – he dropped the rest of the field. Even a crash at the halfway mark could not stop him, as he remounted and then ran lap times that were seconds faster than anyone else on track. Seewer claimed the moto victory by 20 seconds and the fastest lap of the race as well.

Starting on the cusp of the top five in moto two, Seewer kept his cool and worked his way around some of his fiercest competitors to slot into second place. Seewer occupied that spot until the chequered flag waved and therefore clinched the overall victory at the Grand Prix of Garda! An incredible day for everyone on the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP squad. The 47 points gained at the race helped him move into fifth in the championship standings too – four points separate him from the rider in fourth.

Glenn Coldenhoff actually shadowed his teammate early in the first moto, as he started in second. Such an intense fight ensued after the first lap and he was in the middle of it. After swapping positions with a lot of the contenders, he reached the finish line in sixth. Coldenhoff ran as high as sixth in the second moto before eventually finishing in the same spot that he started in, that being in eighth. Seventh overall was where he was ranked in the overall classification – he now occupies the same spot in the standings.
 
Ben Watson continued his positive trend on Pietramurata soil with a tenth in the first moto. The result was secured after making impressive progress from fourteenth on lap one. The second moto was even better for Watson – he went with the lead group and made a late pass on Coldenhoff to move into seventh. Eighth overall was his final ranking at the Grand Prix of Garda.
 
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP squad will exit the Pietramurata paddock now, at long last, and focus on the penultimate event of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship at Mantova. Mantova will also host the final round on the following Wednesday.

Jeremy Seewer: "I won in MXGP last year, but it didn't feel the same as it did today because I got that one as a present whereas this one I got myself. I won, I raced up front and I deserved it. No one beat me. It feels amazing after all that I have been through this year and where I have come from. I struggled all year with my health and mentally. I started to feel better a few weeks ago, and I am really happy to sit here now after getting first overall. I feel really good and have felt good on this track, even during the last two races here. I was just really unlucky to miss the podium twice, by nothing, but it was worth the wait to be here now.”

Glenn Coldenhoff: "It started well. I got the sixth time in timed practice, which is really good. I got a good start in the first moto, right behind my teammate Jeremy [Seewer], and then I got stuck behind [Jorge] Prado and lost my rhythm. I dropped back and didn't feel too comfortable. I felt better in the second moto but got stuck behind Prado again. I know I need to be more aggressive to make a pass but to be aggressive, you also need to be at the right place at the right time. Again, a disappointing result. I will keep fighting."

Ben Watson: "I had a really good day. I've enjoyed today a lot and even qualifying was good, which is a big positive point after struggling all year. I felt really good with how I was riding and just had a lot of fun. Even in the second race, I was battling with the fast guys for the whole moto and felt comfortable in the mix like that is my position. I finished seventh in the end, which I am happy with."