Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP leapt into the sand earlier today – round ten of the 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship was run at the scenic venue of Riola Sardo. The Grand Prix of Sardegna, as the race was officially dubbed, marked the start of a frantic run of events, as well as a chance for the YZ450FM-mounted trio to rebound from a tricky time in Turkey.

Jeremy Seewer showed signs of his former self at the Grand Prix, despite the fact that he continues to fight health issues, as he battled around the top five in moto one and reached the chequered flag in sixth. It was a positive step forward, as was a fifth-place finish in the second moto. Seewer moved from eleventh to that position, which also gave him fifth in the overall classification. Sixth is the position that he still occupies in the series standings.

Ben Watson returned to form with impressive outings, including a phenomenal start on his YZ450FM in the first stint. Watson ran second for a couple of laps, showing his true potential, before crossing the finish line in seventh place. Another seventh in moto two left him in sixth overall on the day. A significant step in the right direction and one that helped him edge a lot closer to ninth in the championship standings.
 
Glenn Coldenhoff was better than his scorecard would lead one to believe, as he was restricted by a so-so start (fourteenth at the end of lap one) in moto one and then a crash in moto two. Coldenhoff managed to claw his way back into ninth each time, even though he was as far back as seventeenth in moto two. A 9-9 scorecard left him in tenth overall on the day. Eighth is the position that he occupies in the standings.
 
The 2021 Motocross of Nations, held at Mantova in Italy, is next up for the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP squad. Glenn Coldenhoff is down to represent The Netherlands, whereas Ben Watson will lead Great Britain into action. The 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship will pick back up at Teutschenthal, in Germany, the following weekend.

Jeremy Seewer: "Since Turkey, things have only gone up. I started to feel better and like my old self more. I only had two days on the bike before Sardinia, but those two days were good. I am not 'there' yet, because it is not going to just go away, but I made it happen in the toughest MXGP of the year. It was really hot and the track was brutal. It was all about being fit, and somehow my fitness is still really good even though I'm not where I want to be."

Ben Watson: "There are positives to take away from today, but also room for improvement and areas that still need work. After Turkey, I came into today with a goal of two motos inside the top ten and I know I can do better than that. I wanted to make a realistic goal after last weekend. It's not always easy to bounce back. Looking forward to next week now."

Glenn Coldenhoff: "I did not feel too good in the first moto, I was struggling a lot. Feeling really bad, I managed to finish tenth. I made some changes before the second race and was already feeling better, and my start was also a lot better. I was feeling good in the beginning, but I made a small mistake and then had a big crash. It then took me a few laps to get back into my rhythm. I felt like I could push at the end, which was really good and I got back to tenth position. The result is still terrible, but I am happy to finish on a positive note with a good feeling on the bike. My feeling is the most important."