Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer completed a fantastic first-ever Grand Prix of Switzerland and thrilled 45,000 spectators at Frauenfeld-Gachnang by fighting closely for victory in the 15th round of 18 in the 2016 season and eventually bagged his ninth podium result as runner-up on the day with his RM-Z250.
The new venue close to Frauenfeld and northeast of Zurich was full of much expectation and hope surrounding the factory Suzuki rider. MXGP had not entered Swiss terrain since 2001 and ‘#91’s lofty position at the top of the MX2 championship standings and his eight podium results this season meant he was the main ‘pull’ for the vast Swiss throng.
Rainfall prior to the GP meant a soft and very rough terrain on Saturday for practice and the qualification heat. Seewer was noisily cheered to a second consecutive pole position to ideally set the scene for a memorable Sunday. Sunshine greeted raceday and the track had been levelled to cope with the four support classes on the Grand Prix bill to the MX2 and MXGP motos. Still bumpy and difficult the jumpy trajectory featured some stiff ruts with alternative lines and options.
The first moto saw Seewer (complete with special IXS livery for the second race in a row) obtain a top-six start but by the time he was able to cut through to second place Max Anstie had already established a seven-second lead. The Suzuki man tried to chip away at the distance but made marginal gains and in the final laps conserved energy for another attempt later in the afternoon.
For the second moto the two protagonists enacted a close duel that made the 30-minute and two-lap distance seem a fraction of the time. Seewer closed to Anstie on this occasion and took control of the moto at the midway stage and to the rapture of the crowd. He tried to make the break in his three-lap stint at the front but Anstie observed his lines and eventually seized the lead once more. The gap between the riders remained close and Seewer again fulfilled his role as ‘shadow’ particularly when both pace-setters started to thread through backmarkers. Finally, he could not dislodge Belgian GP winner Anstie and was 1.4 seconds away at the finish line.
