The Swiss MXGP in Frauenfeld had many stories – but one stood out in particular. It wasn't a crash, not a start, not even a duel. It was a single corner.
For some it's turn two, for Lucas Coenen probably more like turn three – because that's how many changes of direction the Belgian made before everything changed. This very section became the unsung hero of the weekend. A deep rut, ridden over and over again, worn deeper and deeper – until it finally became a trap. Several top riders fell into it. With the same result: chain off, race over.
Lucas Coenen, Jeffrey Herlings, and Andrea Adamo lost their chains at exactly this spot. Mathis Valin also crashed in the MX2 class.
Four drivers, one curve – and a race that suddenly took a completely new direction.
Different consequences – same cause
The initial situation was similar for all of them, but the consequences were completely different. Adamo managed to put his chain back on and continue the race – damage limitation, at least. For Coenen, the scene had a different ending: outside assistance led to his disqualification. And Herlings? The Dutchman decided to retire in frustration.
One scene, three different outcomes – and an overall rating that was completely thrown into disarray.
Herlings: From potential winner to spectator
It was a particularly bitter blow for Jeffrey Herlings. The Honda rider was in second place at that point – within striking distance, with a clear prospect of taking the day's victory. Then the chain broke. He came to a standstill. Game over.
“I chose the same line as a few others and had the same result – chain came off, crash,” Herlings explained later. “It’s never nice to watch the race continue while you’re standing next to it.”
A statement that sums up the situation pretty accurately. Because the calculation is simple: without this setback, more would have been possible. Significantly more. Combined with his third place in the second race, it would even have been enough for the overall victory.
Damage control in the second run
At least Herlings showed some reaction afterwards. A good start, a solid race, third place in the second heat – damage limitation at a high level. But the frustration remained palpable. "I tried to get the best out of the second heat and take some points. But overall it wasn't a good weekend."
One detail in particular speaks volumes: his assessment of the track. "To be honest, I'm glad we only race here once a year." And that could very well change in the future. Whispered information suggests that Frauenfeld was on the calendar for the last time for the foreseeable future.
The title race remains open
Despite the setback, the championship situation remains wide open. The gap to the top is currently only twelve points – a distance that could shrink quickly this season, especially on tracks that are less prone to errors and better suited to natural speed.
Points that could be missing in the end
What makes Frauenfeld so special is not just the chaos itself – but its potential consequences. Herlings' retirement and Coenen's DNF could still play a role later in the season. In a championship often decided by just a few points, races like these are doubly important.
Whether these are precisely the points that will ultimately cost them the title will only become clear at the end of the season. But one thing is already certain: In Frauenfeld, they didn't just lose one race – but possibly more.
When little things change everything
Frauenfeld has once again shown how brutally honest motocross can be. It doesn't take a big mistake to lose a weekend. Sometimes a single mistake is enough.
One wrong decision on a bend – and a potential victory becomes a zero.
That's exactly what makes the difference. And that could prove decisive at the end of the season.