The third round of the 2018 MXGP Championship is off to a roaring start at Spain’s Redsand circuit. The first time MXGP host is providing excellent racing conditions thus far as the Qualifying races were full of action. Team HRC’s Tim Gajser is back at the front of the MXGP field while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass remains the top contender in MX2 after they each won their respective qualifying races!
PRESSURE – Team HRC’s Tim Gajser is no stranger to leading the MXGP field but recent injuries had held the Slovenian back until today. Gajser took the lead from the start grabbing the holeshot by holding the tighter line over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie. Joining Gajser at the front was another MXGP World Champion, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre. Febvre was in second immediately after the start and continued to apply the pressure on Gajser for the remaining 13 laps.
PAULIN – Behind Gajser and Febvre was the #21 Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing machine of Gautier Paulin. Paulin had a miraculous save on the opening laps of the race when he got his foot over the scrub jump. Luckily for the French rider he didn’t lose much time and was able to settle into third. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders of Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli both started outside of the top 5 and each had to come through riders throughout the race. One of the riders that proved toughest to pass was Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team’s Jeremy Seewer.
BATTLE – Herlings followed the Swiss MXGP rookie for 4 laps before finding a way past to take 4th. Seewer showed he had the speed to keep up with Herlings even closing back in on the #84 before missing his line and allowing Cairoli to squeeze by. Cairoli was then on a mission to pass Herlings and with 2 laps to go the Sicilian charged past his KTM teammate for 4th. At the finish Gajser was too tough for Febvre to pass as Paulin hung on for third with Cairoli and Herlings rounding out the top 5. With 4 former World Champions in the top 5 racing is expected to be even more intense tomorrow.
MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 25:30.475; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:03.427; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:06.893; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:07.364; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:13.205; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:14.396; 7. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:16.355; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:24.314; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), +0:32.123; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:38.246
MX2 – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass is continuing in his winning ways this weekend. The Latvian again saw the toughest competition from his Spanish Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jorge Prado. Prado took the holeshot but was passed by Jonass before the first complete lap was registered.
MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 24:03.034; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:00.633; 3. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), +0:01.168; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:03.618; 5. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Honda), +0:04.088; 6. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:21.981; 7. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:23.228; 8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:26.988; 9. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, Husqvarna), +0:29.001; 10. Jed Beaton (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:31.222