Five-time World Motocross Champion and series leader, Tim Gajser of the HRC factory team has won the Saturday qualifier for the MXGP class with a very impressive and consistent performance. The Slovenian beat him good friend and probably his biggest rival in the championship, Lucas Coenen.

Tim Gajser: I was taking it easy, and the sun was coming and I couldn't see my pit board, and it was rough and I saw Ruben behind me, then I heard somebody behind me and it was Lucas, so I had to push in those final laps. I had to make some passes early, because my start was not the best.

Two Frenchmen, Maxime Renaux and Romain Febvre failed to take any points in the race as both had mechanical issues. Coenen rode another blistering race to follow Gajser home, with Ruben Fernandez on the other HRC machine in third place.

Gajser continued to build his points gap and Coenen coming after the two Frenchmen. Championship points are now Tim Gajser 177 points, Romain Febvre 138pts, Maxime Renaux 121pts, Lucas Coenen 116pts and Glenn Coldenhoff 114pts.

MXGP Qualifier

Fernandez with the lead, then Coldenhoff, Horgmo, Coenen, Febvre, Gajser, Bonacorsi, Van De Moosdijk, Geerts and Sterry. Vlaanderen 11th, Bogers 13th, Renaux 15th, Herlings 17th and Seewer 20th. Gajser and Coenen locked in a battle for fourth and Gajser moved past Horgmo and into third and Coenen into fourth spot.

After a lap it was Fernandez with a 2.6 second lead over Coldenhoff, with Gajser a further second back, then Coenen, Horgmo, Febvre, Bonacorsi, Vlaanderen, Van De Moosdijk and Geerts now into 10th place. Herlings making no progress in 17th spot and actually dropped to 18th place.

Gajser the quickest lap of the race so far as he hounded Coldenhoff for second, with Coenen trying to stay with the Slovenian. Gajser into second and Herlings dropped to 19th spot. HRC one two as Renaux moved into 10th place in passing Geerts. The Frenchman then passed Van De Moosdijk and into ninth spot.

Coenen into third place and his improvement on the 450 continues. Renaux a problem and back in 17th place and not able to get his bike going and Herlings back into 18th place. Lap four and its Fernandez with a small lead over his team-mate, Gajser, who is all over the Spaniard. Coenen 3.2 seconds back in third place.

Fernandez responded and opened the gap to 1.3 seconds, as Coenen tried to close up on the two red Honda machines. Gajser again all over Fernandez, but not able to pass and Coenen making the most of it as he is now behind the two front men. Gajser into the lead and Coenen sure to also get Fernandez.

Top ten on lap six was Gajser, Fernandez, Coenen, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Horgmo, Bonacorsi, Vlaanderen, Van De Moosdijk and Geerts. Coenen moved into second place and is going after Gajser. Herlings 22nd and struggling.

Gajser opened the lead to 2.2 seconds over Coenen as Febvre joining his countryman (Renaux) out of the race trying to get a new back wheel on his bike and back in 26th place. Gajser looking very comfortable in front as his rivals all drop off the pace.

Coenen back on the pace as he closed up on Gajser in the final laps. Gotta love Coenen being in the class, what a talent this kid is. Top ten with the race coming to and end was Gajser, Coenen, Fernandez, Coldenhoff, Horgmo, Bonacorsi, Vlaanderen, Van De Moosdijk, Geerts and Watson in 10th place. Febvre in last position and Renaux obviously out of the moto.

Coenen all over Gajser for the lead and looking so good on the KTM 450 machine. This is Jeffrey Herlings all over again how Coenen races his motos. Gajser wins it just from Coenen and Fernandez.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 23:39.296; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:00.332; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:10.198; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:11.126; 5. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:18.333; 6. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +0:21.127; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:24.303; 8. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +0:44.700; 9. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:48.459; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +0:50.421; 11. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +0:54.031; 12. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +0:59.577; 13. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:04.162; 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:05.026; 15. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +1:09.834; 16. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:15.789; 17. Josh Gilbert (GBR, Honda), +1:20.437; 18. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), +1:24.477; 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +1:35.128; 20. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, Honda), +1:36.915; 21. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:37.512; 22. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), +1:40.877; 23. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +1:44.806; 24. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), +1:54.497; 25. John Adamson (GBR, Honda), +2:00.165; 26. Arvid Lüning (SWE, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 27. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), -9 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 177 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 138 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 121 p.; 4. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 116 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 114 p.; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 87 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 86 p.; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 85 p.; 9. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 84 p.; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 68 p.; 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 61 p.; 12. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 58 p.; 13. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 55 p.; 14. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 54 p.; 15. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 42 p.; 16. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 40 p.; 17. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 37 p.; 18. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 30 p.; 19. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 17 p.; 20. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 15 p.; 21. Tom Koch (GER, BET), 14 p.; 22. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), 11 p.; 23. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 10 p.; 24. Josh Gilbert (GBR, HON), 8 p.; 25. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, HON), 7 p.; 26. Fabio Aparecido dos Santos (BRA, YAM), 5 p.; 27. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 2 p.; 28. Romain Pape (FRA, YAM), 2 p.; 29. Mark Scheu (GER, HUS), 1 p.; 30. Cato Nickel (GER, HUS), 1 p.;

Bavo Swijgers image