Gajser In Complete Control
HRC factory rider, Tim Gajser was loving the mud and ruts in Spain as the Slovenian showed why he has five World titles and is the most impressive rider in the field. Winning the opening moto, Gajser also ripped the red plate from Maxime Renaux, who had won the opening round in Argentina, but struggled in this race.
Second was another HRC rider in Ruben Fernandez and third was Monster Energy Yamaha factory rider, Calvin Vlaanderen. Championship points are now 1. Tim Gajser 83pts, Maxime Renaux 77pts and Romain Febvre 72pts.
Tim Gajser: I mean, the start was important and I took a good start, it wasn't easy to find a line to make a pass (Fernandez) and then it started raining and I had issues with my goggles and it was just surviving and I didn't want to crash. I am looking forward to the next one.
Fernandez in the lead early as Coenen goes down in the first corner and Guadagnini didn’t even get out of the start gate. Coldenhoff was second, then Horgmo, Gajser, Vlaanderen, Jonass, Gifting, Febvre, Van Horebeek and Nickel. Coldenhoff took the lead, but Fernandez grabbed it back. Renaux in 13th place and his red plate is going to another bike after this moto you would think. Coenen 24th, Seewer 23rd, Geerts 21st and factory men struggling.
Fernandez led on lap one ahead of Gajser, who had moved into second, then Coldenhoff, Jonass, Horgmo, Vlaanderen, Gifting, Febvre, Nickel in 10th. Vlaanderen into fifth place as he passed Jonass. Fernandez and Gajser in a big battle for the lead as Gajser moved into the lead.
Gajser flying and looking very smooth in conditions he loves, and the lead was quickly two seconds. Renaux stuck in 11th place and losing valuable points to Gajser as the Slovenian has the red plate in his hands for now. Febvre moved into seventh place. Ducati riders really struggling with Guadagnini in 28th and last and Seewer in 19th position.
Vlaanderen into fourth place as he passed Horgmo and Coenen up to 16th place as he tries to come through the traffic. Lap three it was Gajser, Fernandez, Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen, Horgmo, Gifting, Febvre, Jonass, Bonacorsi, and Renaux into the top ten. Gajser a small mistake and stuck for a second, but his lead was 4.8 over Fernandez.
Renaux into ninth place with a pass on Boncorsi, and Coenen into 15th place. Gajser continued to pull away from his teammate, and the lead was six seconds. Renaux moved past Jonass, who made a mistake and and on lap four it was Gajser, Fernandez, Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen, Horgmo, Gifting, Febvre, Renaux, Bonacorsi and Bogers 10th. Coenen 14th , Seewer 18th and Guadagnini 25th.
Lap seven and it was Gajser with 10 seconds over Fernandez, then Vlaanderen, who passed Coldenhoff, with the Dutchman fourth, then Horgmo, Gifting, Febvre, Bonacorsi, Bogers and Renaux. Coenen was 11th, Geerts 13th, Seewer 16th. Lap eight the lead by Gajser was 13.4 seconds, with Fernandez a further 15 seconds ahead of Vlaanderen. Coenen into 10th place and really showing his speed. He also relegated Renaux to 11th place and another points advantage to Gajser and the red plate.
Gajser just cruising and looking in complete control as he lapped Seewer in 15th place and he will probably lap close to the top ten. On lap nine it was Gajser, Fernandez, Coldenhoff (who had repassed Vlaanderen), then Vlaanderen, Horgmo, Gifting, Febvre, Bonacorsi, Coenen, Bogers, Renaux in 11th.
On lap 10 the lead by Gajser was 27 seconds over his HRC team-mate and a minute ahead of Vlaanderen, who had moved back into third place. Coenen ninth and chasing down Bonacorsi in 8th place. Seewer 15th, Jonass 16th and Watson 17th. Gajser wins it by miles from Fernandez and Vlaanderen.
MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 36:14.337; 2. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:43.251; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:50.468; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:57.904; 5. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:08.538; 6. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +2:06.024; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +2:22.196; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +2:30.187; 9. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +2:44.364; 10. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +3:20.030; 11. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 12. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 13. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 14. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 15. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), -1 lap(s); 16. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 17. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 18. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Josh Gilbert (GBR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 21. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 22. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -2 lap(s); 23. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), -2 lap(s); 24. Cato Nickel (GER, Husqvarna), -4 lap(s); 25. Lucas Bodega Gomez (ESP, KTM), -4 lap(s); 26. Arvid Lüning (SWE, Husqvarna), -8 lap(s); 27. Ander Valentin (ESP, Yamaha), -10 lap(s); 28. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, Honda), -12 lap(s);
MXGP - World Championship Classification
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 83 points; 2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 77 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 72 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 59 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 44 p.; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 44 p.; 7. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 44 p.; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 40 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 39 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 38 p.; 11. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 34 p.; 12. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 32 p.; 13. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 28 p.; 14. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 26 p.; 15. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 24 p.; 16. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 18 p.; 17. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 17 p.; 18. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 16 p.; 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 10 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 8 p.; 21. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, HON), 6 p.; 22. Tom Koch (GER, BET), 5 p.; 23. Fabio Aparecido dos Santos (BRA, YAM), 5 p.; 24. Josh Gilbert (GBR, HON), 2 p.; 25. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 1 p.; 26. Mark Scheu (GER, HUS), 1 p.;
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