HRC factory rider, Tim Gajser continues to march towards a sixth World motocross championship and while it’s a long season, the way the Slovenian is racing, this is a rider in his prime. Gajser, an all-track rider was better in the slightly muddy conditions and after taking the lead early, just controlled the pace. Second was Kawasaki factory rider Romain Febvre and third Red Bull KTM factory rider, Lucas Coenen.

Tim Gajser: It was good, fianlly a good start, close to a holeshot and out of the turn first and that was important. It started raining and I wanted to be in front, otherwise you get roosted and the ruts and stones were tough. Lappers were a problem late, but lucky I won the race.

Championship points are now Tim Gajser 142 points, Romain Febvre 116pts, Maxime Renaux 105pts, Glenn Coldenhoff 89pts and Lucas Coenen 87 points.

MXGP Moto One

Drizzling rain greeted the opening MXGP moto and that always means Tim Gajser conditions. Out of the start first was Gajser with the lead, followed by Tom Guyon, Coenen, Febvre, Guadaganini, Ludwig, Jonass, Fernandez, Forato and Guillod. Renaux in 20th, Vlaanderen also a long way back. Coldenhoff was in 14th and Seewer 15th.

Gajser not messing around as he held a two second lead over Coenen and was making the most of this slippery French circuit. Guyon quickly back in 10th place as the fastest 450 riders in the World all brushed past him. Jonass also a wet track rider was into fifth place and Renaux was up to 15th position.

Gajser extended his lead on lap two to 2.6 seconds and looking amazing on the HRC machine. Febvre a second behind Coenen and Fernandez into sixth place. Gajser continued to extend his lead as he went to three seconds over Coenen on lap three and Febvre losing ground on the Belgian for second place.

Riders making their way through the field as Coldenhoff moved to 11th, Renaux 13th and Vlaanderen 15th. Febvre pushing really hard to get to Coenen and the crowd were going nuts as he closed up on Coenen for second place. As the rain continued to drop, Gajser continued to look in total control.

Coenen started making some ground on the leader and on lap five it was Gajser with 2.4 seconds over Coenen, then Febvre five seconds off the leader, followed by Guadaganini, Jonass, Fernandez, Guillod, Ludwig, Bogers, and Horgmo 10th. Big names outside the top ten, Coldenhoff 11th, Vlaanderen 12th, Renaux 13th, Seewer 15th and Geerts 23rd.

A mistake by Coenen and Febvre into second place and 5.6 seconds behind Gajser. Coenen looking a little rattled as he slips and slides around in the mud. Coenen not about to allow the Frenchman to get away as they fight for second place.

As hard as Febvre pushes, Gajser just maintains his lead and on lap seven it was 4.7 seconds over Febvre, with Coenen 6.9 seconds further back in third place, then came Guadagnini, Jonass, Fernandez, Guillod, Ludwig, Bogers and Horgmo. Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen and Renaux remained just outside the top ten.

Jonass crashed in turn one after colliding with Guadagnini and back to sixth position. On lap 12 it was Gajser, Febvre, Coenen, Guadagnini, Fernandez, Jonass, Guillod, Horgmo, Ludwig and Bogers. Factory riders outside the top ten were Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen, Renaux, Seewer, Watson and Geerts.

Coldenhoff into 10th with a pass on Ludwig, and Vlaanderen and Renaux also passed the German. Lap 13 and the lead was 4.5 seconds with Coenen 11.6 seconds back in third place. Gajser just loving this muddy circuit and the lead was five seconds on lap 14.

Great battle as Renaux moved into 10th place with passes on Coldenhoff and Bogers and then Coldenhoff also passed Bogers and Vlaanderen looking strong in ninth position. Lap 15 and the lead by Gajser was cut to 3.5 seconds, but he then responded and got it back to four seconds. The machine of Febvre started smoking and as he looked down and looked very worried.

With his bike struggling, Febvre still cut the lead to 2.7 seconds, so hard to know if he backs off and allows the bike to make it to the end or go after the leader. Febvre is flying!!! Three laps remaining, but Gajser responded, but so too did Febvre with the lead now just 2.4 seconds.

Two laps remaining and the gap was just 1.7, then 2.2. All the momentum is with Febvre, although Gajser knows how to win, but lapped riders all over the place. Coenen 25 seconds off the leader. Final lap and Gajser keeps the lead and takes the moto win, to the disappointment of the huge crowd that were screaming in delight as Febvre did his best to catch the HRC man. Febvre finished second and Coenen third.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 33:57.468; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:03.930; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:30.497; 4. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +1:15.133; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:24.811; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +1:31.140; 7. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +1:47.480; 8. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:51.615; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:52.557; 10. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:53.523; 11. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +1:57.190; 12. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 13. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 14. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), -1 lap(s); 15. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 17. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 19. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), -1 lap(s); 21. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 22. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 23. Cato Nickel (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 24. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 25. Tom Guyon (FRA, Triumph), -2 lap(s); 26. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 27. Josh Gilbert (GBR, Honda), -5 lap(s); 28. Arvid Lüning (SWE, Husqvarna), -5 lap(s); 29. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), -12 lap(s); 30. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, Honda), -14 lap(s); 31. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), -14 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 142 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 116 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 105 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 89 p.; 5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 87 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 77 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 71 p.; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 70 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 68 p.; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 57 p.; 11. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 56 p.; 12. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 55 p.; 13. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 47 p.; 14. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 42 p.; 15. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 32 p.; 16. Valentin Guillod (SUI, YAM), 30 p.; 17. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 29 p.; 18. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 28 p.; 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 15 p.; 20. Tom Koch (GER, BET), 11 p.; 21. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 8 p.; 22. Josh Gilbert (GBR, HON), 8 p.; 23. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, HON), 7 p.; 24. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 7 p.; 25. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), 6 p.; 26. Fabio Aparecido dos Santos (BRA, YAM), 5 p.; 27. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 1 p.; 28. Mark Scheu (GER, HUS), 1 p.;

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