HRC factory rider and five-time World motocross champion, Tim Gajser has dominated the opening MXGP race of the Mantova International. The Slovenian grabbed the lead from Lucas Coenen very quickly and just walked away from the field. Coenen finished a solid second in his first race on the 450 and third was Fantic rider, Bonacorsi.

Tim Gajser: I mean, I took a solid start, the jump wasn’t the best and I passed Lucas in the first lap, but when we caught the lappers, it was one line and I was controlling the race and I made a mistake and crashed and Lucas came close. It is the first race and I feel a bit rusty. Yes, we changed to (our suspension to KYB) in the winter and I feel good and that is all I want to say.

Lucas Coenen held the lead into the first corner over Gajser, then Seewer, Bonacorsi, Fernandez, Gifting, Watson, Monticelli, Zanocz. Coenen getting away from Gajser although the HRC man is working hard to now allow the Belgian to get too far ahead and fought back to his back wheel.

Gajser pushed Coenen wide and took the lead as Coenen looks like he is struggling a bit with the mud. Seewer a few seconds back in third, then Bonacorsi, Gifting, Watson, Monticelli, Zanocz, Fernandez and Propepe in 10th. Guadagnini on the second Ducati in 11th place.

Gajser quickly made a four second gap over Coenen, as Fernandez moved into sixth place and charging through the field. Seewer 6.5 seconds off Gajser and trying his best to make some ground on Coenen, who was two seconds ahead of the Ducati man.

Gajser looking very comfortable up front as these conditions continue to be horrible. On lap three the lead was now five seconds as Gajser does the quickest lap of the moto. Seewer 15 seconds back and maybe struggling on his new machine and his team-mate, Guadagnini into ninth place.

Amazing as you look at the top five, its Honda, KTM, Ducati, Fantic, and Yamaha, with a Beta in eight place, GasGas in 10th and a Husky in 11th. The sport is rich at the moment with all these different companies involved.

Lap four and Gajser continued to extend his lead with the gap now eight seconds and Seewer is now 24 seconds off the leader and making no forward movement to Coenen. Bonacorsi on the Fantic was closing on Seewer and fifth placed Gifting was 29 seconds off the pace of the leader.

Not a lot happening as the top ten remains similar, but Pancar moved into 12th place after being well back, a good ride by the Slovenian. The lead was 10 seconds, but position inside the top five didn’t change. Bonacorsi worked his way past Seewer for third place, but 37 seconds away from the front man, Gajser.

Gajser now holds a one-minute lead over Seewer in fourth place and 10 seconds over second placed rider, Coenen. Gifting also passed Seewer, as the Ducati man held fourth place, ahead of Fernandez. Late in the race Gajser slipped over, but remained in the lead and the gap was still nine seconds. Gap down to five seconds in the final laps, but Gajser wins it from Coenen and Bonacorsi.

Moto One - MXGP Mantova

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