Just as he did in Portugal a couple of weeks ago, HRC factory rider and five time World motocross champion, Tim Gajser has won the opening MXGP moto of the day and regained the red plate from Jorge Prado. The Slovenian took the lead early from Romain Febvre and then cruised the rest of the moto for victory. Prado was second and Febvre third. The points gap is now three points.

Tim Gajser: It was good, the track is super rough, deep ruts and a bit annoying. I got some arm pump at the end, for sure when Prado was coming, but I am super happy with the first moto, hopefully we can do the same in the second one.

Championship points are now Gajser 330pts, Prado 327pts, Febvre 297pts, Herlings 262pts and Jonass 233pts. Herlings is losing ground on the top three, now 68 points off the lead.

MXGP Moto One

Febvre led the MXGP moto from Prado and Guadagnini, Gajser, Seewer, Bogers, Coldenhoff, Herlings, Paturel and Toendel. Gajser quickly past Prado as he moved into second place. Gajser into the lead as he again makes passing count in a very close battle with Febvre. Rain has started falling and that could mean a lot for the progress of Prado.

Guadagnini dropped to seventh as Seewer, Bogers and Coldenhoff went past. Herlings really struggling to make progress in 8th place as Jonass is all over his back wheel. Herlings just doesn’t look comfortable in these early laps.

Lap two and the lead by Gajser is 1.8 seconds, then Febvre, Prado, Seewer, Bogers, Coldenhoff, Herlings moved past Guadagnini to move into seventh, then the Italian, Jonass, and Vlaanderen in 10th. Prado five seconds off the lead of Gajser and Herlings already 12 seconds back from the HRC rider.

Jonass moved past Herlings and on lap three it was Gajser, Febvre, Prado, Seewer, Bogers, Coldenhoff, Jonass, Herlings, Guadagnini, and Vlaanderen 10th. Febvre not letting Gajser get too far ahead as the gap was 2.3 seconds on lap five and Prado was 6.2 off Gajsers pace. Herlings 21 seconds back in eight place and just not looking like the old Herlings.

Jonass moved into sixth place as he went past Coldenhoff and really riding well. Gajser clicked off his best lap on lap six and then on lap seven also did the best lap of the competition. His lead was 3.4 seconds on lap seven and 8.4 ahead of Prado, who was third, then came Seewer, Bogers, Jonass, Coldenhoff, Herlings, Guadagnini and Vlaanderen still 10th.

Herlings moved into seventh place with a pass on fellow Dutchie, Coldenhoff and clocking a lap time three seconds quicker than Coldenhoff and Jonass, the riders around him. Herlings looking very strong now and has found his mojo. Three Dutchmen in a row and fighting for Bogers sixth place. Herlings though moved into sixth with another quick lap time.

Lap nine the lead by Gajser was 3.8 seconds over Febvre, Prado in third and 8.5 behind Gajser, then Seewer, Jonass, Herlings, Bogers, Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen and Guadagini. Vlaanderen then also passed Coldenhoff and I can see Herlings doing some serious passing in the last 10 minutes of this moto. Prado clocked a lap quicker than Gajser and Febvre, but still nine seconds behind the leader.

Lap 12 and Gajser continued to control from the front with four seconds ahead of Febvre, then Prado 7.4 back, Seewer 12 seconds back, then Jonass, Herlings, Vlaanderen, Coldenhoff, Bogers, Guadagini in 10th. Prado all over Febvre for second place with three laps remaining.

Prado into second to make sure that Gajser doesn't have too big a lead in the points. Herlings all over Jonass for fifth place. Prado going after Gajser with two laps remaining.

Lap 16 and the lead by Gajser over Prado was 3.2 seconds and Herlings pushing to get past Jonass. Prado a lap nearly two seconds quicker than Gajser. Gajser turned up the pace and was 6.4 ahead on the final lap. Gajser wins it from Prado and Febvre.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:12.805; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:06.468; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:19.064; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:22.952; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:24.196; 6. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:24.659; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:36.055; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:53.738; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +0:54.945; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:55.416; 11. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:58.639; 12. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:17.397; 13. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +1:19.301; 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:19.842; 15. Giuseppe Tropepe (ITA, Honda), +1:30.216; 16. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:35.391; 17. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), +1:52.205; 18. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Beta), +1:57.611; 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +2:02.709; 20. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 21. Cato Nickel (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 22. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 23. Anton Nagy (SWE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 24. Tom Grimshaw (GBR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 25. Nikolaj Skovgaard (DEN, KTM), -2 lap(s); 26. Emilio Scuteri (ITA, Honda), -8 lap(s); 27. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), -10 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 330 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 327 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 297 p.; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 262 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 233 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 219 p.; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 210 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 192 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 131 p.; 10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 120 p.; 11. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 104 p.; 12. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 103 p.; 13. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 91 p.; 14. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 77 p.; 15. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 72 p.; 16. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 63 p.; 17. Alvin Östlund (SWE, HON), 56 p.; 18. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 50 p.; 19. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 49 p.; 20. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, BET), 49 p.; 21. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 43 p.; 22. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 40 p.; 23. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 27 p.; 24. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 25 p.; 25. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), 14 p.; 26. Tim Edberg (SWE, HON), 13 p.; 27. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 9 p.; 28. Jere Haavisto (FIN, KTM), 8 p.; 29. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 7 p.; 30. Emilio Scuteri (ITA, HON), 6 p.; 31. Giuseppe Tropepe (ITA, HON), 6 p.; 32. Todd Kellett (GBR, YAM), 5 p.; 33. Lars van Berkel (NED, HON), 5 p.; 34. Miguel Cordovez (ECU, YAM), 4 p.; 35. Fabio Aparecido dos Santos (BRA, YAM), 3 p.; 36. Anton Nagy (SWE, YAM), 3 p.; 37. Nicolas Rolando (URU, HUS), 2 p.; 38. Mark Scheu (GER, HUS), 1 p.; 39. Andres Benenaula (ECU, KAW), 1 p.; 40. Sergio Ignacio Villaronga Muga (CHI, HON), 1 p.;

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