HRC factory rider Tim Gajser has won the Saturday qualifier in a very calm and controlled victory, while all his rivals crashed. First it was Romain Febvre who crashed, then Maxime Renaux and then Lucas Coenen. Second in the moto was Renaux and third Pauls Jonass.

Tim Gajser: Actually, I was feeling good, but the track is tricky, and it is still deep in some places, but I felt good all day and we changed some things and I took a good start and controlled the race. I heard somebody behind me and he (Coenen) made a little mistake and crashed.

After the gate didn’t drop, due to a malfunction, causing the riders to once again prepare for their starts, it was Renaux who led from Gifting, Gajser, Febvre, Jonass, Bogers, Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen, Fernandez and Horgmo 10th. Coenen was 11th, but quickly into seventh place. Ducati riders, Guadagnini and Seewer were 16th and 17th.

After a lap Febvre crashed and dropped well back, as the Kawasaki rider was back in 11th. On lap one it was Renaux, Gifting, Gajser, Jonass, Coenen, Bogers, Coldenhoff, Horgmo, Vlaanderen, Fernandez, and Febvre 11th. Gifting went down and allowed Gajser into second and Jonass and Coenen also moved past Gifting, who dropped to eight place.

The gap from Renaux to Gajser was 1.7 seconds, with Jonass a further five seconds back in third and Coenen a second off the pace of Jonass. Seewer struggling in 18th place as his team-mate, Guadganini in 14th. Gajser catching Renaux as the gap was just one seconds. Coenen the quickest lap in fourth place.

Gajser looking in great control as these conditions are perfect for him. Gajser all over the back wheel of the leader and Coenen moved into third place as he passed Jonass. Top ten on lap three was Renaux, Gajser, Coenen, Jonass, Bogers, Coldenhoff, Horgmo, Vlaanderen, Gifting and Fernandez. Geerts back in 26th place and really struggling.

Gajser continued to chase Renaux and Coenen closing up on the two front men. Renaux went down and handed Gajser first and Coenen second. Suddenly a very different top ten as Fernandez passed Gifting for ninth. Guadagnini into12th, but Seewer now 19th as Sterry made a pass.

Coenen looking very good as he closed up on Gajser and the Belgian looking very impressive, in just his second MXGP round. Coenen a big mistake and went down and dropped back to fourth. Unfortunate mistake, just got cross rutted and crashed hard. Febvre into 10th place, but losing a bunch of points in the championship to Renaux and Gajser.

Gajser wins it from Renaux and Jonass, with the two Dutchmen, Bogers and Coldenhoff passing Coenen, who had bent handlebars as the Belgian finished sixth place. The Slovenian closed the gap a little in the championship race.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 24:43.911; 2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:10.476; 3. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:13.136; 4. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +0:18.069; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:19.309; 6. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:20.131; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:20.716; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:24.051; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:30.902; 10. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:35.274; 11. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +0:42.986; 12. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:51.327; 13. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +0:53.900; 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:57.818; 15. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +1:00.146; 16. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +1:01.038; 17. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), +1:23.773; 18. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +1:24.641; 19. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +1:36.598; 20. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +1:46.389; 21. Josh Gilbert (GBR, Honda), +1:50.113; 22. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +1:50.682; 23. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), +2:01.000; 24. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 25. Ander Valentin (ESP, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 26. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 27. Arvid Lüning (SWE, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 28. Lucas Bodega Gomez (ESP, KTM), -2 lap(s); 29. Cato Nickel (GER, Husqvarna), -4 lap(s);

Bavo Swijgers image