Team Spain's Jorge Prado clocked the best time of the MXGP free practice and right behind him were his MXGP rivals, Tim Gajser and Jeffrey Herlings. Below is the story of the first free practice of the weekend.

Team USA rider Eli Tomac quickly clocked a good lap time of 1.58.780, to be at the top of the MXGP qualification, then Team Slovenian’s Tim Gajser did a 1.57.499 time and World MXGP champion and team Spain’s Jorge Prado did a 1.58.403, before bettering that time with a 1.57.936 to be just behind Gajser.

Team Australian’s Hunter Lawrence who had moved to the MXGP class to give him more rest between the motos tomorrow jumped a yellow flag (and would be docked two spots) and his best time of 2.00451 had him in sixth place. Micheal Byrne, the Aussie team manager mentioned as Jett will be fresher, he was better to race the Open class and that was why Hunter was moved to the MXGP class. Herlings was playing his cards close to his chest with a time of 2.03.830 to be in 15th position, but we all know he will try and get the best time close to the end of the session.

Herlings a time of 1.59.801 for fourth best time behind Prado, Gajser and Tomac, and Lawrence dropped to seventh spot, behind those four, Romain Febvre and Isak Gifting, who has been showing great speed of late.

Hunter Lawrence then did a 1.58.272 to be third quickest and Prado did a 1.56.820 to go top of the session. Herlings did a 1.57.846 to be third behind his MXGP rivals, Prado and Gajser as the GP men flex their muscles against the AMA regulars. Ken Roczen was in 10th place with a time of 2.01.411. Tomac improved his time to pass Herlings, with a 1.57.846.

With time running out in the free practice, it was Prado on 1.56.820. Gajser 1.57.475, Herlings 1.57.561, Tomac 1.57.843, Lawrence 1.58.272, Febvre 1.59.643, Gifting 2.00.040, Forato 2.200.776, Seewer 2.00.998, and Roczen 2.01.195.

Free Practice MXGP - Classification

1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 1:56.820; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:00.655; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:00.741; 4. Eli Tomac (USA, Yamaha), +0:01.023; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:02.823; 6. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:03.220; 7. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Honda), +0:01.452; 8. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +0:03.956; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:04.178; 10. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), +0:04.262; 11. Enzo Lopes (BRA, Yamaha), +0:05.329; 12. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +0:05.623; 13. Hamish Harwood (NZL, KTM), +0:05.644; 14. Marcel Stauffer (AUT, KTM), +0:06.009; 15. Jess Pettis (CAN, KTM), +0:06.012; 16. Mads Fredsoe (DEN, GASGAS), +0:06.317; 17. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:06.515; 18. Emil Weckman (FIN, KTM), +0:06.866; 19. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:07.039; 20. Martin Barr (IRL, Honda), +0:07.845; 21. Luis Outeiro (POR, Yamaha), +0:08.962; 22. Lorenzo Locurcio (VEN, Husqvarna), +0:09.871; 23. Mairis Pumpurs (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:10.280; 24. Gert Krestinov (EST, Honda), +0:10.971; 25. Tomas Kohut (SVK, KTM), +0:11.039; 26. Robert Krisztian Tompa (ROU, Yamaha), +0:12.429; 27. Cameron Anthony Durow (RSA, KTM), +0:12.631; 28. Joaquin Poli (CLAT, Kawasaki), +0:13.624; 29. Petr Polak (CZE, Yamaha), +0:14.841; 30. Sergio Ignacio Villaronga Muga (CHI, Honda), +0:15.620; 31. Domantas Jazdauskas (LTU, KTM), +0:16.811; 32. Matija Kelava (CRO, Yamaha), +0:18.778; 33. Yusuke Watanabe (JPN, Yamaha), +0:21.102; 34. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, TM), +0:25.613; 35. Jakub Barczewski (POL, GASGAS), +0:29.465; 36. Mani Freyr Petursson (ISL, Fantic), +0:41.712;