Monster Energy Yamaha rider, Maxime Renaux has won the opening MXGP moto of the year after a sensational battle with fellow Frenchman, Romain Febvre. Championhip favourite, Tim Gajser finished a distant third and we ask the question, will it be a three way battle for the MXGP championship in 2025?

MXGP Qualification Race

Vlaanderen into the lead on the first corner and Gajser moved into second place as Lucas Coenen and Matias Pavez crashed together. Coenen was 37th. Renaux into the lead, then came Gajser, Febvre, Horgmo, Seewer, Fernandez, Coldenhoff, Guadagnini, Bogers and Bonacorsi. Vlaanderen in trouble in 12th place. Fernandez passed Seewer for fifth and Jonass passed Bonacorsi for 10th.

Renaux looking very strong as Febvre pushing Gajser for second place and Fernandez a mistake and back in 12th position, although he quickly repassed Vlaanderen. Geerts in 13th, Guillod 14th and Coenen 33rd. The pace around this track for the 450s is rather frightening.

Renaux 1.3 over Gajser and Febvre, who are locked together and these guys have a five second gap over fourth placed man, Horgmo, then came Seewer, Coldenhoff, Guadagnini, Bogers, Jonass and Vlaanderen. Coenen 29th. Febvre moved into second and relegated many peoples favourite for the title, to third spot.

Gajser losing ground on the two front guys and was three seconds off their pace on lap three, Horgmo was 8 seconds back and Coenen up to 25th spot. Geerts back in 18th spot and not having an easy race. Febvre all over Renaux and the two Frenchmen up on the lapped riders after five laps and this pace is just ridiculours to watch.

Incredible how many line choices for the riders as Febvre doing everything he can to catch and pass Renaux and using so many different lines. A mistake by Febvre and he lost maybe a second and Gajser is still three seconds back in third. Coenen now 24th, but not making much progress as he fights with names like Poli and Aparecido, not household names in our sport.

Nearly a huge crash by Seewer as he corrected a misjudged jump, as he battled with Horgmo for fourth and Coldenhoff for fifth and sixth. On lap seven the lead by Renaux was 1.2 seconds over Febvre, with Gajser now five seconds off the leader.

Febvre again all over Renaux for the lead and these two putting on a show for the crowd, who are as always in Argentina, very loud. Gajser 10 seconds off the leaders as Seewer passed Horgmo and a great result for Ducati. Geerts 17th, Forato 18th and Coenen 19th. Beautiful racing by Renaux and Febvre and if this is what we are going to get in 2025, we have a great season ahead of us. Renaux wins it from Febvre, with Gajser third, but 22 seconds back.

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