Team HRC’s Tim Gajser put his Honda CRF450R in prime position for tomorrow’s GP-scoring motos after taking an impressive victory in the MXGP of Portugal qualification race, held in what were extremely muddy conditions at the Agueda circuit.
It was dry in free practice when Gajser hit the track for the first time, but by the time they were trying to put in their hotlaps for qualification gate-pick, rain was already starting to affect the surface. In the end, the Slovenian was sixth which still gave him a chance of a good start, and after a heavy rain deluge that turned the loamy conditions into deep mud, he took full advantage by powering around everyone and taking the qualifying race holeshot. Unfortunately, he did run a little wide in the second corner, where the mud was still a bit deep and let a couple of riders through but after three more bends, he put on an impressive move to pass both the riders in front and re-take the lead.
From there, he put in a couple of fast laps to breakaway from the field and open up a nice gap, in what were treacherous, rutted conditions. Everything was going well but midway through the race he got caught behind lappers and the gap closed right up again. It was unfortunate because he was riding so comfortably, but he kept his cool, put in a couple of really fast laps to hold onto the lead and took the chequered flag in celebratory mood.
The victory not only gives him first gate-pick for the two motos tomorrow, but it also gives him the maximum 10 points and has closed the gap in the championship table to just seven points. While there is still a long way to go in the series, it was an important boost for his confidence and he’ll be lining up in what is predicted to be worse weather, determined to take his first GP overall of the season and close up the gap even more.
Tim Gajser 243
Very happy with today’s race in what were very difficult conditions. The rain hit the circuit and although it wasn’t actually raining for our race, it really changed the track from the morning session. It was nice to get a good start and although I went a bit wide, I made a double-pass early-on to get into the lead and from there I controlled the race. Lappers slowed my momentum midway through and allowed the riders behind to close up but I was able to keep my lead and win another qualification race and close the gap at the top of the championship a bit more. Tomorrow could be worse conditions but I’m feeling good and looking forward to it.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
It was great to see Tim get a good start, railing around the outside and keeping the speed up in the muddy conditions. He really looked good out there and it was great to see him cross the line and take the victory because it has been a few rounds since he won a race in Argentina. Confidence is high and despite the bad weather forecast, we will do everything we can to help him turn this victory into the GP overall that he fully deserves.
Qualification Race
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 10 Team HRC – MXGP 26:06.844
2 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 9 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 0:02.361
3 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 8 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:29.633
4 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 7 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 1:41.737
5 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 6 Standing Construct Honda MXGP 1:44.603
6 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 5 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 1:46.635
7 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 4 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing 2:09.401
8 Östlund Alvin SWE 3 2:11.193
9 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 2 JK Racing Yamaha Active 2:15.984
10 Paturel Benoit FRA 1 2:19.641
11 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 0 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing 2:22.452
12 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 0 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 2:24.933
13 Watson Ben 919 GBR 0 MRT Racing Team Beta 1 Lap
14 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 0 Schmicker Racing 1 Lap
15 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 0 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz 1 Lap
16 Spies Maximillian GER 0 1 Lap
17 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 0 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 1 Lap
18 Edberg Tim 37 SWE 0 JM Honda Racing 1 Lap
19 Sterry Adam GBR 0 1 Lap
20 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 0 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team 1 Lap
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Prado Garcia Jorge 1 SPA 223 Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing
2 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 216 Team HRC – MXGP
3 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 182 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
4 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 173 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
5 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 148 Standing Construct Honda MXGP
6 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 141 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
7 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 138 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
8 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 123 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
9 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 88 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz
10 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 82 Team Ship To Cycle Honda SR Motoblouz
11 Watson Ben 919 GBR 78 MRT Racing Team Beta
12 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 63 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
13 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 47 JK Racing Yamaha Active
14 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 45 Schmicker Racing
15 Koch Tom GER 40
16 Monticelli Ivo 128 ITA 38 MRT Racing Team Beta
17 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 38 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
18 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 37 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
19 Östlund Alvin SWE 28 20 Paturel Benoit FRA 27
