The Honda CRF450R duo of Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez put in excellent rides to finish first and third in the MXGP of Sardegna’s qualification race, held at the deep-sand track of Riola Sardo of the Italian island.
Coming into today, Gajser had won five the last six gate-drops, and he made it six from seven, with a come-from-behind performance that shows he sand skills are up with the best in the world. The #243 was fastest in timed practice, but didn’t get the best jump, especially compared to teammate Fernandez, who roared out of the gate and crossed the holeshot line in first place.
While Fernandez tried to pull away, Gajser made a number of moves to get himself into third place by the end of the first lap as the Honda pair made-up two of the three podium positions. Midway through the moto, Gajser passed his teammate for the lead and while the #70 did slip to third, it was still an excellent ride for the Spaniard, and one that should give him a lot of confidence for the longer motos tomorrow. Gajser then tried to pull out a gap, but unbeknownst to him, the second-place rider was staying within striking distance. On the last lap, as lappers blocked the Slovenian, he suddenly realised how close it was up-front so increased his speed and held on for the win – his second qualification victory of the season, also moving him to 39 points ahead of his nearest rival in the championship standings. The MXGP pair are very happy with how things went and will be trying to make sure they can repeat their efforts for the GP-scoring motos tomorrow.
In the MX2 class, Ferruccio Zanchi and Valerio Lata didn’t quite have such a good day as the pair finished eighth and 11th respectively. Lata had shown good speed in timed practice to place fifth, but he wasn’t able to translate that in the qualification race and instead was battling just outside of the points-scoring positions.
Zanchi fared better in the race, after being 10th in timed practice, but the young Italian still wasn’t happy to only cross the line in eighth place, after a race filled with battles. Both riders will be looking for improvements tomorrow, and with the deep-sand track only getting more difficult, the Honda HRC crew will be working as hard as they can to help them achieve their desired results.
MX2 Qualification Race
- Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 23:48.580; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:08.814; 3. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:15.043; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:18.914; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.830; 6. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:24.542; 7. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:25.148; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:45.137; 9. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:51.272; 10. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +0:56.150; 11. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +1:02.510;
Tim Gajser 243
It was a good day in the sand, being fastest in timed practice and then coming through the field in the qualification race to win that. I didn’t get the best start, but I made a lot of good passes on the first lap to get into third. Ruben was riding well in the lead, so it took a few laps to get past him, and then I thought I had a comfortable gap to second but in the last lap I heard a rider behind and had to push to stay in the lead. Still, I felt comfortable and I enjoyed myself so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
Ruben Fernandez 70
It felt really good to lead the qualification race for almost half the race before Tim passed me, and then end up in third place. I haven’t had the best results here in the past, so it was nice to show people that I am fast in the sand and that I can also get some good results here. It was good to get the holeshot too, and I actually enjoyed riding, so I’m very happy with today and I can’t wait for the motos.
Ferruccio Zanchi 73
I’m not really happy with the eighth place finish in the qualification race. It took me too many laps to find my speed and I just never got to the consistent pace of the riders in front of me. We will work on for tomorrow though, and hopefully I can be much better in the two motos.
Valerio Lata 18
That is not how I hoped today would go and I’m very disappointed to finish outside of the points. I just couldn’t find my flow and on this track, that is very important when it is so rough and bumpy. We will work on some things tomorrow morning in the warm-up to try and make things easier in the motos, and hopefully I can challenge much nearer the front of the field.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
It was great to see Ruben and Tim at the front of the MXGP field, one and two and showing the power of the Honda CRF450R. Ruben’s holeshot was excellent and Tim put in a strong moto to come through and win, holding off a charging opponent, once he realised he was there. We will try and make sure things go as well for the pair tomorrow! We will also try to help the MX2 guys move up the field, as they weren’t able to show their full potential today. Both Ferruccio and Valerio were just a bit off the pace, and when the track is so difficult, it is important we get everything right for them. Still, they are both motivated to do better on home turf so I’m confident we’ll have four happy riders at the end of tomorrow.
Qualification Race
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 10 Honda HRC – MXGP 23:39.296
2 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 9 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 0:00.332
3 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 8 Honda HRC – MXGP 0:10.198
4 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 7 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:11.126
5 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 6 Honda SR Motoblouz 0:18.333
6 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 5 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:21.127
7 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 4 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:24.303
8 van de Moosdijk Roan NDL 3 0:44.700
9 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 2 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:48.459
10 Watson Ben 919 GBR 1 MRT Racing Team Beta 0:50.421
11 Sterry Adam GBR 0 0:54.031
12 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 0 Ducati Factory MX Team 0:59.577
13 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 0 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 1:04.162
14 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 0 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team 1:05.026
15 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 0 Wildcard Rider 1:09.834
16 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 0 JK Racing Yamaha Active 1:15.789
17 Gilbert Josh GBR 0 1:20.437
18 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 0 Wildcard Rider 1:35.128
19 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 0 JWR Honda Racing 1:36.915
20 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 0 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 1:37.512
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 177 Honda HRC – MXGP
2 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 138 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
3 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 121 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
4 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 116 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
5 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 114 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
6 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 87 Honda SR Motoblouz
7 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 86 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
8 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 85 Honda HRC – MXGP
9 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 84 Ducati Factory MX Team
10 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 68 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
11 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 61 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
12 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 58 Ducati Factory MX Team
13 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 55 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
14 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 54 JK Racing Yamaha Active
15 Watson Ben 919 GBR 42 MRT Racing Team Beta
16 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 40 Wildcard Rider
17 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 37 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
18 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 30 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
19 van de Moosdijk Roan NDL 17
20 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 15 Wildcard Rider
21 Koch Tom 226 GER 14 MRT Racing Team Beta
22 Ludwig Noah GER 11
23 Sterry Adam GBR 10
24 Gilbert Josh GBR 8
25 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 7 JWR Honda Racing
26 Aparecido dos Santos Fabio BRA 5
27 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 2 Honda SR Motoblouz
28 Pape Romain 53 FRA 2 Wildcard Rider
29 Scheu Mark GER 1
30 Nickel Cato GER 1
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