Honda HRC’s Valerio Lata took his first qualification victory of his career as he led from start to finish to comprehensively win the MXGP of Germany MX2 qualification race. Throughout the day, the Honda CRF250R had been looking menacing and once he grabbed the holeshot, he powered away from the competition and controlled the race to take the maximum 10 points and take first gate-pick for the GP scoring motos tomorrow.
A second-place in the morning free practice session at the rutted Teutschenthal circuit set the tone for Lata, which he quickly backed up with by placing fourth in the timed session. With the gate-pick favouring the inside, fourth gave him a good chance come out in the top five, but utilising every horsepower of his Honda CRF250R, he swept around the first turn in first place and immediately set about creating a gap to the chasing pack. A blistering first laptime three seconds faster than the field gave him the buffer he needed, which he then managed like a seasoned professional to take the chequered flag. This was Lata’s first qualification race win, and the first for Honda HRC since they started paying out championship points and once he crossed the line it sparked scenes of celebration throughout the team. The goal now is to help him do the same again tomorrow when 50 points are at stake and a possible first podium of 2025 is within his grasp.
Unfortunately, fellow CRF250R rider Ferruccio Zanchi has had to withdraw from the GP after sustaining an injury in the free practice session. After seeing the medical crew at the facility, it was decided he would head home and have further checkups to evaluate the exact issue, which will then give everyone a more detailed timeline for his return.
In the MXGP class, Ruben Fernandez continued his strong recent results with a fifth place, at a circuit that isn’t his favourite. The Spaniard had to battle hard for every point and although he isn’t a fan of the rutted conditions, he is still able to negotiate the terrain with speed and precision and give himself a fighting chance of another podium performance tomorrow. There is also a good opportunity for the #70 to move into third place in the championship standings, which would be just reward for an impressive 2025 campaign to date.
MX2 Qualification Race
- Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), 25:10.487; 2. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:03.998; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:10.394; 4. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:14.679; 5. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:17.947; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:19.440; 7. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:20.636; 8. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:24.399; 9. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:26.531; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:28.134;
Ruben Fernandez 70
A solid, if unspectacular day today. 13th in free practice, then seventh in timed before getting fifth in the qualification. It got better each time I went out, and I was happy with my first lap of the race as I made a number of quick passes, which was really important because overtaking was very difficult. If I can get a good start tomorrow, I feel like my speed will be enough to secure a good result and hopefully move me into third place in the championship.
Ferruccio Zanchi 73
Very disappointed to have to pull out of this GP, but it was quick a big impact on my knee and I think it is the smart move to withdraw and just make sure everything checks out okay before continuing racing. I wish the team the best this weekend and hope to see everyone soon.
Valerio Lata 18
What a great race, I’m so happy right now with how it went. The perfect moto. I got the holeshot, put in a really good first lap about three seconds faster than in second and just controlled that gap for the rest of the race. It was a great feeling to be riding round in first place, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and now I want to try and do it again tomorrow. A big thank you to the team for all their work, it has been getting better and better and now I’ve got the first gate-pick which hopefully means I can get another holeshot.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
It was such an impressive ride from Valerio today, taking the holeshot and just running away with the victory. That first lap was amazing to open up the gap and he just rode so smart on a difficult Teutschenthal track. We are really excited for him to try and do the same again tomorrow. Ruben was good and we know it isn’t his favourite terrain, but we are helping do as much as he can. It was a shame to lose Ferruccio to injury, because this is a track he likes so we will monitor the situation and make a plan when we have a better idea of what he is dealing with.
Qualifying Race
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 10 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 24:58.276
2 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 9 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 0:01.178
3 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 8 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:09.192
4 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 7 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team 0:17.674
5 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 6 Honda HRC – MXGP 0:19.845
6 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 5 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:20.942
7 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 4 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:25.583
8 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 3 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:27.529
9 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 2 Ducati Factory MX Team 0:31.429
10 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 1 JK Racing Yamaha Active 0:31.783
11 Ludwig Noah GER 0 0:40.318
12 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 0 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:44.218
13 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 0 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:45.559
14 Stauffer Marcel 411 AUT 0 Wildcard Rider 0:46.381
15 Watson Ben 919 GBR 0 MRT Racing Team Beta 0:50.116
16 van de Moosdijk Roan 34 NDL 0 KTM Kozak Team 0:55.432
17 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 0 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 1:00.654
18 Koch Tom 226 GER 0 MRT Racing Team Beta 1:02.502
19 Tondel Cornelius 17 NOR 0 JWR Honda Racing 1:04.479
20 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 0 Honda SR Motoblouz 1:05.562
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 449 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
2 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 404 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 305 Honda HRC – MXGP
4 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 302 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
5 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 298 Honda HRC – MXGP
6 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 293 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
7 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 253 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
8 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 231 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
9 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 221 Ducati Factory MX Team
10 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 204 Honda SR Motoblouz
11 Herlings Jeffrey NDL 172
12 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 162 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
13 Watson Ben 919 GBR 153 MRT Racing Team Beta
14 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 145 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
15 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 137 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
16 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 123 Ducati Factory MX Team
17 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 109 JK Racing Yamaha Active
18 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 97 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
19 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 72 Wildcard Rider
20 van de Moosdijk Roan NDL 71
21 Sterry Adam GBR 55
22 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 50 Wildcard Rider
23 Koch Tom 226 GER 35 MRT Racing Team Beta
24 Stauffer Marcel 411 AUT 32 Wildcard Rider
25 van Doninck Brent BEL 25
26 Gilbert Josh GBR 21
27 Ludwig Noah GER 19
28 Spies Maximillian GER 13
29 Cairoli Antonio 222 ITA 10 Ducati Factory MX Team
30 Lupino Alessandro 177 ITA 9 Ducati Factory MX Team
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