After an excellent debut for Honda HRC PETRONAS last time out in Argentina, Tom Vialle takes over the championship-leading red-plate after his second-place finish in qualification at the MXGP of Andalucia.
Held at the new GP facility in Almonte, this sandy circuit has really tested the fastest motocross riders on the planet, but Vialle showed that his skills in the soft stuff are still up there with the best when he grabbed the holeshot, before riding to a comfortable second place. After his 50 points in Bariloche, Argentina, the Frenchman now holds a four-point lead and will look to extend that when they take to the track tomorrow for the two points scoring motos.
Unfortunately, despite being fastest in both free and timed practices, Jeffrey Herlings finished just outside the top 10 in qualification, as a first turn crash left him remounting way behind the rest of the field. Passing 19 riders in the 13 laps, the Dutchman put on a massive charge, dicing through the field before running out of time as he neared the points-scoring positions. It wasn’t what the red-plate holder was hoping for coming into the weekend, but his speed isn’t in doubt, and he’ll be trying to maximise his points total, just like he did in Argentina when he went one-one and scored 50 points.
A week of sickness really hindered any hopes that Ruben Fernandez would be able to stand on the podium at his home GP – like he did 12 months ago. The Spaniard has battled as hard as he could and was close to getting in the top 10 before a crash ruined his momentum, but he’ll be hoping to feel better tomorrow and try to score some decent points and please the massive number of Spanish fans who are supporting lining the fences, supporting their hero.
In the MX2 class, Valerio Lata also finished 11th, just missing out on points as he tries to get himself back into world championship action, after a nasty crash in Argentina last time out. A fourth place in free practice showed promise, but a seventh in timed practice and then a tough qualification race showed there is still work to be done before the Italian can mix it up with the best 250cc riders on the planet once again.
While today didn’t go to completely as planned, the two motos tomorrow offer up 50 points to all the riders, and all four of them are motivated to show this large Spanish crowd that they belong at the front of the field.
MX2 Qualification
- Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 25:19.366; 2. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:03.021; 3. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:05.149; 4. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:06.568; 5. Janis Martins Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:09.961; 6. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:10.497; 7. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:33.532; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:42.496; 9. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Kawasaki), +0:44.722; 10. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), +0:51.704; 11. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:52.806;
Ruben Fernandez 70
I’ve been sick all week and I just haven’t been able to shake it at all, and it is so disappointing. I really want to put on a good show for all the fans but it is tough to perform at the highest level when you feel like this. I definitely appreciate all the fans who have been cheering me on and coming to see me, because it makes these home GPs so special. Hopefully I feel better tomorrow and I can fight nearer to the front.
Tom Vialle 16
A good solid race on what was a tricky track. Getting the holeshot made life easier, and it is really confidence-boosting that I have already done that a couple of times on my Honda CRF450RW. Then I rode a consistent race and just kept the momentum and finished second. It was good to see that my sand riding is still strong and now I’ll have the red-plate for tomorrow which is always nice to have.
Jeffrey Herlings 84
Felt good all day, posting the fastest times in free practice and timed practice, which meant I had inside gate-pick for the qualifying race. Didn’t make it more than 100 metres and hit the inside bank and got ejected. Picked my bike up dead last and just tried to pass as many guys as I could, managing to get all the way up to 11th. Frustrating to not score a point, but at least my speed was good. Just need to avoid that tomorrow and hopefully I’ll be back at the front of the field again.
Valerio Lata 18
Not really satisfied with the day at all. I just never really could match the speed of the front guys and that isn’t something I’m happy with. We are all working hard to try and make it happen, but right now, I have to put my head down and figure it out.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
Tough day for three of our riders as Ruben, Valerio and Jeffrey weren’t able to score the points they wanted in today’s qualifying races. Jeffrey fought back really well from last to come 11th, but he obviously wants to score good points every race. Ruben hasn’t been feeling great and had a crash when fighting for points, so that has been tough and Valerio just hasn’t found the flow on this tricky new track here in Andalucia. However, Tom rode really well for his second place and now leads the championship, which is great for him and the team and with another holeshot today, showing the power of the Honda CRF450RW. Tomorrow is a new day, but we’ll be trying extra hard to get all our riders near the front of the field in the two motos.
Qualifying Race
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Coenen Lucas 5 BEL 10 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 24:43.682
2 Vialle Tom 16 FRA 9 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 0:15.550
3 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 8 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:17.362
4 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 7 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:18.264
5 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 6 Ducati Factory MX Team 0:28.722
6 Adamo Andrea 80 ITA 5 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 0:31.581
7 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 4 Venrooy KTM Racing 0:33.531
8 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 3 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:36.874
9 Watson Ben GBR 2 0:42.877
10 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 1 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:44.653
11 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 0 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 0:47.033
12 de Wolf Kay 74 NDL 0 Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing 1:00.017
13 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 0 Honda SR Motoblouz 1:02.754
14 van Doninck Brent 32 BEL 0 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 1:04.475
15 Oliver Oriol 83 SPA 0 Gabriel SS24 KTM 1:08.130
16 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 0 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 1:16.035
17 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 0 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP 1:21.850
18 Lopes Enzo 166 BRA 0 Wildcard Rider 1:24.739
19 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 0 MX-Handel Husqvarna Racing 1:27.920
20 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 0 MRT Racing Team Beta 1:29.051
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Vialle Tom 16 FRA 59 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
2 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 55 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
3 Coenen Lucas 5 BEL 52 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
4 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 50 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
5 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 42 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
6 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 39 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
7 Adamo Andrea 80 ITA 37 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
8 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 32 Honda HRC PETRONAS – MXGP
9 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 30 Ducati Factory MX Team
10 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 28 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
11 Benistant Thibault 9 FRA 24 Honda SR Motoblouz
12 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 20 Venrooy KTM Racing
13 van Doninck Brent 32 BEL 18 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
14 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 16 Honda SR Motoblouz
15 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 12 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
16 Oliver Oriol 83 SPA 12 Gabriel SS24 KTM
17 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 8 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
18 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 8 Ducati Factory MX Team
19 Poli Joaquin ARG 5
20 Van Berkel Lars NDL 3
21 Watson Ben GBR 2
