Honda HRC put in a strong showing across the board on qualification day at the MXGP of China. Tim Gajser finished second, Valerio Lata (MX2) was third and Ruben Fernandez was fifth as they showed the power of their Honda’s in front of a lot of fans and supporters at the track in Shanghai.
Ever since arriving in the country, the riders have been greeted by sweltering conditions with temperatures over 30C and a high humidity to match it. This has made things tough, and added an extra level of difficulty on what is a new circuit in for them to negotiate. Located a few kilometres away from the old venue, it definitely shares a lot of the same characteristics though, so it didn’t take them long to adapt and find their rhythm. All three riders were inside the top five in timed practice and although Fernandez wasn’t able to put in the hot-lap he wanted in timed practice, he still had confidence that his speed was there.
Gajser had second gate-pick and actually looked like he might grab the holeshot after an excellent jump out of the gate. Unfortunately he did run wide and let a couple of riders through, before quickly regaining those positions in the next corner. By the end of the lap he was back in second place and poised to make a pass for the lead, but due to the tight and technical nature of the track, he wasn’t able to ever get close enough to make anything stick. Instead he settled for second, which is still another improvement since his return from injury, so he is happy with the outcome with the potential for even more tomorrow.
Fernandez made a number of passes on the first lap to get himself into fifth, but like Gajser, found any further movement very difficult and he also decided it was better to maintain his position rather than risk too much. Fifth gate-pick does give him the opportunity to fight with the top guys out of the gate and that’s something he really wants to do, because his race speed has been excellent in recent events.
In the MX2 class, Lata put in a strong performance all day long, getting second in free practice, fourth in timed practice, before holding off a number of top riders to come home in third place in the qualification race. Considering he has never ridden in China before, it was an excellent debut in the country, especially given the weather conditions. His goal now is to try and replicate that same level in the two races tomorrow and score some decent points, in his quest to move up the MX2 Championship standings.
MX2 Qualification Race
- Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 24:02.438; 2. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +0:06.532; 3. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +0:16.124; 4. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:16.924; 5. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:22.415; 6. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:23.915; 7. Mathis Valin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:24.538; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:33.133; 9. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:36.776; 10. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:41.123;
Tim Gajser 243
Very happy with my result today and how I felt on the track. It definitely isn’t an easy track and it got a bit greasy for the race, but I think my riding was good and I had a good start off the gate, I just ran a little bit wide in the first corner. I think if I can do the same start tomorrow I can get out front and I know from today that passing isn’t easy so hopefully I can get myself on the podium.
Ruben Fernandez 70
I think with a better start I can run with the top guys. I could see them the whole race, but passing definitely wasn’t easy on this track and it got sketchy in the race so I didn’t want to risk too much. Overall, I am happy with my riding, but I think there is more to come for tomorro
Valerio Lata 18
I have enjoyed my time in China during the weekend and today we rode the track for the first time and I enjoyed that as well. It is a tight track, but I felt good on it and I think that showed in my results. Fourth in timed practice and then third for the whole of the qualification race is something I am delighted with, so I really want to go out tomorrow and do the same again.
Marcus Pereira de Freitas
HRC General Manager – MXGP
A good day for each of the riders in some pretty tough conditions for everyone. It’s been hot and humid, and then in between the motos there was a burst of rain which made it greasy for Tim and Ruben. Overall though, a second for Tim, a third for Valerio and a fifth for Ruben is a strong showing for our team, but we will keep working and trying to improve even more for the two motos tomorrow.
Qualification Race
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Time/Gap
1 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 10 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 24:35.560
2 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 9 Honda HRC – MXGP 0:01.346
3 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 8 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:14.042
4 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 7 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:16.024
5 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 6 Honda HRC – MXGP 0:18.686
6 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 5 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:20.957
7 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 4 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 0:23.892
8 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 3 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP 0:30.159
9 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 2 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:40.950
10 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 1 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 0:42.806
11 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 0 JK Racing Yamaha Active 0:44.759
12 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 0 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team 0:48.127
13 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 0 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team 0:53.464
14 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 0 Wildcard Rider 1:02.550
15 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 0 Ducati Factory MX Team 1:07.523
16 Watson Ben 919 GBR 0 MRT Racing Team Beta 1:10.425
17 Prugnieres Quentin 319 FRA 0 Honda SR Motoblouz 1:13.753
18 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 0 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP 1:18.448
19 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 0 Ducati Factory MX Team 1:21.709
20 Koch Tom 226 GER 0 MRT Racing Team Beta 1:28.362
Rider Standings
Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team
1 Febvre Romain 3 FRA 893 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
2 Coenen Lucas 96 BEL 863 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3 Coldenhoff Glenn 259 NDL 639 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
4 Fernandez Ruben 70 SPA 563 Honda HRC – MXGP
5 Vlaanderen Calvin 10 NDL 533 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
6 Herlings Jeffrey 84 NDL 532 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
7 Renaux Maxime 959 FRA 490 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
8 Bonacorsi Andrea 132 ITA 482 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
9 Gajser Tim 243 SLO 420 Honda HRC – MXGP
10 Seewer Jeremy 91 SWI 358 Ducati Factory MX Team
11 Pancar Jan 253 SLO 299 TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team
12 Watson Ben 919 GBR 281 MRT Racing Team Beta
13 Bogers Brian 189 NDL 279 Fantic Factory Racing MXGP
14 Geerts Jago 93 BEL 277 Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team
15 Horgmo Kevin 24 NOR 243 Honda SR Motoblouz
16 Gifting Isak 517 SWE 242 JK Racing Yamaha Active
17 Jonass Pauls 41 LAT 238 Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP
18 Guadagnini Mattia 101 ITA 206 Ducati Factory MX Team
19 van Doninck Brent 32 BEL 191 JM Honda Racing
20 van de Moosdijk Roan 34 NDL 168 KTM Kozak Team
21 Sterry Adam 811 GBR 104 KTM Kozak Team
22 Koch Tom 226 GER 96 MRT Racing Team Beta
23 Brumann Kevin 87 SWI 78 Wildcard Rider
24 Guillod Valentin 92 SWI 72 Wildcard Rider
25 Forato Alberto 303 ITA 72 Honda SR Motoblouz
26 Spies Maximillian GER 47
27 Fredriksen Hakon 427 NOR 41 Wildcard Rider
28 Stauffer Marcel 411 AUT 38 Wildcard Rider
29 Cairoli Antonio 222 ITA 37 Ducati Factory MX Team
30 Prugnieres Quentin 319 FRA 36 Honda SR Motoblouz
