Red Bull KTM factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has again proven too good for his opposition and won the opening moto of the MXGP class.
In a race of drama, the victory did come after Herlings and Cairoli collided, with the defending world MXGP champion going down. The two did shake hands at the end of the moto, but moto two will be interesting.
“The track is like Germany," Herlings said. "Tough to pass. I never meant to get in contact, I don’t like that, but I went deep into the turn and he passed me back and he blocked me, then we went into the turn together and we clipped each other, and I am sorry he went down, but it is part of racing.”
Cairoli holeshot from Gajser, Coldenhoff and Herlings, but Herlings quickly got into second, then Gajser passed the Dutchman, before Herlings made a desperate pass to regain second place. The Dutchman knowing, he can’t let Cairoli get too far ahead.
While Cairoli tried to get away from Herlings the Dutchman was working hard to remain just a second behind. Seewer went down and Desalle moved into fourth place, behind Cairoli, Herlings and Gajser.
Simpson and Anstie were fighting outside the top ten, and Febvre passed Coldenhoff for fifth place.
Cairoli continued to lead as he clocked the quickest lap of the race, then a lap later Herlings did his best lap of the race. Gajser was third, Desalle fourth. Then came Febvre, Coldenhoff, Van Horebeek, Searle, Lieber, and Seewer 10th.
Amazing as Herlings closed on Cairoli quickly, caught him, and passed the Italian in a stunning move around the outside on Everts corner, on the pegs and into the lead, but Cairoli fought back to jumps past Herlings. Two laps later and as Cairoli led, Herlings ducked up the inside on a right-hand corner, pushed Cairoli wide, and when Cairoli tried to respond, he collided with Herlings back wheel and went down.
Herlings wins it from Cairoli and Gajser.
MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:58.965; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.188; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:14.527; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:32.384; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:47.533; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:50.591; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:58.183; 8. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:01.933; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:06.611; 10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), +1:09.122; 11. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), +1:12.214; 12. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:16.858; 13. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +1:19.845; 14. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), +1:20.998; 15. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Honda), +1:22.278; 16. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:27