Febvre on Fire in Argentina

 

Monster Energy Yamaha rider Romain Febvre returned to the winners circle for the first time in a long time as he made the most of a mechanical problem by slow starting Antonio Cairoli and a crash infested race by early leader Tim Gajser.

Gajser holeshot from Lieber, Lupino, Febvre and Jonass, Cairoli back in 20^th place. Van Horebeek past Jonass, and Nagl Anstie, Bogers and Tonus round out the top ten. Gajser just gone as he pulled away from Lieber, as Jonass and Anstie all over Van Horebeek.

Gajser three seconds ahead of Lieber, and Cairoli up to 14^th place. Simpson 17^th, Coldenhoff 23^rd and Bobryshev struggling with his injured wrist in last.

Desalle joined Jonass and Anstie, and the Belgian quickly into 8^th place. Nagl still riding well in sixth place, and Paulin up to 11^th place. Anstie also gets Jonass to drop the former MX2 champion back to ninth place, just ahead of Tonus, who had Paulin on his back wheel. MXGP isn’t letting down again with battles all over the place. Cairoli up to 12^th place.

Cairoli bike problems as he stopped on the track and struggling to get his bike going again. A bad start to his challenge for his 10^th title and a poor gate pick tomorrow for the legend.

Here we are back in 2016 as Gajser leads a hard charging Febvre, the Frenchman closed right up on the HRC rider. Febvre clocked the quickest lap of the race. Lieber still a solid third, with Gajser making some small mistakes as Febvre closed right up.

While Gajser and Febvre lead, a Belgian freight train of Lieber, Van Horebeek and Desalle follow. Ridiculous how many top riders are riding around outside the top ten with Tonus 11^th, Searle 12^th, Jasikonis 13^th, Jonass 14^th, Seewer 15^th, Simpson 18^th and Coldenhoff 19^th.

After seven laps it was Gajser, Febvre, Lieber, Van Horebeek, Desalle, Nagl, Anstie, Paulin, Tonus and Lupino.

Gajser goes down and handed the lead to Febvre, fortunately for the former MX2 and MXGP champion his lead was so big only Febvre got him. Anstie into sixth place as he passed Nagl, and Paulin struggling a little in seventh place.

Gajser down again, this time on a jump, and this time a handful of riders did pass. After 10 laps it was Febvre, Lieber, Van Horebeek, Desalle, Anstie, Nagl, Paulin and Gajser.

Febvre wins it from Lieber and Van Horebeek.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), 24:21.194; 2. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:04.306; 3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:06.536; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:10.377; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), +0:13.962; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:14.612; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:17.028; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:24.790; 9. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:27.141; 10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:36.354; 11. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:39.076; 12. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:42.852; 13. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:44.508; 14. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +0:45.569; 15. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:46.909; 16. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +0:53.753; 17. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:55.594; 18. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:57.127; 19. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +0:57.340; 20. Jetro Salazar (PER, Honda), +1:08.190; 21. Brian Bogers (NED, Honda), +1:11.323; 22. Joaquin Poli (ARG, Honda), +1:21.559; 23. Hector Assuncao (BRA, Honda), +1:29.833; 24. Marcos Antezana (BOL, Honda), +1:32.660; 25. Juan Pablo Luzzardi (ARG, KTM), -1 lap(s); 26. Victor Garrido (ARG, Honda), -1 lap(s); 27. Francisco Urrutia (URU, KTM), -5 lap(s); 28. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), -9 lap(s); 29. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Kawasaki), -11 lap(s);