Gajser Tops Cairoli at Italian GP

Gajser Great Victory in Italy

HRC rider Tim Gajser has ridden the GP of his life as he battled possibly the greatest GP rider of all time, and in front of a massive Italian crowd. Gajser scored 1-1 results and made sure this MXGP championship is alive and well.

“It is unbelievable,” Gajser said. “I am speechless we played cat and mouse and he followed me and then he was so quick, and then I followed him and such an amazing race, unbelievable, unbelievable. I got a good start and led and Tony was behind me and we pushed hard and at the end, after more than a year I won a GP and we had a tough two years, but we never give up."

Antonio Cairoli was also brilliant, and did pick up a knee injury when he nearly crashed during the second moto.

"I am happy about the weekend," Cairoli said. "But of course not happy about the second moto. We rode fast and it was dangerous this speed and I was too aggresive in some places and took risk and that isnt' needed. I crashed and twisted my left knee and I felt a lot of pain and I couldnt' lay my bike down and I fell hard. It shouldn't happen, but Tim rode amazing and deserves this win."

Gajser took the lead early in the second MXGP moto, followed by Cairoli, Paulin, Tonus, Searle, Anstie, Bogers, Monticelli, Seewer, and Jonass in 10^th. Paulin in third pushing hard to get under Cairoli, and Coldenhoff quickly into 10^th place.

After one lap it was Gajser with a two second lead, then Cairoli, Paulin, Tonus, Anstie, Monticelli, Searle, Bogers, Coldenhoff and Bernardini in 10^th. Desalle and Jonass at the back of the field, as was Seewer and Van Horebeek. Simpson 21^st place.

After two laps the lead was more than two seconds and Paulin was a further three seconds back in third. Three laps in and Cairoli made up a little ground on the leader, and Anstie into the top five as he passed Jasikonis.

Anstie out of the top ten as he drops to 30^th place and into the mechanic area, clearly suffering from his moto one injury. After five laps and Cairoli closed up a little, and Paturel moved into 10^th place and Simpson riding well to move into 14^th place.

Gajser and Cairoli both turned up the speed and after six laps it was Gajser with a two second lead, with Paulin eight seconds back, then Tonus, Jasikonis, Monticelli, Searle, Bogers, Coldenhoff and Paturel.

After eight laps and Cairoli started pushing harder and was closing on the leader, with Paulin now 14 seconds back. Both riders looking very smooth, and in control, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t turn into a slugfest.

Suddenly Cairoli went for the pass and Gajser made a mistake and let Cairoli through. Pandemonium as the Italian spectators just went wild. Gajser though wasn’t finished just yet as he turned up the tempo.

Seems like Gajser is pushing to get closer again, but Cairoli is looking very sharp up front. Maybe Cairoli made his move too quickly, because it looked like Gajser was watching the leaders lines and suddenly using the same lines as Cairoli.

After 11 laps it was Cairoli, Gajser, Paulin, Tonus, Jasikonis, Monticelli, Searle, Bogers, Coldenhoff and Paturel. Paulin now 26 seconds back on the top two riders. Simpson up to 12^th place, and Van Horebeek a stunning 14^th coming from the back.

Gajser a stunning move on Cairoli as he dived up the inside and then Cairoli made a big mistake and nearly crashed, possible even hurting himself as he struggled to stay on the bike and the force on his arms was forceful. Mistakes by both as they pushed to the limit, leaving Paulin 35 seconds back in third place.

It was now Cairolis chance to watch the lines of the leader. 15 laps and the two are close with Paulin in third, then Tonus, Jasikonis, Monticelli, Searle, Coldenhoff, Bogers and Lupino in 10^th. Simpson a strong 11^th, and Van Horebeek again back in the field.

The pace at the front was just ridiculous and with three laps to go they were side by side. Amazing strength from these two athletes. Lapped riders kept of of the way for the time being. Cairoli all over Gajser.

Cairoli into the lead in the same place Gajser got him a few laps earlier and Cairol nearly down again and Cairoli went down and handed the win to Gajser. Drama, drama, drama. Sensational racing from these two champions.

Gajser moved passed 14th placed Seewer and was onto Paturel who held 13th place. Tim Gajser, congratulations.

Gajser wins it from Cairoli and Paulin. Again Cairoli and Gajser embrace in another sign of what a great sportsman the Italian is in defeat.

MXGP - GP Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 28 p.; 7. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 26 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 24 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 21 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 20 p.; 11. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 17 p.; 12. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 17 p.; 13. Brian Bogers (NED, HON), 14 p.; 14. Benoit Paturel (FRA, KAW), 13 p.; 15. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 12 p.; 16. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 11 p.; 17. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 11 p.; 18. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 9 p.; 19. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 6 p.; 20. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 5 p.; 21. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, YAM), 3 p.; 22. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), 3 p.; 23. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 1 p.; 24. Davide De Bortoli (ITA, HON), 0 p.; 25. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), 0 p.; 26. Davide Bonini (ITA, SUZ), 0 p.; 27. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 0 p.; 28. Artem Guryev (RUS, HUS), 0 p.; 29. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HUS), 0 p.; 30. Anton Gole (SWE, YAM), 0 p.; 31. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 0 p.; 32. Gianluca Di Marziantonio (ITA, KTM), 0 p.;