Red Bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli has won the MXGP qualification race with a flag to flag victory in Mantova today. The Italian legend looked brilliant as he gated first and just left the opposition in his wake. Second was Tim Gajser and third Gautier Paulin.

“Yes,” Cairoli said. “Is very good this feeling on the track, because the track is difficult and dangerous. I know they expected rain and they kept it harder. I hope they make it better for tomorrow, because it is sketchy and dangerous.”

Cairoli takes the lead early in the MXGP qualifier from Jonass, Desalle, Seewer, Lupino, Gajser, Paulin, Monticelli, Leok and Jasikonis. Anstie 11^th and Simpson 14^th.

Lupino went over and berm and crashed and his good mate Cairoli was flying up front. Gajser up from sixth to fourth rather quickly and going after the top three.

Seewer went down trying to get closer to Gajser and soon after Gajser moved past Desalle for third place. The HRC rider was flying.

After a lap the lead by Cairoli was four seconds, then Jonass, Gajser, Desalle, Paulin, Monticelli, Jasikonis, Leok, Van Horebeek, Anstie in 10^th.

Gajser moved past Jonass for second and Paulin also charging past Desalle and then Jonass. Cairoli though is long gone as he had a 10 second lead on lap three.

Monticelli made a nice pass by Desalle and the stalled the Belgium who had to stop and lost a lot of time on the Italian. Monticelli all over Jonass for fourth place. Monticelli into fourth place with a nice pass on Jonass.

After four laps the lead was now more than 11 seconds as Cairoli continued to control the race from Gajser and Paulin.

Jasikonis on the move into sixth and right behind Jonass for fifth place. After six laps the lead was 14 seconds from Gajser, Paulin, Monticelli, Jonass, Jasikonis, Desalle, Leok, Van Horebeek, Anstie 10^th. Jasikonis into fifth place and going after Monticelli and Paulin.

Seven laps and the lead was 16 seconds, and once again Cairoli shows his class against the best 450 riders in the World. Jasikonis into fourth as he passed Monticelli. Leok into seventh and defying his age. Just to make the oldies look good, Strijbos finished 14^th.

Rather interesting the top 10, with an Italian, a Slovenian, a Frenchman, a Lithuenian, another Italian, and Estonian, two Belgians and a British rider. Leok moved past Jonass and Monticelli to finish in fifth place.

Cairoli wins it easily from Gajser and Paulin.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 25:11.694; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:15.084; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:20.879; 4. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:27.612; 5. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +0:31.096; 6. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +0:33.419; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:35.190; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:36.873; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:38.769; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), +0:40.692;