Gajser Wins MXGP Qualifier

Five time World motocross champion Tim Gajser has taken victory in the Saturday MXGP qualification race with a brilliant pass on early leaders Jorge Prado and Jeffrey Herlings. The HRC factory rider looked brilliant in the very tough and muddy conditions. The points gap between Prado and Gajser in the MXGP championship points are now just seven points.

Tim Gajser: I had a good start, but I ran wide and Jorge Pass me and Jeffrey was very aggressive and I knew I had to pass straight away. I surprised them and took the lead, but when I got to the lappers, it was just one line and not easy to pass. It was important to do the sighting lap, because the track is sketchy and I found it really important.

World MXGP championship points are now 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 223 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 216 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 182 p.; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 173 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 148 p.;

Prado led from Gajser and Herlings, both really pushing to stay with Prado. Gajser into first and Herlings second as they both made really nice passes on the leader. Prado third, then came Jonass, Febvre, Prado now in fifth, then Bogers, Vlaanderen, Coldenhoff, Bonacorsi, and Toendel in 10^th. Prado all over the place and nearly off the track.

Gajser and Herlings pushing hard for first and second and Prado now back in sixth place as Bogers passed him. Prado looking to pit for goggles as he struggles big time with his goggles. On lap one the lead by Gajser was nearly five seconds over Herlings, then Febvre, Jonass, Bogers, Prado, Coldenhoff, Bonacorsi, Vlaanderen and Toendel.

Jonass dropped down and Coldenhoff moved past Prado. Riders all over the place in these tough conditions. On lap three it was Gajser with a 6.5 second lead over Herlings, then Febvre 10 seconds off the leader, followed by Bogers, Coldenhoff (The Dutch loving the mud), Prado, Vlaanderen, Jonass, Ostlund, and Guadagnini in 10^th.

Lap four and the lead by Gajser was 5.4 seconds, with Herlings three seconds ahead of Febvre and Bogers 25 seconds off the leader. Then came Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen, Prado in seventh, Jonass, Ostlund and Guadagnini.

Prado nearly a minute off Gajsers pace in seventh with Jonass looking for a way past the Spaniard. Jonass all over Prado as the red plate man really having a hard time in these conditions and possibly with goggles issues. Jonass into seventh and Prado drops to eight. Gajser getting closer and closer to the red plate. The points difference between Prado and Gajser would be just a few points now.

Prado back into seventh as Coldenhoff slipped over and dropped to eight place. The lead by Gajser over Herlings was nearly eight seconds on lap six and Febvre getting closer to Herlings for second place. Prado more than a minute off the lead by the HRC man. Prado up to sixth place as he continued to gain positions and points.

Herlings catching Gajser with the lead just 4.7 seconds with three laps remaining. The Bullet making a late race charge it seems. The lead was suddenly just 2.8 seconds and Herlings looking for another moto win.

Herlings all over Gajser now as he puts the heat on in the wet conditions. Seewer in 17^th place being lapped by Gajser and Herlings. Gajser putting in some good final lap times and the lead was four seconds with two laps remaining.

Coldenhoff passed Prado to drop the red plate man into seventh position and the points gap between Prado and Gajser closed right down today. Herlings again all over Gajser with the final lap remaining. Lappers making life difficult for Gajser, but he holds off to win from Herlings and Febvre.