QUALIFYING RACES CAIROLI & HERLINGS ON POLE FOR MXGP OF SPAIN
TALAVERA DE LA REINA (Spain), 09 May 2015 – The historic clay based track in the hills of Talavera de le Reina set the scene for round six of the FIM Motocross World Championship which saw the eight-time FIM Motocross World Champion, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli come out all guns blazing, as predicted, for his third qualifying heat victory of the year. Meanwhile in MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings put in a last lap charge for his sixth consecutive heat race victory, to remain un-beaten in qualifying this year.
Rounds two and three of the European Championships EMX125, EMX250 and EMX300 also kicked off withKTM Factory Junior’s Josiah Natzke winning his first ever EMX125 race while Bud Racing Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Maxime Desprey took his third race victory of the season in the EMX250. In the EMX300,Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna’s Yentel Martens keeps his perfect season in tact with his third race win.
Before the gates had even dropped most eyes were on Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli as he opted to line up here at the MXGP of Spain on a KTM 450 rather than his usual weapon of choice, the KTM 350.
After whipping out a holeshot, which allowed him to control the race from start to finish for his third qualifying heat win of the season, the Italian proved that his decision could potentially be a big step in the right direction.
Meanwhile, the race did in fact get off to a decent start with last year’s winner here in Talavera, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Clement Desalle chasing the champ around turn one. Despite pushing hard to match the fierce pace the eight-time world champ was setting, it proved difficult for the Belgian, which left him to finish a respectable second.
Back in third, Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev barged his way through the pack after having an average jump off the gate. Miraculously the Russian emerged from turn two in third where he remained for the entire race.
Rounding out the top five, the MXGP championship leader, RedBull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Nagl lasted in the pressure cooker for fourth, while Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Romain Febvre was on a relentless mission through the field which saw him eventually wrap up the race hard on the heels of Nagl for fifth.
MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 25:16.852; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:01.877; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:12.839; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:13.833; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:14.368; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:22.953; 7. Steven Frossard (FRA, KTM), +0:24.680; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), +0:37.093; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:39.460; 10. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:47.124
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It appeared Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Thomas Covington had caught fire here in the scorching heat of Spain as he nailed the holeshot and went on to lead the entire MX2 qualifier except for the last two laps, which happen to be the ones that count.
What was so impressive about Covington’s performance was the fact that Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings actually chased him around turn one and despite mixing up his lines and riding aggressive, yet clean, just struggled to find a way to make a pass stick.
Meanwhile Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jordi Tixier kept the leading duo in check with the occupation of third, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass and Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie battled for fourth.
As the top five struggled to find new lines and ways to pass on the hard and slick circuit, when the last lap board came out, it caused complete pandemonium. Herlings managed to pin it around the outside of Covington and finally put the lead on lock, while Tixier edged out his teammate to take over second half of a lap later.
Herlings managed to sneak away while Tixier threw away his hard fought second place when he lost the front end going into a corner on the backside of the circuit. Both Max Anstie and Pauls Jonass were quick to take advantage of Tixier’s fault and both moved up a spot.
With time running out fast, Anstie who had pushed his way into third was all over Covington for second, which he claimed in dramatic fashion on the final turn. With ‘T-Cov’ being forced back to third, Jonass wrapped up a solid fourth while Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser rounded out the top five.
MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 23:57.577; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:04.366; 3. Thomas Covington (USA, Kawasaki), +0:04.614; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:05.874; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:06.962; 6. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), +0:17.326; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:19.135; 8. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:21.175; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:21.725; 10. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.492
Click here to obtain the complete results.
All the photos of the MXGP of Spain will be available here
MXGP SPAIN – QUICK FACTS
Circuit length: 1620m
Type of ground: Hard Pack
Temperature: 31°C
Weather conditions: sunny
MXGP will be available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.
TIMETABLE
Sunday: EMX300 Warm-up 08:40; EMX125 Warm-up 08:55; EMX250 Warm-up 09:10; EMX300 Race 2 09:35; EMX125 Race 2 10:25; MX2 Warm up 11:10; MXGP Warm up 11:30; EMX250 Race 2 12:00; MX2 Race 1 13:15; MXGP Race 1 14:15; MX2 Race 2 16:10; MXGP Race 2 17:10.
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