MXGP counter: Cairoli unopposed!
Tony Cairoli has been riding at a high level all season. Moreover, he does that with speaking ease! The eight-time world champion rode to his fifth qualifying victory of the season in Loket. He beat Tim Gajser, Max Nagl and Jeffrey Herlings.
The holeshot went to Gajser ahead of Cairoli and Nagl. Jasikonis was also good. Shorty maintained the connection with Cairoli in fourth but made a mistake on the seventh lap. Cairoli also thought it was enough half the match. Cairoli first easily took the measure of his former teammate Max, then Gajser was also surprisingly easily defeated! “Hey, normally Loket is certainly not a job where things go smoothly for me. Hopefully we can change that this weekend.” Cairoli said afterwards.
Due to Jasikonis' error, Coldenhoff moved up to four. The Hoff drove a very regular race but still had to give up on Herlings in the last lap. After a poor start, the Dutch champion emerged well, just like Paulin. The French Husqvarna factory pilot eventually finished 6th. After an anonymous race, Desalle finished 8th. Kevin Strijbos, who traditionally gets along well with the Czech circuit, also qualified in the top 10.
Perhaps Arnaud Tonus - on the 2018 Yamaha YZ450F - expected more from this quality race after his strong second place in the timed training. After a bad start, Tonus had to settle for 9th place. Jeremy Van Horebeek finished 12th this afternoon.
MXGP qualifying race
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 25:12.952; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:05.438; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:07.923; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:09.109; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:10.399; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:11.225; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:15.774; 8. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:16.817; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:25.360; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:28.882; 11. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:31.483; 12. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:33.114; 13. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Honda), +0:34.345; 14. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:35.420; 15. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:36.485; 16. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +0:53.803; 17. Evgeny Bobryshev (US, Honda), +0:57.943; 18. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Suzuki), +1:03.234; 19. Luke Neurauter (AUT, KTM), +1:04.712; 20. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:05.728; 21. Rui Goncalves (POR, Husqvarna), +1:12.944; 22. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), +1:15.416; 23. Jaromir Romancik (CZE, KTM), +1:17.744; 24. Damon Graulus (BEL, Honda), +1:20.586; 25. Ryan Houghton (GBR, Yamaha), +1:22.323; 26. Bryan Boulard (BEL, Yamaha), +1:31.208; 27. Peter Irt (SLO, Yamaha), +1:33.654; 28. Martin Finek (CZE, KTM), +1:35.737; 29. Stefano Pezzuto (ITA, Yamaha), +1:38.446; 30. Tomasz Wysocki (POL, KTM), +1:39.395; 31. Rudolf Weschta (CZE, Suzuki), +1:40.742; 32. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), +1:53.137; 33. Petr Bartos (CZE, KTM), +1:55.857; 34. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 35. Martin Michek (CZE, KTM), -2 lap(s); 36. Jernej Irt (SLO, Husqvarna), -4 lap(s);
Photos: Ray Archer/shotbyBavo
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