FIM: Prado easily takes pole in Arco.
He was already close in Valkenswaard, but it will happen tomorrow. Jorge Prado-Garcia starts from pole position for the first time this season. The KTM rider won qualifying at the Arco di Trento circuit ahead of Husqvarna-JM Racing riders Thomas Kjer Olsen and Thomas Covington. With tenth place, Davy Pootjes becomes the best Laaglander, ahead of Jago Geerts (13th), Bas Vaessen (16th) and Brent Vandoninck (18th). Pauls Jonass will not sleep very well tonight, he will not get further than fifteenth place.
When the starting gate goes down, Prado-Garcia sprints fastest to the first corner. The Spaniard takes the lead ahead of Kjer Olsen, Covington, Conrad Mewse and his compatriot Ben Watson. The 'Redplate' has not had a good start and he starts in 23rd place in this qualifying race over 20 minutes and two laps. In the first lap, Mewse manages to get past former teammate Covington and Watson loses fifth place to Henry Jacobi. At the front, Prado takes distance and controls this race to build a maximum lead of fifteen seconds. Second place goes to former EMX250 champion Kjer Olsen and American Covington comes third. To get this third place, Covington has to compete strongly with Mewse, who manages to hold on to third place for more than ten minutes. A small mistake by the Team KTM UK rider allows Covington to take over third place. Then Watson pushes Mewse and the KEMEA Racing rider is stronger. He finishes fourth after even becoming dangerous for Covington. Mewse finished fifth ahead of the strong riding Jacobi! Also satisfied faces at F&H Racing because Adam Sterry is seventh, followed by his Spanish teammate Ruben Fernández-Garcia. Jonass is clearly having a hard time because overtaking on this circuit is also a tough job for the reigning world champion. The Latvian is fifteenth and will therefore have to work hard tomorrow.
Both MX2 rounds will be broadcast entirely LIVE on MotorsportTV at 13 p.m. and 16 p.m. This weekend on Eurosport2 there will also be a focus on the MX2, the first round will be broadcast at 15 p.m. followed by the second round LIVE at 16 p.m. Both MXGP competitions can be followed via the NOS Studio Sport website, Playsport Telenet customers can watch the MXGP via TV.
MX2 Qualifying GP Italy:
1 Jorge Prado-Garcia E KTM
2 Thomas Kjer Olsen DK Husqvarna
3 Thomas Covington USA Husqvarna
4 Ben Watson GB Yamaha
5 Conrad Mewse GB KTM
6 Henry Jacobi D Husqvarna
7 Adam Sterry GB Kawasaki
8 Ruben Fernández-Garcia E Kawasaki
9 Michele Cervellin I Honda
10 Davy Paws NL KTM
11 Vsevold Brylyakov Russian Yamaha
12 Samuele Bernardini I TM
13 Trade Geerts B Yamaha
14 Jed Beaton Aus Kawasaki
15 Paul Jonas Let KTM
16 Bas Vaessen NL Honda
17 David Herbreteau F KTM
18 Brent Vandoninck B Husqvarna
19 Calvin Flanders ZA Honda
20 Maxime Renaux F Yamaha
33 Micha Boy de Waal NL Honda
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: Husqvarna
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