MXGP: Gajser dominates opener, Herlings fourth
In terms of spectacle value, the first MXGP round had little to offer - partly due to the lack of lines. Moreover, reigning MXGP world champion Tim Gajser (HRC Honda) was simply too strong for the competition. Herlings arrived 4th after a bad start. Brent Van Doninck finished 7th!
Although Jorge Prado claimed the holeshot, Tim Gajser did not delay. Almost immediately he took charge. Cairoli, Lupino and Febvre also made good progress, while Herlings and Coldenhoff had a poorer start outside the top 10.
After the initial lap things went wrong for Prado who made a slide and was knocked back from P2 to P22. Tim Gajser quickly opened up a gap and dominated the race from start to finish. The 24-year-old Slovenian secured his 62nd series victory. Veteran Cairoli completed a consistent heat but saw second place slip through his fingers due to a steering error. This way Febvre was able to take advantage while Herlings systematically fought his way forward. In the final phase, 'The Bullet' was able to take fourth place at the expense of 'hard pack' specialist Alessandro Lupino.
After a 15th fastest time in qualifying, Brent Van Doninck completed an excellent series. The Belgian Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha rider was 11th after the opening lap and finished 7th, less than two seconds behind Jeremy Seewer, the first factory Yamaha pilot. Glenn Coldenhoff was hampered by the starting crash in which Pauls Jonass and Arnaud Tonus were also involved.
The Hoff was able to return to P9 but ultimately lost a place to Prado. Calvin Vlaanderen started excellently - he was fifth after the first lap - but lost ground as the race progressed. Flanders finished 12th after Jeremy Van Horebeek who rode a nice first round for Beta. The Jerre started in the second half of the pack, but he proved that the Van Horebeek-Beta tandem is capable of top 10 and more.
Kevin Strijbos had a bad start but still managed to score 5 points. The second MXGP round starts at 15:10 PM.
MXGP Orlyonok race 1
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:19.814; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:16.794; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:21.233; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:36.489; 5. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), +0:42.311; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:45.570; 7. Brent Vandoninck (BEL, Yamaha), +0:47.261; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:48.176; 9. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +1:03.128; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +1:05.863; 11. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Beta), +1:06.899; 12. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:08.418; 13. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:11.882; 14. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), +1:13.862; 15. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:15.127; 16. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), +1:15.707; 17. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:26.556; 18. Nathan Watson (GBR, Honda), +1:37.926; 19. Lawrence Locurcio (VEN, KTM), +1:40.232; 20. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:45.098; 21. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Miro Sihvonen (FIN, Honda), -1 lap(s); 23. Vsevolod Brylyakov (MFR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Svyatoslav Pronenko (MFR, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 25. Georgi Valiakin (MFR, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 26. Alexander Shershnev (MFR, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 27. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Kawasaki), -7 lap(s); 28. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GRASS), -13 lap(s); 29. Henry Jacobi (GER, Honda), -15 lap(s);
Photos: MXGP
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