Herlings dominates opener, Gajser under pressure!
Due to the absence of Tony Cairoli, who hurt himself this morning and World Cup leader Tim Gajser, who is injured, Herlings has an excellent opportunity to take the lead today. In any case, in the first heat 'the Bullet' did exactly what was necessary. The Red Bull KTM rider demonstrated in the heavy sand of Riola Sardo and won by 42 (!) seconds ahead of Jorge Prado.
As well as the first heat started for Herlings, it went so badly for Gajser. Jeffrey took the holeshot, 'Tiga crashed in the first corner.' Then Herlings struck hard. He led every lap and built an impressive lead. Behind him, Prado took the lead early on from fast starter Ben Watson. The British Yamaha rider would eventually finish seventh.
Although Jeremy Seewer also started well, Calvin Vlaanderen (Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha) emerged as the best Yamaha man. The South African Dutchman had to bow his head to Romain Febvre in the final phase. With P4, Flanders achieved its best MXGP result ever. Brian Bogers also finished very strongly in fifth. The GasGas factory driver started in the sub-top and remained very consistent. Glenn Coldenhoff never got into his rhythm and had to settle for 10th place in heat one.
It cost him blood, sweat and tears, but Gajser ultimately won two more World Cup points. However, in the last meters of the race he had to watch passively as title rival Herlings rounded him up!
MXGP Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:22.630; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:42.419; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:53.010; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:55.993; 5. Brian Bogers (NED, GASGAS), +1:02.253; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:05.689; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:06.273; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, House), +1:10.065; 9. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +1:12.978; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +1:18.017; 11. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Honda), +1:32.979; 12. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:38.749; 13. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GASGAS), +1:41.125; 14. Henry Jacobi (GER, Honda), +1:46.011; 15. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), +1:48.635; 16. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:54.000; 17. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), +1:59.211; 18. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 19. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 21. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 23. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, Honda), -2 lap(s); 24. Michael Ivanov (BUL, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 25. Alberto Forato (STONE, SCRATCHES), -5 lap(s); 26. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Beta), -6 lap(s); 27. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), -10 lap(s);
Before the second round in Riola Sardo, the MXGP World Championship standings look like this:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 357 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 347 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 346 p.; 4. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 337 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 326 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 264 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GAS), 239 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 223 p.; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), 182 p.; 10. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 157 p.
Photos: Ray Archer
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