The MXGP of Portugal has already provided amazing action on track with Antonio Cairoli and Thomas Kjer Olsen taking their respective MXGP and MX2 pole positions.
The MXGP superstars were led by Team HRC‰Ûªs
Tim Gajser on the sighting lap and onto the starting line of Qualifying after posting the fast lap time in practice. Gajser continued his leading role as MXGP Qualifying began with Italian
Antonio Cairoli just a few bike lengths further back.
Cairoli‰Ûªs friend and fellow Italian
Alessandro Lupino from was off to a flying start in third chased by Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP‰Ûªs
Romain Febvre and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP‰Ûªs
Gautier Paulin along with another Italian,
Ivo Monticelli.
Febvre was the first to make a mistake in what is his first race back since injury. The Frenchman fell dropping to 10th before completing the first full lap.
Clement Desalle made a charge up the inside of Monticelli to take 5th. Desalle‰Ûªs teammate,
Julien Lieber reenacted the pass on Monticelli shortly after putting the pair of green machines 5th and 6th.
Monticelli lost traction and fell the same lap putting him in 19th and he continued to lose positions as the race went on. On lap 7 Desalle made a pass on Paulin for 4th and one lap later Cairoli shot past Gajser to take the lead. A quick attempt to retaliate from Gajser failed, while he instead latched on to the pace of Cairoli he was unable to get close enough for pass attempt.
