Motocross

Cairoli and Prado Draw First Blood at 2019 MXGP Opener

Posted:

Monday, March 4th, 2019

10:42 AM

After a DNF in the qualifying race, Antonio Cairoli ended with the perfect result going 1-1 in the MXGP season opener.

The first round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship season is in the books with Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado each taking double race wins to score the first respective MXGP and MX2 overall wins of the new year.

Saturday‰Ûªs Qualifying set the stage for today‰Ûªs Championship races where over 30,000 fans lined the beautiful Patagonian circuit in Argentina. Even with the venue nestled between two lakes and along the Andes mountains all eyes were on the epic racing.

Antonio Cairoli was the favorite for the first MXGP round but it wasn‰Ûªt an easy weekend by any means for the 9-time champion. Saturday‰Ûªs Qualifying races left the #222 on the far outside gate after not finishing due to a bike issue yesterday.

When the racing kicked off Cairoli‰Ûªs KTM was back better than ever, but Julien Lieber took the Fox Holeshot. The lead for Lieber was short lasted as Cairoli took over on the first official lap.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP‰Ûªs Romain Febvre, who came into the race as the qualifying race winner, was into second position by the end of the first lap leaving Lieber to fight for position with his Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Teammate Clement Desalle and Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser. The pair also dispatched the #33 pushing him to 5th.

During the next three laps Lieber dropped 2 more spots first to Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP‰Ûªs Gautier Paulin and next to fellow Belgian Jeremy Van Horebeek.

Gajser was the rider on the move in race one though as he passed Desalle for second then reeled in Febvre and took 2nd. With 5 laps remaining Cairoli was long gone in the lead but Gajser keep pushing to open a gap over Febvre.

Team HRC and Tim Gajser started off the 2019 MXGP world championships with a second overall at the picturesque Villa La Angostura track in Patagonia-Argentina.

The race win went to Cairoli in a dominating performance with Gajser, Febvre, Desalle, and Paulin rounding out the top 5. Arminas Jasikonis and Pauls Jonass battled throughout the late stages of the race after both made it by Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer. Jasikonis eventually came out ahead of Jonass as the pair finished 8th and 9th and Seewer took the final spot in the top ten.

MXGP Race 2 started with another Fox Holeshot from Lieber while Cairoli came out of the first turn around 5th avoiding a crash that involved Paulin, Desalle, and Seewer. Seewer was the first get going coming across the first lap in 15th while Desalle was 16th and Paulin 19th. Lieber lost the advantage earned by his holeshot when he fell on the opening lap as well getting back up in 18th.

Febvre took over the lead from Lieber with Gajser giving chase and Cairoli closing in to the fight for the lead. BOS Factory‰Ûªs Tommy Searle was in 4th but dropped a spot to Van Horebeek early in the race while Standing Construct KTM‰Ûªs Ivo Monticelli took 6th from RFX KTM Racing‰Ûªs Shaun Simpson.

Monticelli‰Ûªs Standing Construct KTM Teammate Max Anstie took 6th from the Italian on the 5th lap and then sized up fellow Brit Tommy Searle for 5th position. Meanwhile the battle for the lead turned into an all-out but short-lived brawl as Cairoli miraculously passed both Gajser and Febvre in the same section.

With Cairoli taking the spot from Febvre the Slovenian of Gajser found a way past the Frenchman as well. On the 14th lap of 18 Febvre crashed out of the race in the roller section giving Van Horebeek 3rd and moving Anstie and Searle into the top 5.

Desalle and Paulin worked forward together throughout the race after the first turn crash with Paulin taking 5th from Searle with 3 laps to go while Desalle made a pass on the #100 in the last lap.

Jeremy Van Horebeek rounded out the podium with third in the MXGP class

At the finish it was Cairoli who managed to hold of a consistently fast Gajser for the first MXGP overall victory of 2019 and his 16th consecutive season with a GP victory. Gajser‰Ûªs pair of second place finishes took him to the podium as well while Van Horebeek surprised many with his 6-3 race finishes to earn 3rd and his first podium since the 2017 season where he finished 3rd at MXGP of Europe in Valkenswaard and 2nd at this same venue prior.

‰ÛÏI am happy overall today because after yesterday I wasn't sure how I will do off the starts," Cairoli said. "The rhythm was high in the beginning but I was just trying to see where I could gain some time. I managed to have 2 good starts, both were in the top ten...I found some good lines and I had a good race taking the overall which makes me really happy. There are a lot of Argentinian fans who cheer for me all year on social media so it is nice to give them a win especially on this track which I have never had the chance to win at, I was close last year but it is always nice to race where people don't see us often and make them happy."

Tim Gajser was happy to start his season off with second, despite a bit of sorness following a crash.

‰ÛÏIt was good, I am really happy, yesterday I had a big crash and today I was a bit sore," Gajser explained. "In the first race I had a solid start inside the top ten and had to work hard to come through the pack but I finished 2nd which was good. In the second race I was a bit tight and didn't relax, then Febvre and Tony passed me. I tried to stay with them to see where I was loosing time then I passed Romain and with Tony we were about the same times, I tried to push but couldn't get closer. It was a nice race and I'm looking forward to the next round already."

Jeremy Van Horebeek rounded out the podium and was happy to just make the start gate. "It is still unbelievable, until two weeks ago I didn't know we would be here so it has been a crazy ride since last year. I am so thankful to this team for giving me the chance. I am thankful and I am going to keep on working to make this a great season," Van Horebeek said.

Defending Wolrd MX2 Champion Jorge Prado got his season off to a flying start with a double win

MX2 Championship racing was the first to start off the day and as early as the first turn the unexpected happened with Tom Vialle taking the Fox Holeshot in his first ever FIM Motocross World Championship race.

Vialle‰Ûªs lead quick went to the defending MX2 World Champion Jorge Prado but the young French rider held his own as the race progressed. Henry Jacobi took second during lap 2 and then worked to catch Prado.

Saturday‰Ûªs Qualifying winner, Thomas Kjer Olsen, spun off the gate and was fight his way forward from outside the top 5 in the early stages of the race. Between Vialle in 3rd and Olsen was Honda 114 Motorsport‰Ûªs Mitch Evans, Team HRC‰Ûªs Calvin Vlaanderen, and Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Jago Geerts.

However, in only 5 laps Olsen moved up 4 positions to just behind Jacobi who was in second. During this time Prado had done damage to anyone else‰Ûªs chance of winning by putting in 3 consecutive fastest laps of the race and growing a massive gap.

It took 3 laps for Olsen to make a pass on Jacobi stick as the Kawasaki rider didn‰Ûªt let the spot go easily. Prado‰Ûªs gap proved to be too big for Olsen to overcome and the Spaniard took the race win while Jacobi finished 3rd, Vlaanderen 4th, and MX2 rookie Mitch Evans took 5th.

Qualifying race winner Thomas Kjer Olsen finished second overall

Race 2 was another Red Bull KTM holeshot but this time it went to Jorge Prado with Evans running in 2nd and Olsen 3rd. Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Ben Watson was off to a good start as well, but a handful of mistakes dropped him from 4th to outside the top ten early.

Vlaanderen took over the 4th position vacated by Watson and Vialle moved to 5th while at the Prado again pulled a gap. Olsen was able to get by the #43 of Evans and closed slightly on Prado but still was several seconds behind.

F&H Racing‰Ûªs Adam Sterry and Henry Jacobi were making progress as Sterry took 5th from Vialle who then dropped another spot to Jacobi. Sterry stayed in 5th for nearly 5 laps but crashed just before the challenging wave section. The fall gave Jacobi 5th but dropped Sterry to 9th where he would finish.

At the finish line it was Jorge Prado who took the overall win and 50 points allowing him to retain the red plate earned last season. Olsen took second overall matching his 2018 result in Patagonia while Australia‰Ûªs Mitch Evans took 3rd overall in what his first ever MX2 race!

‰ÛÏIt was great to be back at the GPs, it is a long season but I have so much fun," Prado said. "Yesterday I had a good day but today I woke up and felt even better. I had 2 good starts which is very important because everyone is going fast and it is hard to make a difference. I am very happy with two firsts, for first overall, and points lead so it is a good start to the season."

Thomas Kjer Olsen walked away with second overall and will be a bog threat for the title this year.

‰ÛÏThe first race I did slide on the gate...I felt like a came through the pack pretty good but once I got to second Prado was already like 12 seconds ahead so I tried to save some energy for the second race," Olsen explained. "Again not the greatest of starts but we will go back and work on those for sure to be more consistent. Overall I feel my riding was good and I felt good on the bike so I'm happy about that and it is a great feeling at the start of the season."

Australin Mitch Evans was a revelation and was happy with his first GP.

‰ÛÏI couldn't be any happier, I didn't really know what to expect being my first GP," Evans said. "I enjoyed every moment of it, it was awesome being here, the fans were awesome so I really enjoyed it. I knew the work that we put in during the off season and the preseason races that we had if I got good starts I could run with these boys."

The second round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship will take place on European soil on March the 24th for the the MXGP of Great Britain, Matterley Basin

World Championship Rookie Mitch Evans was a revelation with the Australian finishing on the podium in his first ever appearance on the World stage.

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:41.270
2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:06.253
3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:09.838
4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:11.464
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:14.030
6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:32.226
7. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:39.435
8. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:49.752
9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:50.285
10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:59.164

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:56.475
2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:02.386
3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:37.829
4. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), +0:42.332
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.070
6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:47.509
7. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:49.602
8. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:58.810
9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:01.941
10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:03.513

MXGP Overall Top Ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points
2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 44 points
3. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 35 points
4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 33 points
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 32 points
6. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 26 points
7. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 22 points
8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 22 points
9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 21 points
10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 21 points

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:50.385
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:16.677
3. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:23.565
4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:25.535
5. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:27.289
6. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:29.198
7. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:37.127
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:39.496
9. Conrad Mewse (GBR, KTM), +0:41.631
10. Davy Pootjes (NED, Husqvarna), +0:52.057

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 33:48.208
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:04.825
3. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:12.437
4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:23.647
5. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:30.601
6. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:31.623
7. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:34.405
8. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:46.909
9. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:51.470
10. Davy Pootjes (NED, Husqvarna), +0:53.754

MX2 Overall Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points
2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 44 points
3. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 36 points
4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 36 points
5. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 36 points
6. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 29 points
7. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 27 points
8. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 25 points
9. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 25 points
10. Davy Pootjes (NED, HUS), 22 points