Motocross

Febvre and Prado top qualifying at the MXGP of Asia

Posted:

Saturday, July 13th, 2019

11:57 PM

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory rider Roman Febvre was satisfied after claiming pole position for tomorrow's MXGP of Asia.

The 12th round of the FIM Motocross World Championship kicked off today in Semarang, Indonesia, for the second year in a row with Romain Febvre and Jorge Prado taking the pole positions in MXGP and MX2 respectively.

At the start of the MXGP qualifying race it was Glenn Coldenhoff who led from Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP‰Ûªs Romain Febvre, Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser, Arminas Jasikonis and Pauls Jonass.

Gajser moved into second place as he went past Febvre and around the same time Ivo Monticelli and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP‰Ûªs Arnaud Tonus moved into the top ten, with Team HRC‰Ûªs Brian Bogers and Max Anstie dropping out of the top ten.

Coldenhoff was looking very confident up front, although Gajser slowly started closing in. Two laps in and Gajser was all over Coldenhoff, while Febvre was three seconds back in third place. Gajser made a small mistake in a corner and Febvre was back in second place.

Coldenhoff continued to lead from Febvre and Gajser and after seven laps it was just a second between the Dutchman and the Frenchman for the lead. Febvre eventually passed Coldenhoff three laps to go.

Glenn Coldenhoff finished second in MXGP.

Febvre went on to win his is third MXGP qualifying race while Coldenhoff finished second after leading for much of the race and Gajser came home third after a small mistake.

‰ÛÏI had a good start in first place, and then coming into the first corner I slowed down and Coldenhoff moved around me," Febvre said. "I am satisfied about my riding, I feel good and it wasn‰Ûªt so hot today. I was second and then Gajser passed me after I made a mistake and I got him back when he made a mistake. I felt I could push today, and I made it happen. First pick of gate tomorrow, so I am happy. The track has been slightly changed, I like it, the layout is nice‰Û

MXGP championship leader Tim Gajser admitted to a few mistakes that saw him finish in third.

Championship leader Jorge Prado led into the first lap of the MX2 qualifying race ahead of Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Jago Geerts, Honda Redmoto Assomotor‰Ûªs Mathys Boisrame, Tom Vialle, F&H Racing Kawasaki Henry Jacobi, and Thomas Kjer Olsen who dropped a few places while there was movement up front as Team HRC‰Ûªs Calvin Vlaanderen moved into eight place and Team SM Action Yamaha's Maxime Renaux moved into fourth place.

After two laps the lead was less than a second, and Geerts was again putting pressure on Prado as the hard-packed red dirt of the Semarang circuit made conditions challenging for the riders.

Jorge Prado went on to win his 8th MX2 qualification race with a flag to flag victory.

Olsen moved into fourth place when he passed Renaux and Jacobi and Vlaanderen were swapping paint in seventh and eighth. Soon after Vlaanderen passed Renaux and Boisrame for sixth position.

Prado extended his lead to more than three seconds on lap eight, and then came Geerts, Vialle, Olsen and Renaux. Australian Jed Beaton was riding well to move into the top ten.

Yamaha's Jago Geerts finished second in the MX2 qualifying race.

Prado went on to win his 8th MX2 qualification race with a flag to flag victory on a warm day. Second was Geerts and third Vialle.

"It was a very good race and I felt comfortable and we will see how it goes tomorrow," Prado said. "The day started well for me. I had a good feeling all day long. I enjoyed the track even if it was a bit rough in the start. The start was actually the key and I led all the way. I was riding very careful today. It was hot, but not like last weekend, also, last weekend the racing was okay, but I feel better on this track, it is fun to ride."

Jed Beaton finished in ninth place while compatriot Mitch Evans will sit out the round to recover from various injuries.

Tom Vialle

MXGP - Qualifying Race Top Ten:
1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), 24:18.499
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:09.065
3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:13.481
4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:24.292
5. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:24.996
6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:27.802
7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:30.058
8. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +0:32.506
9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:41.268
10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:57.190

MX2 - Qualifying Race Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 24:36.734
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:06.473
3. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:08.100
4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:09.922
5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:12.077
6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Honda), +0:14.141
7. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:25.333
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:33.091
9. Jed Beaton (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:40.857
10. Zachary Pichon (FRA, Honda), +0:45.432