Motocross

Tim Gasjer and Jorge Prado produce a perfect day at 2019 MXGP of Trentino

Posted:

Monday, April 8th, 2019

9:37 AM

With many Slovenian fans flocking to Italy Tim Gajser was a popular winner in MXGP. Photo: Bavo.

The 2019 MXGP of Trentino, Italy, provided some of the closes racing of the 2019 season thus far with Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser taking the victory in MXGP and young Spaniard Jorge Prado in MX2.

Trentino hosts perhaps the most tranquil and serene circuit in the world, but today‰Ûªs action was filled with intensity, vibrant emotions, and all out battles. The venue set along Italy‰Ûªs snowcapped dolomites filled with tens of thousands of fans all cheering with enthusiasm for what are the best motocross racers in the world.

It is hard to know where to begin when speaking of today‰Ûªs racing or to articulate the truly amazing atmosphere created in Trentino today. Even prior to the first laps of the morning Warm Up session fans where on site with air horns, chainsaws, flags, and colored smoke.

As the first sessions hit the track and the stars of MXGP took to Trentino the crowd came to life. The majority of the fans cheering were for Italian motocross hero and Antonio Cairoli but, in similar fashion to rivals playing a football match, Cairoli‰Ûªs main competitor, Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser, had his own fans who made the trip from neighboring Slovenia cheering just as passionately.

When MXGP Race 1 got underway Cairoli took the Fox Holeshot and lead but Gajser was in around 5th. Cairoli‰Ûªs fellow Italians, Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki‰Ûªs Alessandro Lupino, and Standing Construct‰Ûªs Ivo Monticelli were 2nd and 3rd ahead of Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP‰Ûªs Gautier Paulin.

Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser who took the overall victory in the MXGP class ‰ÛÒ battling all the way with an on-form Tony Cairoli. Tim‰Ûªs ecstatic army of devoted fans filled the valley with yellow smoke and screams as their Slovenia hero topped the podium once more. Photo: Youthstream

Gajser was quick to make moves taking 4th from Paulin in turn 3 then he took 3rdfrom Monticelli in the next turn before getting past Lupino for second in the first half of the opening lap. Gajser‰Ûªs high tempo put him just behind Cairoli where he latched on and eyed the lines of the Sicilian.

Monticelli meanwhile took 3rd from Lupino who dropped another spot to Paulin not along after. Paulin then worked his way past Monticelli to get into 3rd but Cairoli and Gajser were already long gone. Cairoli held the gap to Gajser at about 2 seconds for multiple laps but Gajser closed in as the laps ticked away and dropped the gap to within 1 second to apply pressure to the 9-time world champion.

On the 16th lap of 19 a bobble from Cairoli was all that Gajser need to take the lead away right in front of the Slovenian fans who cheered at the top of their lungs. Cairoli tried to retaliate quickly but a confident scrub and look from Gajser kept the Sicilian at bay. In the remaining three laps Cairoli continued to push to get Gajser back but it didn‰Ûªt work and the Slovenian crossed the line only 1.081 seconds ahead much to the pleasure of not only himself but, also the corner lined with his fans! Paulin took 3rd another 53 seconds further back of the leaders with Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP Teammate Arnaud Tonus 4th and Monticelli 5th.

Tim Gasjer took his first win of the season going 1-1 in a close battle with local hero Tony Cairoli. Photo: Bavo

Race 2 was off to a good start for Gajser taking his first Fox Holeshot of the year. Cairoli was close in 2ndwith the two Wilvo bikes of Paulin and Tonus again 3rdand 4th. BOS Factory‰Ûªs Tommy Searle was in 5tha short moment before losing spots to the two Standing Construct KTM riders of Max Anstie, who didn‰Ûªt finish race 1 and Ivo Monticelli.

All eyes were on the two at the front with Gajser creating a slight gap only to be taken back away by Cairoli. On the ninth lap a miscue from Gajser saw the #222 of Cairoli go past along Pit Lane and across the finish line. With the Italian crowd on their feet Cairoli tried to pull away from the Slovenian but Gajser wasn‰Ûªt having any of it as he took the lead back 5 laps later in the same spot which he had lost the position earlier.

Cairoli (222) and Gasjer (243) both took a holeshot in each moto. Photo: Ray Archer

With 2 laps to go Cairoli returned the favor again in front of pitlane to the Italian fans roar and the teams nervous yet enthusiastic looks. Two mistakes from Cairoli would however decide the race as the pair pushed the limits of both each other and their factory race machines. Cairoli‰Ûªs first mistake took him out of the preferred line and the next only a few meters later resulted in him losing the bike and lead.

Cairoli got back up but Gajser was in the clear leading the final two laps to the win, his first since Leon, Mexico in 2017. Gajser‰Ûªs emotion excitement and pure joy were unmistakable as he dropped his bike and ran thank the Slovenian fans lining the fences for the support. Cairoli finished 24 seconds later and congratulated Gajser as the headed to the podium joined by Paulin in third.

The amazing racing and perfect weekend capped off by winning at Trentino for only the second time in his career, the first was actually his first ever MX2 win back in 2015, left both Gajser and Team HRC ecstatic.

"It is just unbelievable and it is my first win in more than a year," Gajser said. "To be here in Arco is always special, to race in front of so many people, so many fans. Today we had two great races with Tony battling, we were both pushing. I'm just so happy and thankful that we won that overall. The fans, they just push you on because every lap you can hear them cheering for you, it's just an unbelievable feeling here."

Monster Energy Yamaha's Gautier Paulin rounded out the MXGP podium. Photo: Youthstream.

Antonio Cairoli was gracious in defeat.

"The level was very, very high, we were on the limit every lap, pushing and pushing. I did my best lap time in the race faster than the time practice even with the track rougher, so it's not often that you have this. I was trying to win the GP but Tim was better this time and he won so congratulations to him."

Gautier Paulin was back on the podium and glad to be there, "It's always great to be on the podium, I'm actually happy about the riding and being on the box at the end of the day, but definitely, Tim and Antonio were faster today," Paulin said.

"So, we need to improve, we need to step up to the challenge and ride with them, be in that fight because as a racer when you fight for a win like that is unbelievable, it's nice, it's fun. The crowd was awesome here in Italy, the fans were crazy and I wasn't in the battle but I was hearing the crowd from everywhere, actually every corner, so it was kind of special but congrats to these guys today!‰Û

Spaniard Jorge Prado grabs the holeshot where he was untouchable, leading every lap where he celebrated his very first GP victory in 2017 and where he was also successful twelve months ago. Photo: Youthstream.

Even though the MXGP class hosted many of the fan favorites the atmosphere for the MX2 races was just as electric. MX2 racing started off with defending champion Jorge Prado taking his 4th Fox Holeshot of the year and leading BIKE IT DRT Kawasaki‰Ûªs Darian Sanayei.

Prado‰Ûªs rookie Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Teammate Tom Vialle was 3rd followed by Marchetti Racing‰Ûªs Iker Larranaga and Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Jago Geerts.

Championship leader Thomas Kjer Olsen was in 5th position before he fell on the first laps then and had work his way back into the lead group. Sanayei faded quickly as he continues his battle with Epstein Barr virus.

Yamaha's Jago Geerts took a pair of seconds to claim the same position overall in MX2. Photo: Youthstream

Geerts and F&H Racing‰Ûªs Henry Jacobi got past Larranaga in the first half of the race and the Spaniard continued to lose spots as the action went on including one to Olsen who then took back the 5th position he fell out of earlier from Honda 114 Motorsports‰Ûª Mitch Evans.

Prado was long gone in the lead and took the race win by over 12 seconds while Geerts made a last lap pass into second for the second weekend in a row. Vialle came across the checkers in 3rdfollowed by Jacobi, Olsen, and Evans.

MX2 Race 2 was off to another picture-perfect Prado performance with the Fox Holeshot, now his 5th of 2019, and 19 laps in the lead. The racing behind Prado was intense though after a first turn pileup.

Vialle again was 2nd at the start of the race and had Jacobi along with BUD Racing Kawasaki‰Ûªs Brian Moreau right in tow. Geerts was in 6th at the beginning but passed Olsen and got into 4th a few laps in.

Tom Vialle‰Ûªs 3-6 on his first taste of the Trentino fixture was good enough for the rookie‰Ûªs second podium walk this season. Photo: Youthstream

Henry Jacobi made a mistake and dropped from 3rd to 6th which put Geerts in the position to pass Vialle we he did at the halfway point. Olsen also made it by the young Frenchman to get into 3rd. Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2‰Ûªs Ben Watson got into 4th then put a last lap pass on Olsen to finish 3rd.

Prado‰Ûªs domination was impressive taking the Qualifying win yesterday, the two race wins today and the overall, all by substantial margin. Geerts‰Ûª 2-2 put him on the podium for the second round in a row while Vialle‰Ûªs 3-6 took the final podium position, his second this season as well.

Mitch Evans was the leading Australian finishing 8th overall with a 6-7 result while Jed Beaton finished 12 with a 12-13 scorecard.

"I love racing here, the fans are just crazy," Prado said. "When you're on the bike riding just the atmosphere makes you feel comfortable, this is what we like to see. We love to see this atmosphere at the track and when people are cheering during a Grand Prix like this, it is always very nice."

Jago Geerts was happy with his work load for the round, "It was a really good weekend for me, I had top five starts so that was a really positive and the riding was good, I felt good on track all weekend and ended up second overall. I'm really up with the results...I've been working hard at getting better on hard pack tracks." Geerts said.

The next round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place on May the 12th in Mantova for the MXGP of Lombardia

Mitch Evans was the highest placed Australian finishing the round in 7h place. Photo: Bavo

MXGP Results - 2019 MXGP of Trentino

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:13.822
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.081
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:53.919
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:00.314
5. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:03.786
6. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +1:05.635
7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:06.887
8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:07.631
9. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +1:13.322
10. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +1:20.698

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:11.454
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:24.305
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:53.333
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:57.384
5. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:58.712
6. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:18.314
7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +1:18.657
8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:25.075
9. Brian Bogers (NED, Honda), +1:31.843
10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +1:36.522

MXGP Overall Top Ten:
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 points
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 40 points
4. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 36 points
5. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 31 points
6. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 28 points
7. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 26 points
8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 24 points
9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 21 points
10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 20 points

MXGP Championship Top Ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 191 points
2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 175 points
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 142 points
4. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 120 points
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 113 points
6. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 112 points
7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 98 points
8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 88 points
9. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 79 points
10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 71 points

MX2 Results - 2019 MXGP of Trentino

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 35:17.013
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:12.125
3. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:14.130
4. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:31.658
5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:33.302
6. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:38.284
7. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:39.054
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:44.903
9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +0:47.005
10. Bas Vaessen (NED, KTM), +0:50.563

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 34:49.733
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:02.862
3. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:06.293
4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:09.387
5. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:19.496
6. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:21.773
7. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:33.318
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:37.485
9. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +0:38.333
10. Davy Pootjes (NED, Husqvarna), +0:47.400

MX2 Overall Top Ten:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points
2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 44 points
3. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 35 points
4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 34 points
5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 34 points
6. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 34 points
7. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 29 points
8. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 26 points
9. Bas Vaessen (NED, KTM), 21 points
10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 21 points

MX2 Championship Top Ten:
1. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 170 points
2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 150 points
3. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 147 points
4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 129 points
5. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 125 points
6. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 121 points
7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 107 points
8. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 89 points
9. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 89 points
10. Davy Pootjes (NED, HUS), 76 points