First European MXGP is one for the ages
Picture by David Bulmer
The Dolomites in Italy is truly one of the most amazing parts of the world to hold a motocross race and made for the perfect stage for the MXGP round.
After four flyaways in a row, the 2017 Motocross World Championship kicked off within Europe with a bang as the gorgeous Trentino track in Northern Italy provided the backdrop to a truly amazing round of racing. With a huge contingent of traveling Slovenian supporters backing their hero Tim Gajser, joining the masses of Italians that obviously want the #222 KTM of Antonio Cairoli to win, the atmosphere was truly tremendous as the pair put on a show which will arguably go down in memory among the best races ever.
While the first moto was a largely processional affair on a monitor that is difficult to pass on, a small mistake by Gajser dropped him from second to third, as Cairoli went on to win the competition. This mistake would prove essential as it meant that all the Italian language had to do was come second within the second moto, while even a win wouldn’t necessarily be enough for the Slovenian. As they came across the holeshot range, Gajser edged out Cairoli, driving the KTM rider into a error that saw him fall away from his bike and outside the best 20. As they crossed the line for your first lap, Gajser was hanging around to victory while Cairoli had been down in 15th place. From then on though, the #222 put on the charge that saw him scythe through the pack, making passes on the same section of the track, lap right after lap after lap. With the a single lap board out, Cairoli was in third, needing to overtake Gajser’s teammate Evgeny Bobryshev (himself needing to remain third for third overall) to have the overall and once again on the left-hand corner after long uphill jump the Italian squeezed out the Russian to send all those in attendance into absolute delirium. The points gap now sits at 18 between the two but it is very much game-on between the current champ as well as the 8-time champion.
While not quite matching the particular MXGP excitement levels, there was still plenty of drama as MX2 boy or girl Jorge Prado Garcia took their first ever moto victory and general, holding off his teammate Pauls Jonass in the process. The pair changed 1-2 results but it was the 2nd moto win for Prado that will saw him win the tie-breaker and take the top step of the podium in emotional circumstances. Jonass had to settle for second but was very happy to regain the red plate as previous holder Jeremy Seewer fought in both his motos. The Swiss Suzuki rider had a horrible very first lap in the first moto and may only come through to ninth while in race two he was associated with a four man battle regarding third, eventually having to settle for fourth as he now sits nine factors off the lead.
The riders now head north to the Netherlands where the heavy sand of Valkenswaard awaits in what is proving to be season associated with racing so far.
Photo simply by David Bulmer
After winning the first moto, Antonio Cairoli produced an incredible comeback from a first corner drop, moving from outside the top 15 to finish second and claim the entire.
Photo by David Bulmer
Much to disappointment of the big traveling Slovenian supporters, Gajser's 3-1 performance wasn't quite good enough for the overall win.
Photo by David Bulmer
Arnaud Tonus gets to grips with the MXGP course after his podium performance at Trentino.
Photo by David Bulmer
One more place and Evgeny Bobryshev would have been on the podium… but he fell victim to Cairoli's charge on the very last lap.
Photo by David Bulmer
Gautier Paulin continues to improve on the Husqvarna, now sitting joint fourth in the MXGP championship.
Photo by David Bulmer
This particular part of the track has been taken over simply by Slovenian fans and they were happy that Gajser got the second moto win.
Photo by Jesse Bulmer
He may have lost the overall in order to his younger teammate, but Pauls Jonass left Trentino with the red-colored plate and that is the most important thing.
Photograph by David Bulmer
This was the first moto win and first overall for young Spaniard Jorge Prado Garcia.
Photo by David Bulmer
Privateer Julien Lieber made it a KTM 1-2-3 after his 3-5 moto results.
Photograph by David Bulmer
After his in Mexico at the last round, it was good to see Thomas Covington back it up with a fifth overall in a European GP.
Photo by David Bulmer
Another solid efficiency from Thomas Kjer Olsen, finishing just off the podium once again with 5-6 scores.
MXGP Overall:
1 . Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 47 points
2 . Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), forty five p.
3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 36 p.
4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 34 p.
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 33 p.
6. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 32 p.
7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 28 p.
8. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 25 g.
9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 22 p.
10. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, SUZ), nineteen p.
MXGP Points Standings:
1 . Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 201 points
second . Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 183 p.
3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 151 p.
4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 145 p.
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 145 p.
MX2 Overall:
one Jorge Prado Garcia (ESP, KTM), 47 points
2 . Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 47 p.
3. Julien Lieber (BEL, KTM), 36 p.
four. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 31 p.
5. Jones Covington (USA, HUS), 30 l.
6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 30 p.
7. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, KAW), 29 p.
8. Brent Van doninck (BEL, YAM), 21 p.
9. Brian Bogers (NED, KTM), 16 p.
ten. Conrad Mewse (GBR, HUS), 16 p.
MX2 Points Standings:
1 . Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 192 points
second . Jeremy Seewer (SUI, SUZ), 183 p.
3. Julien Lieber (BEL, KTM), 175 p.
4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 158 p.
5. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 147 p.