If Team HRC’s Tim Gajser was suffering from a flu virus, he didn’t let it show as he started the defence of his FIM Motocross World Championship title in Qatar with a win in the MXGP Qualifying Race at the Losail circuit.
While in MX2 Red Bull KTM’s Pauls Jonass looks to be back to his best as he sits on pole for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.
MXGP
Speaking of being back to his best, Red Bull KTM’s Tony Cairoli continues to look more like his old self with a solid day’s work in the desert – topping both Free Practice and Timed Practice before taking second place in Qualifying.
Cairoli’s teammate, Jeffrey Herlings, is clearly trying to make the best of his injury situation. He could only finish 12th in Timed Practice and then 16th in Qualifying. Not what we have come to expect from the Sand King. Hopefully, we’ll hear later how the Dutchman is feeling and what he expects tomorrow.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Gautier Paulin has previously done well in Qatar and appears to be feeling good on the track this year with a third place.
Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev finished fourth with Monster Energy Factory Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek continuing to look good for ’17 with a fifth place.
Rockstar Energy IceOne Husqvarna’s Max Anstie impressed, taking 4th and 6th respectively in the Free and then Timed Practice, before taking the Qualifying chequers in eighth place. Very Solid!
Fellow Brits Shaun Simpson and Jake Nicholls finished 17th and 21st respectively.
MX2
Pauls Jonass has clearly recovered from his injury concerns ahead of the opening MX2 race tomorrow with a Qualifying win today at Losail. Can he repeat it tomorrow? He’s Dirt Bike Rider’s pick for the MX2 crown so we could have ended his hopes right there. Let’s hope not.
MX2 dark horse, Benoit Paturel (Kemea Yamaha Yamalube) is looking good for this year as he builds on 2016 and his pre-season, as the Frenchman came home in second place in the Qualifying Race after impressing in Timed Practice.
Team Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer, now a veteran in the MX2 class, knows well just how long a season is and shouldn’t be concerned about missing out on pole with his third place finish today. But he will need to step it up at some point if he wants a shot at the title this year.
Young gun Jorge Prado is certainly a champion in the making if the Red Bull KTM pilot keeps up his development. Fourth place for the Spaniard today shows he really was on the pace when he won the Italian International MX2 championship during pre-season.
Qualifying in fifth, Hunter Lawrence steadily improved as the day went on and the Aussie appears to be settling in quickly to GP life. It’ll be interesting to see how he goes tomorrow.
It wasn’t a good day for Brits Ben Watson, Adam Sterry and Conrad Mewse. They took the Quali chequers in 18th, 19th and 23rd respectively. Conrad later apologised to the team on Instagram. “Disaster of a day, he said, “not gonna make any excuses, tomorrow will be better. Sorry for the letdown today.”
