Gautier Paulin took the victory in the qualifying race for the MXGP of Latvia today with a clean sweep of all sessions, and teammate Evgeny Bobryshev made it two Hondas in the top three with an equally strong showing.

Dominant from the morning’s free practice, Paulin topped the timesheets throughout the day and, coming from fifth at the first corner, made swift progress to control the race from the front and cross the line for the victory.

Meanwhile Evgeny Bobryshev also put his CRF450RW in third for tomorrow’s two races. Despite a crash in the timed practice session this morning whilst running second fastest, the Russian continued his strong form into the afternoon with third place at his home race.

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Whilst rain hit the Kegums track today in intermittent downpours, the MXGP qualifying race remained dry. The forecast for tomorrow is much the same, so on the Latvian sand Team HRC are hoping for more of the same tomorrow when the first race gets underway at 2:15pm local time.

Gautier Paulin said: “We just had the perfect day today with first in every session. I’m feeling right on the bike and it’s feeling good. We prepared for the weekend pretty well with the team, so let’s see tomorrow but we are in good shape.

“I controlled the qualifying with Romain behind because I saw Waters and Antonio crash. I passed Romain one time but then in the crash of Antonio his bike hit me so I had to get out of the track and Romain passed me back, but then I pass him again and controlled the race until the end. I didn’t give everything because we need to keep some for tomorrow, but we couldn’t do better so I’m happy.”

“I’m happy with today because to finish third is good. I wanted to do better lap times but I couldn’t because I was too stiff on the bike though so I wasn’t flowing and couldn’t find the line,” Evgeny Bobryshev said. “I’m happy with everything else though, and with the track, and I’m fine from the crash tomorrow. I hurt my ankle a bit, but now it’s fine so now we look to tomorrow and making some small changes just to make me a bit easier on the bike.”

HRC General Manager – MXGP, Roger Harvey commented: “I’m really happy with the way today’s gone. Gautier is looking good and smooth on the bike, and seems as though he had nice control of the race. Bobby had a get-off this morning so was a little bit stiff and not as quite as smooth as he could be, but it’ll be easier tomorrow. We’ll make some very small setting changes tonight after debriefing with the riders to give them even better bikes for tomorrow.”

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 PAULIN Gautier 21 FRA Team HRC Honda 24:54.038
2 FEBVRE Romain 461 FRA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha +0.359
3 BOBRYSHEV Evgeny 777 RUS Team HRC Honda +26.663
4 SEARLE Tommy 100 GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM +27.892
5 COLDENHOFF Glenn 259 NDL Team Suzuki Europe Motocross Suzuki +28.298
6 STRIJBOS Kevin 22 BEL Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP Suzuki +30.087
7 VAN HOREBEEK Jeremy 89 BEL Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha +31.388
8 RATTRAY Tyla 28 RSA Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Kawasaki +38.978
9 SIMPSON Shaun 24 GBR Hitachi Construction Machinery Revo KTM KTM +40.011
10 BENGTSSON Filip 11 SWE 24MX Honda Racing Honda +46.458
11 PHILIPPAERTS David 19 ITA DP19 Racing Yamaha +53.930
12 WATSON Nathan 991 GBR Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing Husqvarna +54.541
13 BUTRON Jose 17 SPA Marchetti Racing Team KTM KTM +56.154
14 GUARNERI Davide 39 ITA TM Racing Factory Team TM +56.783
15 FROSSARD Steven 183 FRA Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Kawasaki +57.236
16 CHARLIER Christophe 23 FRA 24MX Honda Racing Honda +57.584
17 FERRIS Dean 111 AUS Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Husqvarna +1:17.741
18 CAIROLI Antonio 222 ITA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM +1:29.868
19 LEOK Tanel 40 EST Wildcard Rider Kawasaki +1:30.733
20 IVANOVS Davis 600 LAT Wildcard Rider Kawasaki 1:45.893