In the best MX2 racing of the season, so far, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Thomas Kjer Olsen won Saturday’s MX2 Qualifying race at the MXGP of Portugal at the Agueda.

Red Bull KTM’s Jorge Prado made a good start while at the back, Ben Watson was left on the deck and would have to work hard to climb back into the top 20.

F&H Kawasaki’s Henri Jacobi was climbing all over Prado’s 250 SX-F and before the end of the first lap Jacobi would have the lead.

Advertisement

Thomas Kjer Olsen, Darian Sanayei and Mitch Evans were behind the leading pair with only the red plate holder, Olsen, looking like he had the speed to stay with Jacobi and Prado.

Related: MXGP of Portugal results 2019

Don’t miss: Cairoli and Gajser battle for pole in Portugal – report

Sanayei started to drop back and would finish ninth while Evans held onto fourth.

Jacobi gapped Prado over the next few laps before Prado started to reel the German back in.

On lap five Prado had caught Jacobi and while the pair fought over the pole position place, Olsen just breezed between the pair in an epic pass for the lead ā€“ in the space of one lap the lead had changed hands three times but it would be Olsen who would gap the pair to take the win by over four seconds.

Behind Olsen, Prado and Jacobi continued to battle hard over second place, almost as if the two of them had forgotten points weren’t on the line. Prado came close on several occasions but Jacobi was determined not to yield to the young Spaniard.

We should be in for more close racing tomorrow when points are on the table.

[more-from heading=”Also In MXGP” category=”mxgp”]