Italian defending MX1 world champion Antonio Cairoli qualified fastest in his class at the opening Grand Prix of the season at Valkenswaard, in the Netherlands, at the weekend and then backed that up by dominating the racing proper.

Back-to-back wins at this opening GP give Cairoli an early six-point advantage over Belgium’s Clement Desalle, who was runner-up in both motos.

France’s Steven Frossard was third best at Valkenswaard, third in both outings.

French Kawasaki ace Christophe Pourcel grabbed the holeshot in moto two, but eventually faded back to 9th.

Desalle and Frossard provided the fireworks in the early laps while Cairoli kept a close eye behind them.

On lap five, Cairoli made his move for the front, passing both Frossard and Desalle in quick succession to record his second race win, and the overall GP victory.

In the MX2 class, Dutchman Jeffery Herlings qualified fastest and then also scored back-to-back wins.

Belgium’s Joel Roelants was second overall and Britain’s Tommy Searle was third

Spain’s Jose Butron (17) took the holeshot in race two but immediately lost out to Searle, Roelants and Herlings. Searle led briefly, but could do nothing to prevent Herlings completing the pass to go and take a second race win and a third consecutive Dutch GP victory.

Grand Prix of Netherlands – Results

MX1 Moto one:

1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM); 2. Clement Desalle (Suz); 3. Steven Frossard (Yam); 4. Gautier Paulin (Kaw); 5. Ken De Dycker (KTM); 6. Kevin Strijbos (KTM); 7. David Philippaerts (Yam); 8. Xavier Boog (Kaw); 9. Tanel Leok (Suz); 10. Rui Goncalves (Hon); 11. Shaun Simpson (Yam); 12. Marcus Schiffer (Suz); 13. Davide Guarneri (KTM); 14. Matteo Bonini (KTM); 15. Matiss Karro (KTM)

MX1 moto two:

1. Antonio Cairoli (KTM); 2. Clement Desalle (Suz); 3. Steven Frossard (Yam); 4. Rui Goncalves (Hon); 5. Kevin Strijbos (KTM); 6. Ken De Dycker (KTM); 7. Gautier Paulin (Kaw); 8. Shaun Simpson (Yam); 9. Christophe Pourcel (Kaw); 10. Matiss Karro (KTM); 11. Marcus Schiffer (Suz); 12. Tanel Leok (Suz); 13. Evgeny Bobryshev (Hon); 14. Jonathan Barragan (Hon); 15. Xavier Boog (Kaw)

MX1 Overall:

1. Antonio Cairoli 50pts, 2. Clement Desalle 44pts, 3. Steven Frossard 40pts, 4. Gautier Paulin 32pts, 5. Kevin Strijbos 31pts, 6. Ken De Dycker 31pts, 7. Rui Goncalves 29pts, 8. Shaun Simpson 23pts, 9. Tanel Leok 22pts, 10. Xavier Boog 20pts

MX2 Moto one:

1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 2. Tommy Searle (Kaw); 3. Joel Roelants (Kaw); 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (KTM); 5. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 6. Jordi Tixier (KTM); 7. Alexander Tonkov (Hon); 8. Mel Pocock (Yam); 9. Valentin Teillet (Kaw); 10. Dylan Ferrandis (Kaw); 11. Max Anstie (Hon); 12. Nikolaj Larsen (Suz); 13. Alessandro Lupino (Husky); 14. Petar Petrov (Suz); 15. Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM)

MX2 Moto two:

1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM); 2. Joel Roelants (Kaw); 3. Tommy Searle (Kaw); 4. Max Anstie (Hon); 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (KTM); 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM); 7. Jordi Tixier (KTM); 8. Dylan Ferrandis (Kaw); 9. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 10. Valentin Teillet (Kaw); 11. Harri Kullas (Suz); 12. Mel Pocock (Yam); 13. Alessandro Lupino (Husky); 14. Alexander Tonkov (Hon) 15. Pascal Rachenecker (KTM)

MX2 Overall:

1. Jeffrey Herlings 50pts, 2. Joel Roelants 42pts, 3. Tommy Searle 42pts, 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek 34pts, 5. Jordi Tixier 29pts, 6. Jake Nicholls 28pts, 7. Max Anstie 26pts, 8. Dylan Ferrandis 24pts, 9. Valentin Teillet 23pts, 10. Mel Pocock 22pts