The 2019 MXGP of Portugal at Agueda provided another round of stunning MXGP and MX2 racing, with Team HRC’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado finishing atop the standings.
MXGP Racing started with a holeshot from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, his 8th this season. Cairoli’s main competitor so far this year, Gajser, was in second through the first corner and immediately gave chase to the Sicilian.
The front runners were first followed by Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Arnaud Tonus, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer, and the other Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha of Gautier Paulin.
Paulin however fell out of the top 5 on the opening lap which left him to resume the race nearly dead last. His team-mate Tonus went from 4th to 3rd with a pass on fellow countryman Jeremy Seewer. The two Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team riders Clement Desalle and Julien Lieber held down 5thand 6th from the start with Lieber taking the lead role.
About three quarters of the way through the race Gajser’s continual pressure paid off when Cairoli stalled the engine out of corner and although he was able to get back going it was all Gajser needed to take over the lead. Cairoli latched right onto the Slovenian and during the final two laps made a push to pass but the sprinting speed of Gajser got the better of the Italian.
Behind Gajser and Cairoli at the finish was Tonus, Seewer, Lieber, Desalle, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass. Paulin rode at an incredible pace through the field moving in and out of the race line to come from last to 15th.
Race two started with a holeshot from Tonus for his first time this year, but Desalle took the lead and Cairoli slid into 2nd position by the first downhill. Gajser was in 5th behind Seewer but made it into 4th by the end of the first lap. Paulin was off to a much better start in 6th with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre adding to the YZ frenzy in 7th.
As Desalle led Cairoli it was Gajser making passes first on Tonus for third and then both Cairoli and Gajser got by Desalle in the same section. Cairoli was into the lead but within one lap a mistake saw him fall and drop to 5th. With Gajser in the lead Cairoli immediately retook 4th position then after 4 laps both Tonus and Cairoli passed Desalle.
With four laps to go, Cairoli passed Tonus to get into second but Gajser was already long gone taking an emphatic overall victory via double race wins for the second time this season. Cairoli took 2-2 for 2nd overall while Tonus reached the podium in his stunning ride and hard fought 3-3 finishes.
“Last weekend was tough, so I tried to forget it and just focus on this weekend,” said Gajser.
“I was feeling good yesterday and also today, the riding was good, and I had two good starts. It was great racing and I am really happy to win both races, hopefully we can carry that moment to the next round.”
MXGP Race 1 Top Ten:
- Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:00.609; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.197; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:17.885; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:27.240; 5. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:28.880; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:29.847; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:35.562; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:51.205; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:52.970; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:53.969.
MXGP Race 2 Top Ten:
- Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:47.988; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.604; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:12.909; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:15.819; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:18.856; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:20.225; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:22.115; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:24.630; 9. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:27.080; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:30.999.
MXGP Overall Top Ten:
- Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 33 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 29 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 28 p.; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 28 p.; 8. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 22 p.
MXGP ChampionshipTop Ten:
- Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 285 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 251 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 197 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 175 p.; 5. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 166 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 153 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 137 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 136 p.; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 122 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 120 p.
MX2 CLASS
MX2 racing was also full of action starting with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado taking again scoring the holeshot while behind him a second turn pile up held back several riders.
Yamaha SM Action MC Migliori’s Michele Cervellin was in second on the opening lap, but F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Henry Jacobi surged past along with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen a short time later.
The race then ended abruptly for Cervellin when he crashed in spectacular fashion during lap 7. Honda 114 Motorsport’s Mitch Evans took over the 4th position Cervellin crashed out of with the Honda Redmoto Assomotor machine of Mathys Boisrame getting into the top 5 as well. Evans then lost 4th to both Boisrame and Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Jago Geerts. Boisrame was shifted back 7 laps later when Geerts and Evans took 4th then 5th away.
Back at the front Olsen made a pass on Jacobi with 2 laps to go and as Jacobi pushed to reclaim the spot he instead fell and lost 4 positions on the last lap. Prado took the race win with Olsen 2nd ahead of Geerts, Evans, and Boisrame.
MX2 Race 2’s Fox Holeshot was taken by the wildcard EMX250 entry of Roan Van de Moosdijk from F&H Racing Kawasaki. Prado got the better of Van de Moosdijk into the second corner and took the lead. Van de Moosdijk dropped back to 4th while his teammate Jacobi moved to third.
Prado lost his lead to the Australian Mitch Evans before the end of the first official lap and held it for another four while Prado looked for an opportunity to pass. Cervellin returned to race after his crash earlier in the day and though banged up was in the top 5 as the race progressed.
Olsen made a mistake and had a back of the pack start but surprisingly didn’t crash after clipping another rider. By the 6th lap Olsen had worked up to 5th from 10th passing Cervellin and a handful of others in the process. With 5 laps remaining Jacobi made a pass on Evans to take over second and a lap later Olsen made one more pass to get into 4th past Van de Moosdijk.
All the while Prado continued to lead before taking the chequered flag for his 5th 1-1 result of 2019. Olsen finished 2nd overall but it was a bitter sweet moment as he also lost the championship lead to Prado. For the second time in his rookie MX2 season Evans reached the podium in 3rd position.
“This is the closest race to a home GP for me, we are very close to Spain and there are so many fans that came out and many were cheering for me, I really enjoy it,” said Prado.
“When I went onto the podium they went crazy so it is great to have a race like this and it was a great weekend. For me it was important to get the red plate because I feel more comfortable with it but it is tough to keep so I try to not make any mistake but in motocross you never know.”
MX2 Race 1 Top Ten:
- Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 35:07.339; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:03.304; 3. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:27.504; 4. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:28.329; 5. Mathys Boisrame (FRA, Honda), +0:34.618; 6. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), +0:35.418; 7. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:44.519; 8. Adam Sterry (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:45.789; 9. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:51.829; 10. Bas Vaessen (NED, KTM), +0:53.710.
MX2 Race 2 Top Ten:
- Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 35:47.966; 2. Henry Jacobi (GER, Kawasaki), +0:03.912; 3. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:05.411; 4. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:12.005; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Kawasaki), +0:23.210; 6. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +0:36.473; 7. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +0:41.227; 8. Darian Sanayei (USA, Kawasaki), +0:43.706; 9. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:45.287; 10. Davy Pootjes (NED, Husqvarna), +0:46.503.
MX2 Overall Top Ten:
- Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 50 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 40 p.; 3. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 38 p.; 4. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 36 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 24 p.; 6. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KAW), 23 p.; 7. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 23 p.; 8. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 22 p.; 9. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 20 p.; 10. Mitchell Harrison (USA, KAW), 18 p.
MX2 Championship Top Ten:
- Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 250 points; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 247 p.; 3. Henry Jacobi (GER, KAW), 193 p.; 4. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 170 p.; 5. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 164 p.; 6. Mitchell Evans (AUS, HON), 155 p.; 7. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 155 p.; 8. Davy Pootjes (NED, HUS), 128 p.; 9. Adam Sterry (GBR, KAW), 127 p.; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, HON), 122 p.
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