Rookie Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser takes double wins
Losail (Qatar), 27 Feb 2016 – Finding traction was the theme, both on the track and in the championship, for the fastest motocross riders in the world as they took to the tricky, square-edged track in Losail, Qatar for the opening round of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship, where Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings doubled up to claim the first Red Plates of the season.
It was a dream start to the season for the 2015 MX2 World Champion who instead of staying back in the MX2 class to defend his title, decided to take the plunge and race the premier class, MXGP. While many were wary of the young Honda Gariboldi riders decision, he soon silenced doubters with his exceptional performance which saw him take a double race victory to win the opening round of the 2016 MXGP World Championship on his debut appearance. Tim Gajser, at the tender age of nineteen, also put his name in the history books as the youngest rider ever to win in the premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship on his debut.
The Slovenian rookie sensation said, “I was really relaxed coming here, I didn’t have pressure on myself. I didn’t know what to expect, I knew I had a good winter, good preparation, good testing and good with the team, so I came here just wanting to give my best.”
Meanwhile last year’s rookie sensation, the defending MXGP World Champion Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre was running a fierce pace in both races. The Frenchman admitted his elbow was giving him a little bit of grief, “The first moto with my injury to the elbow I couldn’t ride like I expected, I was just too tight.” Nevertheless he put together two top three finishes to tie for second overall, “I was not happy with the riding” he said, “but I’m happy with the place. I made a mistake in the second race but I came back strong for second. I knew Tim was really good, I saw him riding a few times in the winter, I saw him riding with the 450 so I knew he would be good. Anyway we have 17 rounds to go.”
Yesterday’s top qualifier Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev took home the same amount of points as Febvre, but was pushed down to the third step of the podium due to Febvre’s second place in the final race. Bobby also finished both races inside the top three which made for a solid start to his 2016 MXGP campaign as he rounded off the podium in third.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek rode some solid laps this weekend for fourth, which is one place better than he finished last year.
Making up the top five, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli is armed with titles and speed but has never won here in Qatar. The Italian who is already a legend in the FIM Motocross World Championship with his eight world titles, was forced to face the same truth once again as he nursed a few injuries home to fifth.
MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 33:56.516; 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:07.507; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.644; 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:23.148; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:27.015; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:29.383; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:30.886; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:32.227; 9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:33.672; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:35.336.
MXGP Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:07.633; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:08.230; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:09.952; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.628; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:11.960; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:14.601; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:19.057; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:20.221; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:41.741; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:42.891.
MXGP Overall: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 42 p.; 4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 33 p.; 6. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 25 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 25 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 24 p.
MXGP Manufacturer: 1. Honda, 50 points; 2. Yamaha, 42 p.; 3. KTM, 34 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 25 p.; 5. Suzuki, 25 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 24 p
NEXT ROUND-The next round of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship will take place on the weekend of March 6th in Suphan Buri, Thailand.
