Antonio Cairoli Wins Ninth MXGP Title

Italian Red Bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli has been crowned the 2017 MXGP FIM World Motocross Champion at the penultimate round in The Netherlands this past weekend.

Thousands of Dutch motocross fans turned out to watch the MXGP world championship title chase between Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s teammates Antonio Cairoli, and their fellow countryman Jeffrey Herlings, and they weren’t disappointed.

Herlings is well known as the fastest sand rider in the world and he showed why by dominating both motos on the tricky Assen circuit, but it wasn’t enough to stop Cairoli from winning his ninth world championship as the experienced veteran holeshot the first race and eventually slotted into second behind Herlings and rode a smart race to secure the MXGP crown.  

Antonio Cairoli started his season to many as an underdog. Many questioned if he was on his way out, but his performances this season have been sensational.

From the first race of the championship in Qatar to his amazing comeback at the MXGP of Trentino Cairoli defines what a champion is, and after eight prior Motocross World Championships, this year may be the most impressive as he claimed it with three races still to go.

“We didn’t start as a favorite for sure this year. I know what I work for and I know what it takes to have a solid and consistent championship so we made it and I am really happy about this,” said Cairoli afterwards.

“It was an amazing season – I think one of my best. It is amazing that I can still improve after 14, now 15 years in the world championship, I really am proud of this. I just want to enjoy this title; we had a very good weekend especially today. I’m really happy because the championship is the most important thing for me. To take it here in Holland with all the fans it was very nice. The track was amazing, even with the rain it still worked out and it was very technical. The organisers did a really good job so nothing could be better.”

Race Highlights

MXGP Overall Top Ten: 

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points;
2. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 38 p.
3. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 38 p.
4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 37 p.
5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 33 p.
6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 30 p.
7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 26 p.
8. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 24 p.
9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 21 p.
10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 21 p.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 

1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 710 points
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 627 p
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 571 p
4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 544 p
5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 485 p
6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 479 p
7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 423 p
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 416 p
9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 398 p
10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 396 p.