🎥MXGP: Rnd 3 Highlights - Netherlands

The Netherlands was the perfect setting for the days racing, with challenging race conditions and better than expected weather added to by an enthusiastic crowd. As the day progressed the dark Dutch sand shifted lap after lap creating the ultimate test for even the world’s best MXGP and MX2 riders, while also providing at times chaotic but mostly action-packed racing.

Race 1

The first home for many riders and second home to most others, the Netherlands always brings an exciting day of racing. Today was no exception, rather the example, as riders swapped positions on number of occasions and battles were fought around the circuit. As Race 1 started Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli scored the Fox Holeshot but by the end of the first lap, it was Standing Construct KTM’s Max Anstie in the lead! Running the pace early Anstie’s pass on Cairoli was textbook. Team HRC’s Tim Gajser was third with Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Gautier Paulin and Standing Construct KTM’s Italian rider Ivo Monticelli. Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle was back in 8th after the first official lap but passed his Monster Energy KRT teammate Julien Lieber one lap later. Continue his way forward the Belgian made it by Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer before catching Monticelli.

On the fifth lap, a mistake sent Gajser flying and out of 3rd promoting Paulin to the spot. Three laps after the mistake from Gajser, who rejoined the race in 12th behind HRC teammate Brian Bogers, Anstie then fell while leading and was slow to get back going after snagging his gear on the bike. The fall of Anstie not only gave Paulin another spot but handed the lead back to the always strong Sicilian Antonio Cairoli. Next to fall victim to a mistake was Anstie’s teammate and Cairoli’s compatriot Monticelli. Taking over the Monticelli’s position was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Arminas Jasikonis. Jasikonis started his charge from 10th on lap 1 and progressed all the way up to 4th by lap 12.

At the conclusion of the first race, Cairoli took the win by over Desalle by 4.2 seconds with Paulin and Jasikonis less than 3 seconds further back while Honda SR Motoblouz’s Jeremy Van Horebeektook 5th. Gajser recovered to 7th by the finish while Anstie finished 16th ahead of his two Standing Construct KTM teammates Glenn Coldenhoff and Ivo Monticelli in 17th and 18th.

Race 2

MXGP Race 2 gave Cairoli his 2nd Fox Holeshot of the weekend and 4th of the season but this time he held the lead for all of the 17 laps. Gajser has his Works Honda in second with the privateer effort of Van Horebeek just behind. Jasikonis was off to another midfield start and came across the finish lap in 9th after the first complete lap. RFX KTM Racing’s Shaun Simpson had a remarkable start inside the top 5 battling with Desalle for 4th during the first 10 laps. Paulin was on a move up the leaderboard along with Jasikonis for several laps before losing control of his Yamaha and sampling the sand.

Similar to Race 1 Jasikonis continued to progress forward taking 4th away from Desalle with only two laps remaining. At the finish, it was a second race win for Cairoli with Gajser 2nd, Van Horebeek 3rd, Jasikonis 4th, and Desalle 5th. In the overall classification, Cairoli’s double win earned him 50 points while Desalle’s 2-5 scores earned 38 points for 2nd overall and Gajser’s 7-2 tallied 36 points for 3rd overall and his 3rd podium of the 3 races so far this season.

Antonio Cairoli: “Overall I’m happy going into Trentino next week. Having the first three GP wins this year it’s nice. Of course, it’s not easy, Tim is very fast at the moment and it’s nice to have such a high rhythm in the race for us, for the fans, and for everybody.”

Clement Desalle: “I’m happy going into Trentino next week. Having the first three GP wins this year it’s nice. Of course, it’s not easy, Tim is very fast at the moment and it’s nice to have such a high rhythm in the race for us, for the fans, and for everybody.”

Tim Gajser: “I’m happy to finish on the podium again. But yeah I’m a little bit disappointed. In the first race I had a good start and I was in third place behind Tony and Max, then I make a mistake and I fell so I had to came through the pack. Anyway we’re looking forward to next weekend in Arco, definitely many fans from Slovenia are going to be there and I’m excited.”

MXGP Overall Top Ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points
2. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 38 p.
3. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 36 p.
4. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 36 p.
5. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 36 p.
6. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 29 p.
7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 28 p.
8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 28 p.
9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 25 p.
10. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), 17 p.

MXGP ChampionshipTop Ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 147 points
2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 125 p.
3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 103 p.
4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 102 p.
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 102 p.
6. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 92 p.
7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 78 p.
8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 64 p.
9. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 62 p.
10. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), 56 p.