Cairoli, Olsen Top Matterley Basin MXGP
A
ntonio Cairoli and
Thomas Kjer Olsen
were the big winners in
round two of the 2019 FIM
Motocross World Champi-
onship at Matterley Basin,
Great Britain, March 24.
Cairoli (Red Bull KTM)
went 1-2 in MXGP for the
overall victory, while Thom-
as Kjer Olsen (Rockstar
Energy Husqvarna) won
both MX2 motos.
In Saturday's MXGP
qualifying, it was Gajser
who stood at the top of the
standings, yet when the
gate dropped for Sunday's
moto one, it was Cairoli
who had the holeshot and
the early lead. But it didn't
last for long.
Gajser quickly got around Cai-
roli for the lead and immediately
started to gap the former world
champ. However, Gajser's lead
was only momentary, as well. The
Estonian swapped at speed and
suffered a hard get-off. Surpris-
ingly, he was unhurt in the fall,
got back on his bent Honda and
made his way up through the
pack again, eventually finishing a
fantastic third.
Cairoli went on to take the win
ahead of Gautier Paulin (Ya-
maha).
Clement Desalle (Kawasaki)
was fourth, and Jeremy Van
Horebeek (Honda) rounded out
the top five.
Moto two started much as it did
in the first moto when Cairoli took
the holeshot and Gajser took the
lead, but this time Gajser's gap
was more significant, and he
didn't crash.
Paulin was the third veteran
who found himself at the front,
but the rider in fourth was new
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Fac-
tory Racing recruit Arminas Ja-
sikonis, who had Jeremy Seewer
(Yamaha) giving chase.
The top five, however, never
changed positions during the
race. Cairoli made a late charge
in an attempt to catch Gajser, but
it was too late, and the Slovenian
claimed the race two win 1.7
seconds ahead of Cairoli and a
massive 54 seconds ahead of
Paulin in third.
The overall win went to Cairoli
for the 87th time of his career,
while Gajser had to be satisfied
with second overall.
Paulin's 2-3 gave him third
overall as Desalle took fourth and
Van Horebeek placed fifth, leav-
ing the top-five riders shuffled but
unchanged since Patagonia.
"It was a great weekend, and
this track is for sure one of my
favorites but, today it was very
difficult to push from the begin-
ning," said Cairoli, who revealed
that he was dealing with a shoul-
der injury. "I couldn't really push
IN
THE
WIND
P30
Antonio Cairoli
extended his
points lead
with his second
consecutive win
at the MXGP of
Great Britain.
PHOTO: RAY ARCHER
