Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1102141
IN THE WIND P32 Gajser Outduels Cairoli At MXGP Of Trentino In the day's overall rankings, Gajser took his first win since 2017, and Cairoli was second, followed by Paulin, Tonus and Monticelli. Jasiko- nis was sixth overall. Cairoli is still atop the leaderboard with 191 points, followed by Gajser with 175 and Paulin with 142. In MX2, Red Bull KTM's Jorge Prado won both motos seemingly effortlessly. The Spaniard nailed the holeshot in both motos and ran off with the wins both times uncon- tested. It was a profitable victory for Prado who grabbed a big chunk of points on series leader Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), who had a tough day at the Circuit of Arco di Trento. The Dutch rider went 5-4 on the day for fifth overall and saw his points lead shrink to 20 over Prado, 170-150. Second overall was Belgian Jago Geerts (Yamaha) who went 2-2 on the day. Frenchman Tom Vialle (KTM) was third overall despite slipping to sixth in the second moto after getting off to a promising start. He went 3-6. Henry Jacobi (Kawasaki), third in championship points, was sixth overall with a 4-5. CN MXGP 1. Tim Gajser (Hon) 1-1 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 2-2 3. Gautier Paulin (Yam) 3-3 4. Arnaud Tonus (Yam) 4-4 5. Ivo Monticelli (KTM) 5-6 MX2 1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 1-1 2. Jago Geerts (Yam) 2-2 3. Tom Vialle (KTM) 3-6 4. Ben Watson (Yam) 7-3 5. Thomas Kjer Olsen (Hus) 4-5 the overall victory on the line, Gajser stayed right with the new leader for the next five laps. Then Cairoli bobbled and Gajser moved back into the lead setting the stage for a late-race shootout for the overall win between the two former MXGP champs. With two laps to go, Cairoli forced his way around Gajser for the lead much to the delight of the partisan crowd. But, as the two racers pushed each other to their limits, Cairoli made a couple of mistakes, one of them putting him to the ground, which allowed Gajser to cruise home for the moto win and the overall victory. Cairoli got up in time to salvage sec- ond and second overall for the day. Paulin finished third again, ahead of Tonus and Lithuanian rider Armi- nas Jasikonis (Husqvarna). Monti- celli, fifth in the first moto, was sixth this time out. T im Gajser and Toni Cairoli thrilled the crowd with an excit- ing battle in the second MXGP moto that would determine the overall winner at the MXGP of Trentino in Italy, April 7. It all started in the first MXGP moto when Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) snatched the early lead while Gajser started off in fifth. The Slovenian, Gajser, then went to work and slowly clawed and scratched his way up into second, and then the Honda HRC Team rider set his sights on Cairoli. Gajser hounded the MXGP points leader, Cairoli, until he made a slight mis- take, and Gajser rode past him. With three laps remaining, Cairoli tried to retaliate but couldn't make a pass stick. The win went to Gasjer, followed by Cairoli, Gautier Paulin (Yamaha), Arnaud Tonus (Yamaha) and Italian Ivo Monticelli (KTM). In the deciding second moto, Gajser shot into the early lead, but Cairoli was right behind him. Cairoli pressured Gajser into making a mistake on the ninth lap and swooped into the lead, but with Tim Gajser captured his first MXGP overall win since 2017 at the MXGP of Trentino. PHOTO: HONDA RACIng