R
ound four of the FIM Moto-
cross World Championship
produced more close racing at the
MXGP of Portugal, April 3. After
several battles, GasGas Factory
Racing's Jorge Prado and KTM's
Tom Vialle won their respective
MXGP and MX2 classes.
MXGP
Prado put himself in the lead af-
ter only two turns in moto one. His
main challenger and points leader,
Tim Gajser, suffered a poor start
and had to work his way through
the field for a chance at a podium.
Prado controlled the lead for the
entire race, while Brian Bogers
(Husqvarna) worked his way into
second place. Gajser eventually
climbed up to third. At the line
Prado claimed race one by just
1.02 seconds over Bogers.
Prado got the start again in
race two, but this time with Gajs-
er hot on his heels. Gajser waited
seven laps before he pulled the
trigger and passed Prado for the
race lead. He went on to win after
leading the second half of race
two. Gajser's 3-1 finishes earned
him second overall.
Prado fended off a charging
Glenn Coldenhoff to the line and
took his first overall of the 2022
season.
Both Bogers and Coldenhoff
fought hard in race two for the
final spot on the podium.
Gajser continues to lead the
championship, 21 over Prado,
and 42 over Maxime Renaux.
MX2
The opening MX2 race kicked
off with a huge crash by Mattia
Guadagnini (GasGas) just after
the holeshot line. This handed
first over to Denmark's Mikkel
Haarup (Kawasaki) who led over
Andrea Adamo (GasGas) and
Jago Geerts (Yamaha). Tom
Vialle (KTM) got through the first
turn inside the top five and made
quick work of Geerts for third.
The battle up front was a close
one between the top four riders
until Geerts crashed in one of
the tricky step-up turns. He fell
way back in the pack but picked
himself up to score points in the
overall championship. Geerts
eventually finished ninth.
Vialle made the pass on Haarup
and controlled the lead to take the
checkers in race one. Harrup was
a close second with Kay De Wolf
(Husqvarna) coming home third.
Norway's Kevin Horgmo (Ka-
wasaki) holeshot race two with
Geerts and Vialle closely behind.
Vialle again got around Geerts
in the opening laps and set his
sights on the race leader.
On lap eight Vialle made the
move around Horgmo for first, but
Geerts was not letting the race-
one winner get away. The points
leader quickly passed Horgmo
and stalked Vialle eventually taking
the win and vitory and third overall.
Vialle's 1-2 gave him the overall
victory. Haarup finished fourth
in race two, good enough for
second overall and back-to-back
podiums for the Kawasaki rider.
Geerts leads the MX2 Champi-
onship by 16 over Vialle. Haarup
is third overall, 42 down from
Geerts.
CN
OVERALL
MXGP
1. Jorge Prado (GG) 1-2
2. Tim Gajser (Hon) 3-1
3. Brian Bogers (Hus) 2-4
4. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yam) 4-3
5. Pauls Jonass (Hus) 7-5
MX2
1. Tom Vialle (KTM) 1-2
2. Mikkel Haarup (Kaw) 2-4
3. Jago Geerts (Yam) 9-1
4. Kay De Wolf (Hus) 3-6
5. Kevin Horgmo (Kaw) 8-3
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 14 APRIL 5, 2022 P33
Prado, Vialle
Top MXGP
of Portugal
Jorge Prado
claimed his first win
of the year after
going 1-2 at the
MXGP of Portugal.
PHOTOS: RAY ARCHER
