alongside the MX2 250s.
Slovenia's Tim Gajser got
things started as he quickly
made his way around MXGP
rival Jorge Prado. Gajser
narrowly lost the 2024
MXGP title to the Spaniard
just one week prior and
looked eager to end his
season on a high note. The
Honda rider ran away from
the field, putting together
smooth laps on the ultra-
rutted course. Eli Tomac
flew the flag for Team USA
and put his Yamaha into
second position after pass
-
ing Prado early in the race.
MXGP/MX2
Rain and wet weather were
factors on the day. Although
it wasn't a mudbath, the
track was slick, and many
deep ruts formed. Goggle
management was crucial.
Throughout the day, several
riders opted to sacrifice a
few precious seconds and
perhaps even a position or
two to stop in the pits for
fresh goggles. In contrast,
others chose to tough it out
and either ride with muddied
goggles or no goggles at all.
Sunday's race one saw
the MXGP 450s lined up
VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P71
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifying motos were held on Sat-
urday to decide starting gate picks
for Sunday's main races and decide
the 19 teams to make Sunday's cut.
Three motos were held, one in each
class. The 2024 World Motocross
Champion, Spain's Jorge Prado,
topped the MXGP moto, finishing
five seconds ahead of season-long
rival, Slovenia's Tim Gajser. Eli
Tomac placed seventh, 38 seconds
in back of Prado. In MX2, French-
man Tom Vialle took the win ahead
of Belgium's Lucas Coenen and
Germany's Simon Laengenfelder.
Cooper Webb was seventh, 48
seconds back. In the Open class,
Aussie Jett Lawrence was the win-
ner ahead of Spain's Ruben Fernan-
dez and France's Maxime Renaux.
Aaron Plessinger was sixth, 46
seconds back.
COENEN
IMPRESSIVE, UNTIL...
Team Belgium's Lucas Coenen
was flying in the first MXGP/MX2
moto. He had his team buzzing
while showing what a 250cc could
do on the Matterley Basin track.
The Belgian was moving to the front
of the pack while passing several
450s along the way. He was even
reeling in Romain Febvre and Eli
Tomac when he eventually crashed
and appeared to have suffered a
shoulder/collarbone injury. Coenen
would not return and dashed away
any hopes the Belgian squad,
already plagued by injuries lead-
ing up to the race, had of making
the podium. "I was pushing hard
and making great progress, even
battling with some of the top MXGP
riders," Coenen said. "Because my
bike is lighter than the 450s, I could
take different lines and make up
Briefly...
