LOKET (Czech Republic) 27 July 2019 – In the shadows of the 12^th century Gothic Castle of Loket, the MXGP of Czech Republic had a spectacular start today with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado who wrapped up the pole positions in MXGP and MX2 respectively in front of thousands of a passionate motocross crowd. 

The MXGP and MX2 Qualifying was held alongside the first race of the third round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship and the finals of the European Championships EMX65 and EMX85.

FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship red plate holder Courtney Duncan of the Bike It DRT Kawasaki team dominated the opening race in Loket. Finishing second behind the New Zealander was her closest rival in the championship, No Fear Yamaha team’s Nancy Van De Ven from Holland, and third was Danish rider Sara Andersen. 

In the opening EMX65 race it was local hero and 65cc Junior Motocross World Cup winner Vitezslav Marek who took the win from Marius Adomaitis while Russian Semen Rybakov finished third. In the EMX85 Edvards Bidzans won from Quentin Marc Prugnieres and 85cc Junior World Champion Marchetti Racing Team’s Valerio Lata. Both EMX classes will be decided tomorrow morning when they run their second race of the weekend.

At the start of the MXGP qualifying race Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer took the holeshot, with Team HRC’s Tim Gajser right behind him and Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre. Standing Construct KTM’s Max Anstie was down in the first corner. Standing Construct KTM’s Glenn Coldenhoff was fourth and Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Arnaud Tonus fifth. Febvre moved past Gajser for second in the opening lap while Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tommy Searle rode smooth in sixth place before Team Honda SR’s Jeremy Van Horebeek passed him forcing the British to lose a position. 

Seewer and Febvre were really working hard on the insides and outsides until Febvre, who scored the fastest lap of the race, moved into the lead on lap three. 

Gajser went down and dropped back to fifth position as he slipped over in a corner, letting Coldenhoff and Tonus past. Febvre had made a gap between himself and Seewer and on lap five held more than three seconds over Seewer, who was six seconds ahead of Coldenhoff.

Febvre continued to extend his lead over Seewer, making it nearly nine seconds on lap nine, and Tonus was all over Coldenhoff for third place, with Gajser fifth. RaceFX KTM’s Shaun Simpson, who was back from injury this weekend,moved into 10^thplace and his fellow countryman Searle was riding well in seventh spot.

Coldenhoff started to have trouble as he dropped to eight place late in the race while Gajser passed Tonus at the last lap managing to finish third. 

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre won the qualifying heat, he rode a smart race to take the lead early and just cruised to a solid victory. Second was the early leader and the other Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer and third was MXGP Championship leader Team HRC’s Tim Gajser.

Romain Febvre: “I am really happy about today; it was really good. I had a good pace and also a good start in third. I passed Gajser and then I was pushing my teammate (Seewer), I passed him and made a comfortable gap. Like in Indonesia I won the qualification race, but made a mistake on the Sunday, so now I need to be really focus for tomorrow and not repeat the same mistake.”

Main Photo: Romain Febvre

Bottom Photos: 1. Jeremy Seewer; 2. Tim Gajser

When the gate dropped for MX2 Qualifying Race it was Bike It DRT Kawasaki’s Darian Sanayei who led the opening lap, F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Henry Jacobi was second, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado was third and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s teammate Tom Vialle was fourth. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Olsen was down in the first corner as was Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2’s Jargo Geerts. Before the first lap had ended Prado was into the lead after passing Sanayei.

Jacobi had trouble, slipping and sliding his bike through a corner and nearly collided with Revo Husqvarna UK’sDylan Walsh as he got going again. In the meantime Vialle passed Sanayei for second dropping the American to third place and Jacobi dropped to fourth.

Olsen had worked his way into 19^th place on lap two, and Walsh was flying as he moved into fourth place. Geerts was also working hard back in 23^rd place while Honda 114 Motorsports’ Mitchell Evans was in 29^th spot.

While Prado continued to control the race with a four second lead over Vialle and Jacobi, Walshwas battling hard in fourth just ahead of F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Adam Sterry and Team HRC’s Calvin Vlaanderen. Sterry made a mistake and Vlaanderen moved into fifth place and was all over Walsh for fourth. The HRC rider came from outside the top ten into fourth place when he passed Walsh showing his confidence on this track. 

With a few laps remaining Olsen moved into 10^th place and Geerts was 15^th. Vlaanderen was all over Jacobi, both trying to get that third-place finish. Sterry moved into sixth place as Sanayei dropped to seventh while BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Mitchell Harrison was charging down his countryman in seventh position. Olsen was up to eight place and looked for a way to get past both Harrison and Sanayei. Olsen also got past Harrison and Sanayei to finish in sixth position. Early leader Darian Sanayei finished 10^th. 

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado won the MX2 qualifying race from the other Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s rider Tom Vialle and third was F&H Racing Kawasaki’s Henry Jacobi.

Jorge Prado: “It was a good race. I got a good jump but spun a little bit. I started third and got into first quickly. I found a nice flow and I am looking forward for tomorrow.”

Main Photo: Jorge Prado

Bottom Photos: 1. Tom Vialle; 2. Henry Jacobi

MXGP of Czech Republic – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1,586m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 27°

Weather conditions: partly cloudy

TIMETABLE 

Sunday: 08h55 EMX85 Race 2, 09h50 EMX65 Race 2, 10h25 MX2 Warm-Up, 10h45 MXGP Warm-Up, 11h30 WMX Race 2, 13h15 MX2 Race 1, 14h15 MXGP Race 1, 16h10 MX2 Race 2, 17h10 MXGP Race 2.