Lights, TV, Action: Losail was the distinct setting once more for the launch of MXGP and for the fourth year in a row the vast rig of 420 bulb units bathed a racing surface at the impressive Qatar facility that was fast, deceptive and home to the odd eyebrow raiser. MX2 World Champion Gariboldi Honda’s Tim Gajser shocked the establishment by going 1-1 in the premier MXGP class on his very first outing with the factory CRF450RW. The manner of the nineteen year old’s dominance was unexpected as the customary big-hitters in the category all struggled with their own stories. Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings posted a fourth consecutive MX2 win at Losail that was very much in line with the formbook, but expectations were usurped again in WMX when rookie Courtney Duncan not only aced her very first meeting on a loaned Yamaha but utterly outclassed her peers.
The layout was largely unchanged, Losail was however quicker and tougher for riders to handle in this edition of the event. The hard-pack gave way to unpredictable soft and rough sections and meant that set-up was a fine balancing act. Stefan Everts’ works Suzuki team were some of those that found the terrain puzzling. Former World Champion Ben Townley commented: “There were literally potholes out there,” while British Champion Shaun Simpson said: “The track claimed a lot of people this time and I think it was as sketchy as I’ve seen Qatar.”
Convincing 2015 winner Max Nagl admitted that he could not get going: “The track was better last year and [had been] ripped deeper and watered. This year it was hard and quite flat…and not as good for me!”
The provision of infrastructure and the sheer build and support around this Grand Prix never fails to amaze, however. Qatar will always seemingly be a comfortable, practical and unusual way to open the gas on MXGP.
Tim Gajser could not have forged a better impression on his MXGP debut. The Slovenian made a late U-turn on his and Honda’s premature decision last summer to stay in MX2 for 2016 and defend any possible title and on the evidence of his form and confidence here the powerful nineteen year old was on-the-money with his judgement. Gajser had ‘previous’ on the 450 having used the bigger Honda frequently for training in the last two years despite racing in MX2 and showed superb speed at the 2014 Motocross of Nations on the large CRF. He made the starts and dealt with honed HRC runner and brandmate Evgeny Bobryshev (pole sitter and one of the two faster riders at Losail all meeting) without problem for his first ever 1-1.
“I was actually pretty relaxed and had no pressure,” a calm rookie winner said. “I did not know what to expect but I knew I’d had a good winter, good preparation and good testing. I didn't know the class but I’m happy with what I did.”
“I knew he was good from pre-season and the winter,” evaluated runner-up, world champion and 2015 rookie sensation Monster Energy Yamaha’s Romain Febvre. “I saw him twice and knew he was fast with the 450. He was really good today.” The Frenchman had only one pre-season race under his belt due to a cut right arm and the slight rustiness showed, with arm-pump in the first moto and a small crash in the second after over-jumping that made his scorecard 3-2. It was still Febvre’s fourteenth consecutive MXGP podium.
After setting the pace for most of the weekend Bobryshev looked a little disappointed with third but was realistic enough to evaluate. “Good riding today and good positions for a first race. The track was a bit rougher in the second moto but we put a good bike together and did a lot of testing so we were ready for it.”
The Russian’s form was in contrast to that of teammate Gautier Paulin who was off-key in the first moto to tenth place and despite a good start in the second ultimately walked back to the pits after a technical problem drew him to a halt in the opening laps. Red Bull KTM’s Tony Cairoli was another easing his way back into the competitive thrusts of racing after breaking several ribs in a training accident in January. The former multi world champion admitted that he lacked strength through the left side of his torso to properly grip the 450SX-F but almost made the podium until Bobryshev flew back past into third spot after hitting a stone with the Honda and briefly tumbling off the bike. Monster Energy Yamaha’s Jeremy Van Horebeek was effective to fifth but was missing the sharpness on the starts needed to be able to consider silverware; it was a solid start to the campaign for the Belgian however who was satisfied and less anxious at this meeting than twelve months prior. British duo Shaun Simpson (Wilvo Virus Performance KTM) and Tommy Searle (Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki) had a tasty battle on the final lap of the second moto for seventh and behind Nagl that was eventually won by Simpson. The Scot was content with his best MXGP opening race ranking of sixth and Searle also pleased with seventh overall and the first step on the long path back to Grand Prix prominence after several year of injury wilderness.
In MX2 Jeffrey Herlings was again the reference point, even though the Dutchman had to work hard in the first moto to catch Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Dylan Ferrandis and then avoided launching many of the jumps in the last three laps of the second moto after sensing a strange feeling from the front end of the Red Bull KTM. The twenty-one year old suspected there might have been a wheel problem however the 250SX-F was later checked and the complaint was unfounded by the Austrian crew. “It was the first GP and I had high expectations but I struggled a bit. So that second moto was really good,” said Herlings who had enough of a lead over Ferrandis again to be able to circulate with increased caution.
Ferrandis himself was battling set-up issues in what is an overhauled race bike thanks to Showa suspension and Cosworth’s input to engine development. One week prior the talented Frenchman admitted the package was off the pace but credited his team for their work “day and night” to put together something to be competitive at Losail.
Herlings’ teammate Pauls Jonass–another of those cold to racing action due to a thumb problem that disrupted his pre-season programme–was strong enough for third over Jeremy Seewer who was extremely quick despite suffering from a cold.
Courtney Duncan, the vanquisher of male MX2 race rivals back in New Zealand, was utterly unbeatable on a Yamaha she picked up from a local dealer in Qatar for her Grand Prix debut. She defied the experience of Livia Lancelot and faced no threat from Kiara Fontanesi who had been popped out of her rut by Nan Van De Ven and suffered a fast and heavy crash in the first moto from which she was then nursing a sore ankle. A new WMX star has arrived.
Onto similar temperatures now but crank up the humidity to eleven for round two in Thailand next week. Suphan Buri is the third different venue for the Grand Prix in as many years and the paddock will be hoping for a slightly cooler climate compared to the imposing vacuum of heat that caused the 2015 second motos at Nakhonchaisri to be shortened in the interests of rider safety. Thailand was also memorably the scene of Ryan Villopoto’s maiden–and sole–Grand Prix victory.
MXGP Overall (Points Per Moto)
1. Tim Gajer 25-25
2. Romain Febvre 20-22
3. Evgeny Bobryshev 22-20
4. Jeremy Van Horebeek 18-16
5. Antonio Cairoli 15-18
6. Shaun Simpson 16-14
7. Tommy Searle 12-13
8. Kevin Strijbos 13-12
9. Glenn Coldenhoff 14-11
10. Max Nagl 9-15
11. Ben Townley 10-10
12. Valentin Guillod 7-9
13. Jose Butron 8-6
14. Tanel Leok 5-8
15. Milko Potisek 6-7
…
20. Clement Desalle 1-2
MX2 Overall (Points Per Moto)
1. Jeffrey Herlings 25-25
2. Dylan Ferrandis 22-22
3. Pauls Jonass 20-20
4. Jeremy Seewer 18-16
5. Brent Van doninck 13-18
6. Petar Petrov 15-15
7. Aleksandr Tonkov 16-14
8. Samuele Bernardini 14-11
9. Brian Bogers 8-9
10. Jens Getteman 12-5
11. Thomas Covington 10-6
12. Ben Watson 7-7
13. Benoit Paturel 0-13
14. Alvin Ostlund 9-4
15. Vsevolod Brylyakov 0-12
WMX Overall
1. Courtney Duncan 25-25
2. Livia Lancelot 22-22
3. Nancy Van De Ven 20-18
4. Larissa Papenmeier 18-16
5. Kiara Fontanesi 10-20