Gajser wins Trentino qualification, with Evans close behind in third

Team HRC duo Tim Gajser and Mitch Evans showed the full force of the Honda CRF450R in today’s MXGP of Trentino qualification, finishing first and third and leading all the laps of the 25 minutes plus two race.

Leading round the first bend of this reversed Pietramurata layout was Evans, who had third gate-pick after an impressive timed practice. The Australian has been getting better and better each time he has been on the track, and while the results haven’t always showed it, this qualification result was something that had been in the pipeline and is thoroughly deserved after having such a long injury layoff.

On the first lap, the #43 fought off the advances of another rider, to then slowly but surely open up a decent lead at the front of the field, leading round this field of highly competitive MXGP riders. For Gajser, a fifth gate-pick didn’t allow him to get the best of starts, but after a nervy first lap, he settled into a good rhythm and began picking off riders. By lap five, Team HRC was running first and second with Evans having a few seconds advantage over the Slovenian, before Gajser gradually closed up and passed his teammate on lap nine.

As the positions reversed, Gajser pulled out a comfortable gap to take the chequered flag and his second pole position start of the season. Unfortunately, Evans couldn’t quite hold on to second, but crossed the line in third place, his best result of the season and testament to how much progression he has made so far in 2022.

Both riders will now have very good gate-picks for tomorrow’s races where Gajser will look to get back to winning ways, and add to his three overall wins so far in 2022. Evans will be hoping to utilise his position to get two good starts and show what he is capable of in the points-scoring races that will take place at 14:15 and 17:10 local time tomorrow.