Gajser victorious in muddy Cozar qualification
Honda HRC’s Tim Gajser showed that his motocross skills in muddy conditions continue to be unmatched, as he swept through to win the MXGP of Castilla La Manche (Spain) qualification race.
Having posted the fastest time in practice, he had first gate-pick and rounded the first corner in third place. Navigating the Cozar track was difficult, after a week of rain had hit the circuit, but the Honda CRF450R rider showed that when the conditions are wet and muddy, he rises to the top. Taking his time to fine the right lines, he moved from third into second and then into first place with some calculated passes and the rest of the field couldn’t match his speed and smoothness as he took the win by over 10 seconds. The goal now is to repeat that effort tomorrow, when the forecast is predicting even more rain to hit the track, but if 2024 showed us anything, it is that not much can stop the #243 when he is in full flow.
Teammate Ruben Fernandez wasn’t able to get out of the gate quite as well, and although he fought the entire moto, he ended up finishing in 10th place, scoring one point. The reward wasn’t just, compared to the effort the Spaniard put in, at his home GP but he knows that he has a chance to show what he is capable of in the two GP-scoring races tomorrow.
In the MX2 class, Ferruccio Zanchi showed that he really does enjoying riding this circuit, as the youngster placed sixth after a good race against the best MX2 riders in the world. He got a decent start, but it was the first few corners where his line choice was excellent and he swept around a good number of guys to come out in fifth after the first lap. In the difficult conditions he maintained a solid pace and crossed the line, with his best result so far in 2025. Now the goal is to that again, and perhaps even challenge for the podium spots in the longer-races tomorrow.
Unfortunately Valerio Lata had a tough race, crashing on the first lap and only being able to remount in last position. Despite his best efforts, and some excellent laptimes, he could only work his way as high as 18th by the time the chequered flag came out and as such, didn’t score any points. However, if he can get out of the gate well tomorrow, his speed should give him the opportunity to score good points, and that’ll be his aim when he goes to the line.
SUNDAY:
08:45 EMX125 Race 2, 09:25 MX2 Warm-up, 09:45 MXGP Warm-up, 10:30 EMX250 Race 2, 12:15 MX2 Race 1, 13:15 MXGP Race 1, 15:10 MX2 Race 2, 16:10 MXGP Race 2.
MX2 Qualification Race
1. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), 26:41.124; 2. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:05.954; 3. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:10.162; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:22.030; 5. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:29.110; 6. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:30.894; 7. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:32.593; 8. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KTM), +0:42.198; 9. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +0:42.968; 10. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +0:45.063; … 18. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), +2:21.479;
Tim Gajser 243
It was a good race in sketchy conditions. They’d smoothed over the track, but there were still ruts underneath so it was difficult to always know exactly what lines were good. Still, I was a good pace, got a good start which was a big help and made the passes when I needed to, to get into the lead. Overall, very happy with how it went and I’m hoping I can do the same again tomorrow.
Ruben Fernandez 70
Not my best race, but I felt okay, and I know that I can do better tomorrow. The track conditions are tough because it rained so much before the race weekend, and now even though it didn’t rain today, it was still very muddy. I’d like to have done better in front of my Spanish fans, but I’m motivated to score some good points tomorrow and really get my season started.
Ferruccio Zanchi 73
I knew coming into this weekend that I liked the track and although the conditions were very different from a few months ago, I still was confident I could do well. I didn’t have the best timed practice, but I got a good start and made some passes in the first few corners to get into fifth. After battling all race I was able to finish sixth, which was still good and it’s a result that gives me more confidence for tomorrow.
Valerio Lata 18
Crashing on the first lap, in these conditions was the worst thing I could have done. I was dead last and way behind the rest of the field. I tried to put in some good laps and I think my laptimes were close to the top five, so that gives me motivation that if I can survive the first lap, I can challenge for the podium spots.
Qualification Race
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Points | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gajser Tim | 243 | SLO | 10 | Honda HRC - MXGP | Honda | 24:43.911 |
2 | Renaux Maxime | 959 | FRA | 9 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha | 0:10.476 |
3 | Jonass Pauls | 41 | LAT | 8 | Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP | Kawasaki | 0:13.136 |
4 | Bogers Brian | 189 | NDL | 7 | Fantic Factory Racing MXGP | Fantic | 0:18.069 |
5 | Coldenhoff Glenn | 259 | NDL | 6 | Fantic Factory Racing MXGP | Fantic | 0:19.309 |
6 | Coenen Lucas | 96 | BEL | 5 | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | 0:20.131 |
7 | Vlaanderen Calvin | 10 | NDL | 4 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha | 0:20.716 |
8 | Horgmo Kevin | 24 | NOR | 3 | Honda SR Motoblouz | Honda | 0:24.051 |
9 | Febvre Romain | 3 | FRA | 2 | Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP | Kawasaki | 0:30.902 |
10 | Fernandez Ruben | 70 | SPA | 1 | Honda HRC - MXGP | Honda | 0:35.274 |
11 | Guadagnini Mattia | 101 | ITA | 0 | Ducati Factory MX Team | Ducati | 0:42.986 |
12 | Gifting Isak | 517 | SWE | 0 | JK Racing Yamaha Active | Yamaha | 0:51.327 |
13 | Bonacorsi Andrea | 132 | ITA | 0 | Fantic Factory Racing MXGP | Fantic | 0:53.900 |
14 | Pancar Jan | 253 | SLO | 0 | TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team | KTM | 0:57.818 |
15 | Brumann Kevin | 87 | SWI | 0 | Wildcard Rider | Husqvarna | 1:00.146 |
16 | van de Moosdijk Roan | NDL | 0 | 1:01.038 | |||
17 | Guillod Valentin | 92 | SWI | 0 | Wildcard Rider | Yamaha | 1:23.773 |
18 | Seewer Jeremy | 91 | SWI | 0 | Ducati Factory MX Team | Ducati | 1:24.641 |
19 | Watson Ben | 919 | GBR | 0 | MRT Racing Team Beta | Beta | 1:36.598 |
20 | Sterry Adam | GBR | 0 | 1:46.389 |
Rider standings
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Points | Team | Constructor |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Renaux Maxime | 959 | FRA | 66 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha |
2 | Gajser Tim | 243 | SLO | 58 | Honda HRC - MXGP | Honda |
3 | Febvre Romain | 3 | FRA | 58 | Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP | Kawasaki |
4 | Coldenhoff Glenn | 259 | NDL | 41 | Fantic Factory Racing MXGP | Fantic |
5 | Guadagnini Mattia | 101 | ITA | 40 | Ducati Factory MX Team | Ducati |
6 | Jonass Pauls | 41 | LAT | 33 | Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP | Kawasaki |
7 | Coenen Lucas | 96 | BEL | 32 | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM |
8 | Horgmo Kevin | 24 | NOR | 28 | Honda SR Motoblouz | Honda |
9 | Seewer Jeremy | 91 | SWI | 25 | Ducati Factory MX Team | Ducati |
10 | Geerts Jago | 93 | BEL | 22 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha |
11 | Fernandez Ruben | 70 | SPA | 22 | Honda HRC - MXGP | Honda |
12 | Bonacorsi Andrea | 132 | ITA | 21 | Fantic Factory Racing MXGP | Fantic |
13 | Vlaanderen Calvin | 10 | NDL | 19 | Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team | Yamaha |
14 | Bogers Brian | 189 | NDL | 18 | Fantic Factory Racing MXGP | Fantic |
15 | Guillod Valentin | 92 | SWI | 16 | Wildcard Rider | Yamaha |
16 | Pancar Jan | 253 | SLO | 15 | TEM JP253 KTM Racing Team | KTM |
17 | Watson Ben | 919 | GBR | 11 | MRT Racing Team Beta | Beta |
18 | Gifting Isak | 517 | SWE | 9 | JK Racing Yamaha Active | Yamaha |
19 | Tondel Cornelius | 17 | NOR | 6 | JWR Honda Racing | Honda |
20 | Koch Tom | 226 | GER | 5 | MRT Racing Team Beta | Beta |
21 | Aparecido dos Santos Fabio | BRA | 5 | |||
22 | Brumann Kevin | 87 | SWI | 1 | Wildcard Rider | Husqvarna |
23 | Forato Alberto | 303 | ITA | 1 | Honda SR Motoblouz | Honda |
24 | van de Moosdijk Roan | NDL | 0 | |||
25 | Sterry Adam | GBR | 0 |