Gajser triumphant and Zanchi makes first podium in Castilla La Mancha

Honda HRC had a very successful day at the second round of the 2025 World Motocross Championships, as Tim Gajser won both races at the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha, and took hold of the red-plate by 20 points. Ruben Fernandez followed him across the line in second place in race one, and ended up fourth overall, while in the MX2 class Ferruccio Zanchi won this first moto and stood on the MX2 podium for the first time in his career.

In what were brutally difficult conditions, Gajser showed that he still has immense skill when the conditions get tough, and after winning the qualification race yesterday, he won both races by over 30 seconds to claim the perfect weekend and for his 50^th GP victory. In race one, he got a good start and followed Fernandez round in the early goings, before making his move a checking out. However, in race two he didn’t get such a good jump and with the mud making things extremely tough, he had to make a number of impressive passes to move himself into the top positions. Within two laps, he had made his way to the front, and once again checked out for the victory. The 50pts today, along with the 10 yesterday meant that he turned a nine-point deficit into a 20-point lead, and he now heads to St Jean D’Angely with a lot of confidence for next weekend’s event.

After a fighting 10^th place in qualification, Fernandez turned his weekend around as he went two-12 for fourth overall. The Spaniard took the early lead of race one, as his expertly controlled his Honda CRF450R in the first few turns, giving the home crowd something to cheer in some miserable weather. He did have to concede the position to Gajser soon after but kept it calm and controlled and finished in an excellent second place. Race two didn’t go so well as he got caught up in a second corner incident and remounted in last position. He charged through the pack as much as possible, and got his way up to 12^th place, which saw him narrowly miss out on the podium as his 31pts gave him fourth overall. Still, it was a good showing on a track he doesn’t favour and he’ll head to France knowing that he isn’t far away from achieving his podium ambitions.

In the MX2 class, it was as amazing performance by Zanchi to holeshot race one and lead around the best MX2 riders in the world, in what was treacherous terrain at the Cozar circuit. The young Italian took the win by over 10 seconds, sparking scenes of delight amongst the Honda HRC team as it was their first MX2 race win since 2019. Unfortunately a disastrous first lap of race two left him with a lot of work to do, but the #73 never stopped charging and managed to get up to 10^th place. It was a nervous wait after he crossed the line, but eventually he discovered that he had done enough for third overall, and his first visit to a world championship podium. It was nothing more than the young Italian deserved, and he heads to France next weekend looking for even more.

Fighting for every position for Valerio Lata who wasn’t quite able to maintain the consistency needed on this muddy, rutted circuit. He showed he had the pace of the top guys, but small mistakes hampered any chance he had of battling for the podium spots and instead he had to settle for 13-11 results for 12^th overall.

None of the riders have too much time to relax now, as we head across the border to St Jean D’Angely in France for round three, a venue that Gajser won at last year, in similar conditions to this weekend. All four of the riders are fit and healthy and all are motivated to put on a good showing, at what should hopefully be a packed facility in the French countryside.

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MX2 Race 1
1. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), 35:45.354; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:11.221; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +1:15.427; 4. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +1:23.894; 5. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +1:43.025; 6. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +2:01.868; 7. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KTM), +2:44.091; 8. Julius Mikula (CZE, TM), +2:50.848; 9. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +3:02.405; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +3:40.014; …  13. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s);

MX2 Race 2
1. Liam Everts (BEL, Husqvarna), 37:08.994; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +1:21.434; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:23.293; 4. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), +1:34.976; 5. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), +1:49.577; 6. Guillem Farres (ESP, Triumph), +1:59.379; 7. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KTM), +2:26.476; 8. Julius Mikula (CZE, TM), +2:37.483; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +2:42.144; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 11. Valerio Lata (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s);

MX2 GP Classification
1. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 47 points; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 42 p.; 3. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 36 p.; 4. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 32 p.; 6. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Julius Mikula (CZE, TM), 26 p.; 10. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 20 p.; 11. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 19 p.; 12. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 18 p.;

MX2 World Championship
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 97 points; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, HUS), 91 p.; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, KTM), 78 p.; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 71 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 71 p.; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 63 p.; 7. Cas Valk (NED, KTM), 61 p.; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 53 p.; 9. Guillem Farres (ESP, TRI), 46 p.; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KTM), 43 p.; 11. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 42 p.; 12. Valerio Lata (ITA, HON), 41 p.;