Gajser victorious in Argentina qualification as Zanchi comes back for a point

MXGP

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser started 2024 exactly as he wanted, by winning the MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina qualification races and taking the maximum 10 points available to him. Unfortunately, teammate Ruben Fernandez was involved in an incident on the first corner and pulled out of the race, but after being assessed by the medical team, he will try to line-up tomorrow.

The opening day of the 2024 championship started off well for the pair with Fernandez second and Gajser fourth in the free practice session. Then it was Gajser in third and Fernandez just behind him for the timed practice, which gave them the gate-picks for the afternoon’s qualification race. As in 2023, these races score championship points, with 10 for the winner, down to one point for 10^th, although these aren’t included in the tally for the GP overall.

Both riders are on-board the new Honda CRF450R which has performed really well in the preseason races, and the #243 continued that by blasting out the blocks and sweeping into the lead around the first turn. And from there, he didn’t look back, gradually building out a comfortable lead and taking the chequered flag for the first time this year. After winning the final GP of 2023, it was great to see he has maintained that momentum and is back to the sort of form that has seen him win a field-leading four MXGP world titles.

Behind him around the first turn was Fernandez but the Spaniard didn’t make it any further as he was involved in a coming-together with another rider that forced him off the track. As a precaution he then rode to the medical unit for a check-up and after receiving their verdict, he will see how he is feeling tomorrow before making the decision on lining-up. It is a big disappointment for the #70 who is a fan-favourite here, and who won the 2023 round last year, and came here really excited to try and do it again. Instead, it will more a damage-limitation exercise, but Fernandez is highly motivated and will be sure to try everything in order to be on the line.

Before the two motos, they have a morning warm-up session to see how the track is shaping up and then the first GP points-scoring race of 2024 will take place at 13:15 local time. The second 25-point race will then take place at 16:10 which will determine the GP overall, with the qualification points added to it to decide who will have the championship red-plate.

MX2

Ferruccio Zanchi made his debut for Team HRC, with a come-from-behind ride through the field to come from 18^th all the way up to 10^th by the time the chequered flag came out. It was great to see the young Italian passing a lot of riders on his way and that should give him a lot of confidence that he can do the same in the two motos tomorrow.

The #73 started off the day with a 13^th in free practice but improved significantly in the timed practice with an impressive sixth. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to use that gate-pick to his advantage but the one-point is still a solid beginning and one that he can definitely upon when the motos start tomorrow.

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 24:46.567;
2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:01.434;
3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:07.695;
4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:09.463;
5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:10.622;
6. Marc-Antoine Rossi (FRA, GASGAS), +0:29.223;
7. Hakon Osterhagen (NOR, Honda), +0:39.612;
8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:41.644;
9. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:42.708;
10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:46.105;