Gajser wins German qualification to increase championship lead

MXGP

Team HRC’s Tim Gajser took a convincing victory in the MXGP of Germany qualification race, coming through from fourth place to pass the leader and increase his lead in the 2024 MXGP World Championship to six points.

In what was a dry day for the MXGP right up until the mid-point of the race, Gajser had shown good speed in both practice sessions on the Teutschenthal track, posting a second-placed time to give him second gate-pick for the evening moto. However, after an earlier deluge for another class, the heavens opened once again as the Honda CRF450R rider moved into second-place, as he set about hunting down the leader. Showing his skill in the slippery conditions, he quickly closed up to rider out front – posting the fastest lap of the race in the process – and after a couple of close attempts, he finally made the pass stick and immediately pulled away. With half the race still to run, he made a gap of almost 10 seconds and took his third qualification race win of the season. It was another impressive race and further proof that the Slovenian can ride in whatever the weather throws at him.

With the forecast looking better for tomorrow, it’ll be a good chance for the #243 to show that he can win in the dry as well as the wet, and given his confidence right now it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Team HRC at the front of the field in both of the GP-scoring motos.

MX2

Unfortunately, Ferruccio Zanchi was caught up as an innocent victim in a first-lap incident, having to remount his Honda CRF250R in last place. On the extremely rutted Teutschenthal circuit, the young Italian fought his way up to 14^th place as time expired, still giving him a decent opportunity of some solid points when the two motos take place tomorrow. It was a real shame for Zanchi as he showed in the free practice (fifth) and the timed practice (seventh) that he was looking good for another top 10 result, but it is all good experience and he can use that passing practice to good effect when the MX2 class take to what should hopefully be a dry circuit.

1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 25:16.223;
2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:01.147;
3. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:02.661;
4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:10.768;
5. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:22.266;
6. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:24.153;
7. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:27.273;
8. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:47.101;
9. Kay Karssemakers (NED, Fantic), +0:49.837;
10. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +0:51.987;
…
14. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:09.069;