Second for Gajser, as Fernandez returns with a bang in Switzerland

MXGP
Team HRC had both Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez lining up for the 17th round of the 2024 MXGP World Championship, as the series went to the Frauenfeld track in northern Switzerland in what was glorious sunshine for the qualification day.

Once again, Gajser showed his speed by posting the fastest times in both free practice and timed practice to give himself first gate-pick for the qualifying race. On was an altered start-straight from last year, the #243 was bumped out from his preferred line to head into the tight right-hander and he crossed the line for the first time much further down the field than he would have liked.

Knowing he had work to do, he quickly made a number of passes and was in fifth after the first complete lap. He then began to pick-off riders one by one on the narrow circuit, and by the midway point in the race he was into second. Unfortunately, the leader had built up a bit of a gap by that stage and although he was able to finish just over one second behind, he knows that he needs to be closer to the front if he wants to win the GP tomorrow.

One of the riders Gajser had to pass in the moto was teammate Fernandez, who stormed out the gate on his Honda CRF450R to take the holeshot and lead the first three laps of the race. It was a great return to MXGP action for the Team HRC rider, after missing almost six months through an injury he sustained at the opening round of the series. Eventually, he finished in eighth place, but it was still very encouraging from the Spaniard that he had to pace to run up front in his first race back.

After such great weather today, the forecast looks like overnight rain which could change the track for the riders early-on tomorrow, but probably not enough to greatly affect the points-scoring motos which start at 14:15 and 17:10.

MX2
Ferruccio Zanchi fought through from an unfortunate start to finish 11th in his MXGP of Switzerland qualification race. The Team HRC rider was one of many who got caught up in a gate-malfunction and had to fight through from around 20^th place to get just outside the points. With longer races and hopefully an equal start, the Italian is hoping to score decent points tomorrow and battle it out with the top MX2 riders on this technical Frauenfeld circuit.

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 24:14.196; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:09.052; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:09.670; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:13.130; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:25.943; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:29.791; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +0:31.863; 8. Karlis Alberts Reisulis (LAT, Yamaha), +0:33.395; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:43.189; 10. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:56.963; 11. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:57.933;