Gajser wins German qualification to increase championship lead
Teutschenthal
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 14th 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.
I was really happy with my riding today and especially how I rode in that qualification race. The conditions weren’t easy with that shower during the moto but I was able to close the gap quickly to the leader and make a nice pass. I know I have been in this position before, having had a good qualification race, so now the goal is to continue that across both races tomorrow and if I do that, I’m sure I’ll be near the top of the podium and still holding the red-plate.
I was really happy with my riding today and especially how I rode in that qualification race. The conditions weren’t easy with that shower during the moto but I was able to close the gap quickly to the leader and make a nice pass. I know I have been in this position before, having had a good qualification race, so now the goal is to continue that across both races tomorrow and if I do that, I’m sure I’ll be near the top of the podium and still holding the red-plate.
It wasn’t the end result that I wanted but I’m still pleased with my riding. I made a lot of passes on a very tricky track and while I really wanted to keep up my points-scoring run, I feel like I’ll be able to have two good motos tomorrow and really show everyone a bit more of my true speed. A big thanks to all the team who are working with me to achieve these goals because it hasn’t been easy but I know we are on the right path.
It wasn’t the end result that I wanted but I’m still pleased with my riding. I made a lot of passes on a very tricky track and while I really wanted to keep up my points-scoring run, I feel like I’ll be able to have two good motos tomorrow and really show everyone a bit more of my true speed. A big thanks to all the team who are working with me to achieve these goals because it hasn’t been easy but I know we are on the right path.
Excellent riding from Tim when the track was probably at it’s hardest. The ruts had been developed so when the rain fell, it made everything slippery and mistakes were very easy to make. Instead, we saw the best of Tim and he won in a really impressive fashion and his confidence is growing as he head towards to middle-part of this season.
Ferro was unlucky in his race, as he had a decent start, but was just caught in something that wasn’t his fault. He passed as many guys as he could and I think he’ll be raring to go for the races tomorrow.
Excellent riding from Tim when the track was probably at it’s hardest. The ruts had been developed so when the rain fell, it made everything slippery and mistakes were very easy to make. Instead, we saw the best of Tim and he won in a really impressive fashion and his confidence is growing as he head towards to middle-part of this season.
Ferro was unlucky in his race, as he had a decent start, but was just caught in something that wasn’t his fault. He passed as many guys as he could and I think he’ll be raring to go for the races tomorrow.
