Kevin Strijbos led Team Belguim to the top qualifying spot with a big win in the Open class during today’s qualifying at the Motocross of Nations in Latvia. Photography Courtesy Youthstream.
Team USA got off to a rough start at the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations during today’s qualifying at the gnarly Zelta Zirgs circuit of Kegums, Latvia. Team Captain Ryan Dungey over-jumped a tabletop while running second in the MXGP race, the Red Bull KTM rider finishing third behind Frenchman Gautier Paulin and Belgian Jeremy Van Horebeek at the end of the qualifier.
In the MX2 division, Team USA’s AMA Motocross 250cc Champion Jeremy Martin was recoiling from an average start when the Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha rider hit a huge kicker and got chucked over the bars. Looking a little banged up, the Yamaha rider ended up pulling out of the race. There is no word yet on his status.
Meanwhile in the Open class, Eli Tomac crashed in turn one and took a while to get his bike started, but the GEICO Honda rider turned in a magnificent charge to work his way back into eighth by the end of the race.
With all three qualifying heat races in the bag, the defending champions Team Belgium will start on pole with Kevin Strijbos’ win in the Open race and Jeremy Van Horebeek’s second place in the MXGP race.
Team France’s Gautier Paulin won the MXGP race in style and with the combination of Dylan Ferrandis’ fourth in MX2, managed to qualify second. Team Great Britain rounded out the top three with a second place in the open class ridden by Dean Wilson and fifth in both MXGP and MX2 with Shaun Simpson and Tommy Searle.
The top five gate picks in tomorrow’s race will go to Belgium, France, Great Britain, Holland and Italy, in that order, while Team USA will be lining up in eighth position in each of the races.
MXGP Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 25:19.817; 2. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:02.363; 3. Ryan Dungey (USA, KTM), +0:03.469; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Honda), +0:09.991; 5. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:23.183; 6. Rui Goncalves (POR, Yamaha), +0:24.626; 7. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:26.533; 8. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), +0:28.398; 9. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), +0:29.476; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +0:38.277.
MX2 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 25:35.956; 2. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +0:05.285; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:07.289; 4. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.057; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:27.773; 6. Harri Kullas (EST, KTM), +0:29.099; 7. Alex Martin (PUR, Yamaha), +0:32.577; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Yamaha), +0:47.519; 9. Martin Barr (IRL, KTM), +0:57.440; 10. Kaven Benoit (CAN, KTM), +1:02.213.
OPEN Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), 25:36.461; 2. Dean Wilson (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:13.030; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:14.358; 4. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +0:17.281; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:18.572; 6. Dennis Ullrich (GER, KTM), +0:44.938; 7. Marc de Reuver (NED, Honda), +0:46.449; 8. Eli Tomac (USA, Honda), +0:48.024; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:55.434; 10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Kawasaki), +1:09.736
