Ryan Villopoto had a rough time in qualifying at Qatar, the opening round of the FIM World Motocross Grand Prix Championship. Photography by MXGP
The FIM World Motocross Grand Prix racers have officially spun their first laps of 2015, taking to the MXGP circuit in Losail, Qatar on Friday night for qualifying. Defending champion Tony Cairoli of the Red Bull KTM Factory Race Team showed the fast way around the fast and muddy course, as he grabbed the holeshot in the MXGP (450 class) qualifying heat and sailed to victory aboard his 350 SX-F.
Max Nagl of the Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory squad ran an early second, but soon succumbed to the advances of Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Clement Desalle and Honda’s Gautier Paulin, who ended the qualifying heat second and third, respectively. Nagl held on for fourth while Desalle’s Suzuki teammate Kevin Strijbos rounded out the top-five.
Defending MXGP Champion Tony Cairoli sending his Factory Red Bull KTM 350 SX-F into the Qatar night. Cairoli sailed to a win in the Friday night qualifying race. Photography by MXGP
All eyes were on Ryan Villopoto aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing KX450F, but he had a rather rough going in qualifying. After getting out of the gate in a mediocre position, Villopoto had to “bar-bang” his way through the pack. He went down once early in the race while trying to take some creative lines around traffic, but made a good push in the latter half of the race, and worked his way into eighth place. At the end of the 24-minute qualifier moto, Villopoto crossed the finish more than 33 seconds behind leader Cairoli.
Friday night’s qualifying race was the first official gate drop of the 2015 World Motocross GP series. Photography by MXGP
In the MX2 division, it was another Factory Red Bull KTM out front as Jeffrey Herlings led the way. Herlings moved into the lead on the last lap to take the win ahead of American Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Thomas Covington. Dylan Ferrandis, Alexander Tonkov and Max Anstie rounded out the top-five.
MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 23:57.028
2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:04.946
3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:07.150
4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:12.479
5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:16.261
6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:26.411
7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:32.424
8. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:33.693
9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:43.779
10. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:48.825
MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 24:28.446
2. Thomas Covington (USA, Kawasaki), +0:01.375
3. Dylan Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:02.747
4. Aleksandr Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna), +0:08.952
5. Max Anstie (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:15.652
6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), +0:18.887
7. Julien Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), +0:26.010
8. Jordi Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:33.476
9. Damon Graulus (BEL, Yamaha), +0:38.039
10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Suzuki), +0:44.011
