Reigning champs take pole positions in Argentina
By Infront Moto Racing on 4th Mar 18
The first day of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship racing season saw Red Bull KTM Factorys Antonio Cairoli and Pauls Jonass take the first qualifying race wins of the new season.
The 2017 MXGP World Champion, Cairoli appears faster than ever. Antonio had some of the fastest lap times in the free and time practice sessions before jumping to the front of the field in the qualifying race.
Out front Cairoli rode a strong race through until the finish saying in the press conference: It is nice for me to start another season, I am really happy that we are here in Argentina, nice weather, a nice track and one of my favourites I would say. I was good off the start and I was third then after the first half lap I could take the lead and I had good rhythm.
Behind Cairoli the racing was filled with action as Red Bull KTMs Jeffrey Herlings ran in second position. However a crash took the No.84 further back and though he tried to rebound from the mistake, apparent arm pump hindered him any further. Herlings qualified in seventh position and will look to reach the podium at the very least tomorrow.
Benefitting from the mistakes of Herlings immediately was Monster Energy Kawasakis Clement Desalle who took over second position. It didnt last though as Monster Energy Yamahas Jeremy Van Horebeek overtook his fellow countryman from Belgium.
Pauls Jonass
Behind the top three it was Van Horebeeks teammate Romain Febvre and Wilvo Yamahas Shaun Simpson. By the end Febvre nearly caught Desalle finishing just over half a second behind. Simpson however was another 10 seconds back of Febvre where he battled throughout the race with Rockstar Energy Husqvarnas Max Anstie.
The MXGP rookies, Wilvo Yamahas Jeremy Seewer and Monster Energy Kawasakis Julien Lieber both qualified inside the top ten split by MXGP veteran Rockstar Energy Husqvarnas Gautier Paulin in ninth with Seewer 8th and Lieber 10th respectively.
As defending MXGP Champion Cairoli won the MXGP qualifying race so too did his KTM teammate from the MX2 side. Pauls Jonass, a defending champion himself, set the tone for his weekend as well after getting a good start then passing Jorge Prado.
Jonass in the press conference said: I am really happy with the new bike and we did some good testing this winter and also we had a really good off season. Today in the race I got a good start and in the first laps I just rode my own race.
I always enjoy coming here to Argentina, it is a nice place and like Tony said there is also nice weather this year and it for sure always nice to start the season with a win. Prado similar to Herlings would ride in second until crashing in the technical wave section of the track.
Taking second position from Jorge was the Husqvarnas Thomas Kjer Olsen who earlier found a way around his teammate Thomas Covington. Covington continued to drop positions throughout the remainder of the race and eventually finished seventh even with his good start.
Ben Watson
One rider who looked turned heads in his first showing of 2018 was the new recruit to the Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team, Ben Watson. Watson worked his way forward throughout the 13 laps and came away with a strong third place.
One of the guys to watch in the 2018 season is Honda 114s Hunter Lawrence. Lawrence had the third fastest lap time in the time practice session earlier in the day and continued to show speed in qualifying finishing in fourth position.
Following Lawrences privateer Honda was Team HRCs new MX2 rider Calvin Vlaanderen. Vlaanderen has had a successful preseason leading up to this weekend and showed why as he flew by riders such as Thomas Covington on his way to fifth.
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