MOTOCROSS GP OF QATAR 2014

MOTOCROSS GP OF QATAR 2014

GP1 MOTOCROSS: QATAR

First ever GP heat win for Dylan Ferrandis!

Dylan Ferrandis (Kawasaki CLS) is the first rider to win a heat race in the 2014 Motocross World Championship. The young Frenchman impressed fans with his winning performance in the opening race at the GP of Qatar. In the new MXGP class Steven Frossard (Kawasaki KRT) made a successful comeback as he narrowly missed the GP podium.

Matching last year’s schedule, the FIM Motocross World Championship kicked off under the spotlights inside the Losail road race facility, home of the MotoGP event.

In the MX2 class Dylan Ferrandis captivated the audience, as the young Frenchman now riding for CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy, beat reigning world champion Jeffrey Herlings in race one. Herlings had a bad start and finished runner up behind Ferrandis, who claimed his first ever heat win. Herlings had another poor start in race two, resulting in an exciting MX2 race before he finally crossed the finish line in first place. Swiss Arnaud Tonus, who crashed off the start, finished runner up in this second heat but unfortunately still missed the podium. Dylan Ferrandis placing second, behind Herlings explained, “I’m disappointed with my result in the second race, I lost a few positions and that cost me the overall GP victory after I had won the first moto. The last few laps of the first race were intense as Jeffrey was just behind me; it was stressful but I beat him and I am now even more determined to do it more often”.

In the MXGP class (formerly called the MX1) Gautier Paulin won the first GP of the season, trailed by Max Nagl and reigning champion Antonio Cairoli. Nagl won the first heat and Paulin took the second, followed by a strong come back by his new teammate Steven Frossard. “It was a good weekend for me. The first start was not so good but I recovered to fourth and was happy with this result. In the second race Gautier and I both had good starts and we led the race after I had passed Bobryshev and Cairoli on the first lap. I rode smoother in the second moto, but that’s normal as I’ve had many injuries during the last two seasons and didn’t do many races, so I need to get used to racing regularly again,” said a delighted Steven Frossard.

Teams and riders now travel to Si Racha (Thailand) home of the next GP this weekend.

Classification MXGP
1.Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki)
2.Nagl (GER, Honda)
3.Cairoli (ITA, KTM)
4.Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki) Scott athlete
5.Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha)
6.Searle (GBR, Kawasaki) Scott athlete
7.Desalle (BEL, Suzuki) Scott athlete
8.Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki)
9.Bobryshev (RUS, Honda)
10.Roelants (BEL, Honda)

Standings MX1
1.Paulin, 45
2.Nagl, 43
3.Cairoli, 42
4.Frossard, 40
5.Van Horebeek, 32
6.Searle, 29
7.Desalle, 27

Classification MX2
1.Herlings (NED, KTM)
2.Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki) Scott athlete
3.Febvre (FRA, Husqvarna)
4.Tonus (SWI, Kawasaki) Scott athlete
5.Butron (SPA, KTM)
6.Tonkov (RUS, Husqvarna)
7.Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki)
8.Tixier (FRA, KTM) Scott athlete
9.Gajser (SLO, Honda)
10.Charlier (FRA, Yamaha)

Standings MX2
1.Herlings, 47
2.Ferrandis, 40
3.Febvre, 34
4.Tonus, 33
5.Butron, 31
8.Tixier, 28