Lets take a look back on The MXGP of Portugal of 2019, which was won by Tim Gajser and amazingly, while it was five years ago, five of the top then from that day on May 19, 2019 have now retired, those being Antonio Cairoli, Arnaud Tonus, Clement Desalle, Julien Lieber and Gautier Paulin. 

If you add names like Arminas Jasikonis, Jeremy Van Horebeek, Alessandro Lupino, Tommy Searle, Shaun Simpson, Tanel Leok, Kevin Strijbos and Max Anstie, then a large portion of this 2019 field are no longer racing, or no longer racing GP. Obviously though, they are replaced with the much younger MX2 riders like, Kevin Horgmo, Jago Geerts, Maxime Renaux and so forth.

Looking Back on 2019

HRC factory rider Tim Gajser made good of his poor performance in Mantova a week earlier with a perfect 1-1 in Portugal in 2019. The two time World champion scored his 17^th GP victory of his career and closed up the points lead by Antonio Cairoli, who went 2-2.

“I am really happy,” Gajser said. “I was enjoying the whole weekend. We had a solid start and then Tony made a mistake, and I won the race. Last weekend we were struggling and didn’t ride well and this week we regrouped and I want to thank my team and all the fans and everyone around me."

"Yes,” Cairoli said. “Not so happy of course, but its part of racing. First moto I stalled my bike and then I was struggling to pass Desalle and I had arm pump and I passed him, but then I made a small mistake and he passed me. I had to work back to second and it isn’t what you expect after Mantova, but Tim was very strong today and I am holding control for the championship."

Gajser won a sensational opening MXGP moto in Portugal as the former champion put together his quickest lap of the race on the final lap, just beating Antonio Cairoli by half a second. Third was Arnaud Tonus.

“It was an amazing race. I was second and following Tony and trying to find nice lines and he made a mistake and I passed him and then we both pushed really hard. I am looking forward to the second one.”

Cairoli led from Gajser, Tonus, Desalle, Lupino, Lieber, Searle, Paulin, Jonass and Seewer 10^th. Van Horebeek and Anstie both well back at the back of the pack. Paulin also down and in last position.

Jonass a nice move as he passed Lupino, and Febvre and Coldenhoff move into the top ten. Gajser not letting Cairoli get too far away early on. Lupino dropped to 10^th place as Coldenhoff went 8^th and Febvre 9^th.

After a lap it was Cairoli, Gajser, Seewer and Tonus up front. Van Horebeek and Anstie both flying as they moved into 15^th and 18^th respectively. Seewer nearly down as he is pushing really hard behind Gajser.

After four laps the lead was a second with Cairoli just ahead of Gajser, then Seewer third a couple of seconds further back, followed by Tonus, Lieber, Desalle, Jonass, Febvre, Coldenhoff and Lupino 10^th.

Jasikonis went past Leok and moved up on Searle for 13^th place. Simpson just ahead of them in 12^th place. Van Horebeek also past Leok for 15^th place.

10 laps in and the lead was still just a second, and not a lot happening with Gajser second, Tonus third, then Seewer, Lieber, Desalle, Jonass, Febvre, Coldenhoff, and Lupino.

Gajser into the lead on lap 12 as Cairoli stalled his bike and the HRC rider moved past. Cairoli though will never give up and this race looked like it would go down to the wire.

Gajser and Cairoli both battling hard for the lead and with three laps remaining it was anyones race. Tonus just five second back in third and also riding well. The remaining top ten was Seewer, Lieber, Desalle, Jonass, Coldenhoff, Febvre and Lupino.

Last lap and the two leaders came across lappers and Gajser maybe got the upper hand due to the slower riders. Both right on the limit as they push for the win. Cairoli went for an inside pass but didn’t get it, then tried the outside. Cairoli made a mistake and the win went to Gajser.

Desalle in the lead of the second MXGP moto, and then Cairoli, Tonus, Paulin, Lupino, Gajser, Seewer, Lieber, Jonass and Coldenhoff. Gajser nearly down in a while mistake but kept his position.

Been a while since Desalle led a Sunday and he looked sharp in first. After a lap it was Desalle, Cairoli, Tonus, Gajser, Seewer, Paulin, Febvre, Jonass, Coldenhoff, Van Horebeek 10^th.

Gajser into third place and four Yamahas of Tonus, Seewer, Paulin and Febvre in chase. Simpson 12^th and Searle 13^th.

Gajser moving fast and onto Cairoli for second place. Nice to see Desalle and Cairoli battling again, wasn’t sure we would see this in 2019. Seewer went past Tonus, and Jasikonis up to 16^th place.

Cairoli really pushing the Belgian for the lead and Gajser fighting hard to stay with them. Nice move by Cairoli to take the lead and Gajser also went past into second place. Gajser wants this GP, but at the moment they are equal on points.

Cairoli went down in a corner and dropped back to fourth place. Gajser now looking likely to win the GP. After nine laps it was Gajser, Desalle, Tonus, Cairoli, Seewer, Paulin, Febvre, Jonass, Coldenhoff and Lieber 10^th.

After 12 laps Cairoli making no impression on Desalle and Tonus and Gajser was long gone. A nice 10 second lead to the HRC rider on lap 12. Tonus into second and Cairoli also goes past Desalle.

Cairoli into second place, but with a lead of 10 second Gajsers race and GP victory is secure. Gajser wins it from Cairoli and Tonus.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:00.609; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.197; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:17.885; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:27.240; 5. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:28.880; 6. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:29.847; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:35.562; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:51.205; 9. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:52.970; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:53.969; 11. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:54.782; 12. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +1:00.629; 13. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:02.850; 14. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:03.478; 15. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +1:04.069; 16. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:06.802; 17. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:08.623; 18. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:10.058; 19. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), +1:18.321; 20. Brian Bogers (NED, Honda), +1:20.079; 21. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), +1:23.522; 22. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:38.360; 23. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), +1:42.462; 24. Anton Gole (SWE, Yamaha), +1:54.438; 25. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 26. Micha-Boy De Waal (NED, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 27. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 28. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 29. Artem Guryev (RUS, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 30. Sandro Peixe (POR, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 31. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), -9 lap(s); 32. Ander Valentin (ESP, Husqvarna), -13 lap(s);

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 34:47.988; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.604; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +0:12.909; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:15.819; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:18.856; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:20.225; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Husqvarna), +0:22.115; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:24.630; 9. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:27.080; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:30.999; 11. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +0:45.241; 12. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Honda), +0:50.486; 13. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:51.999; 14. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:52.292; 15. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, Yamaha), +0:58.562; 16. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), +1:00.403; 17. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:07.647; 18. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:08.643; 19. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), +1:16.227; 20. Anton Gole (SWE, Yamaha), +1:19.066; 21. Brian Bogers (NED, Honda), +1:21.537; 22. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +1:29.047; 23. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, Yamaha), +1:33.510; 24. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 25. Sandro Peixe (POR, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 26. Artem Guryev (RUS, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 27. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 28. Micha-Boy De Waal (NED, Yamaha), -5 lap(s); 29. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), -14 lap(s); 30. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, Yamaha), -19 lap(s); 

MXGP - GP Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 50 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 33 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 29 p.; 6. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 28 p.; 7. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 28 p.; 8. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 10. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 22 p.; 11. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 20 p.; 12. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 18 p.; 13. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 18 p.; 14. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 16 p.; 15. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 12 p.; 16. Benoit Paturel (FRA, KAW), 8 p.; 17. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 6 p.; 18. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 6 p.; 19. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 5 p.; 20. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), 4 p.; 21. Anton Gole (SWE, YAM), 1 p.; 22. Brian Bogers (NED, HON), 1 p.; 23. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 0 p.; 24. Jorge Zaragoza (ESP, YAM), 0 p.; 25. Sandro Peixe (POR, SUZ), 0 p.; 26. Artem Guryev (RUS, HUS), 0 p.; 27. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, YAM), 0 p.; 28. Micha-Boy De Waal (NED, YAM), 0 p.; 29. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), 0 p.; 30. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, YAM), 0 p.; 31. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), 0 p.; 32. Ander Valentin (ESP, HUS), 0 p.; 

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 285 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 251 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, YAM), 197 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 175 p.; 5. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HUS), 166 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 153 p.; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 137 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, HON), 136 p.; 9. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 122 p.; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 120 p.; 11. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 116 p.; 12. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 114 p.; 13. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 85 p.; 14. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, KTM), 78 p.; 15. Max Anstie (GBR, KTM), 74 p.; 16. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 71 p.; 17. Brian Bogers (NED, HON), 56 p.; 18. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 51 p.; 19. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 47 p.; 20. Benoit Paturel (FRA, KAW), 40 p.; 21. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 36 p.; 22. Vsevolod Brylyakov (RUS, YAM), 31 p.; 23. Harri Kullas (EST, HON), 18 p.; 24. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 16 p.; 25. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, YAM), 15 p.; 26. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, YAM), 14 p.; 27. Petar Petrov (BUL, KTM), 14 p.; 28. Anton Gole (SWE, YAM), 13 p.; 29. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, YAM), 8 p.; 30. Dean Ferris (AUS, YAM), 6 p.; 31. Joaquin Poli (ARG, HON), 3 p.; 32. Pascal Rauchenecker (AUT, KTM), 2 p.; 33. Juan Pablo Luzzardi (ARG, KTM), 1 p.; 34. Jetro Salazar (PER, HON), 1 p.;

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