Lucas Coenen held his championship alive, even if his chances are slim. The Red Bull KTM factory rider took the lead on lap one, broke well away from everyone, and then just cruised to victory.

Second placed man was Romain Febvre, and that meant the championship gap going into Sunday was 46 points. Nearly impossible for Febvre to lose, but anything possible in this sport. Championship points are now Romain Febvre 938 points and Lucas Coenen 892pts.

Lucas Coenen: I mean, we know the points gap is big, but I want to keep fighting until the end The track is physical, bumpy and rough. We will try our best tomorrow and have some fun.

MXGP Qualification Race

Coenen with a big five second lead in the opening corners of the MXGP qualifier, with Guadagnini in second, then Geerts, Jonass, Bogers, Febvre, Gajser, Vlaanderen, Herlings and Bonacorsi in 10th. Geerts quickly dropped to sixth place with dropping to 11th place.

Wild scenes as the MXGP riders attack this magnificent circuit. Febvre into fourth and then third place with Herlings no 12th and struggling somewhat. Todd Waters the top Aussie in 16th place. Amazingly, Coenen with an eight second lead after a lap.

On lap two the lead by the Belgian was 11.6 seconds and he means business today. Herlings into ninth place and the top ten on lap two was Coenen, Guadganini, Febvre, Jonass, Bogers, Gajser, Geerts, Vlaanderen, Fernandez and Watson. Herlings back to 12th place.

Febvre all over Guadganini, as Herlings [assed Bonacorsi for 11th place. The lead by Coenen on lap three was 14 seconds. Febvre into second place, but Coenen some 16.5 seconds ahead and in a class of his own in this one. Herlings into 10th place with a pass on Watson.

Febvre closed up a little on Coenen, with the lead 15.3 on lap five and the remaining top ten was Febvre, Guadganini, Jonass, Gajser, Vlaanderen, Bogers, Geerts, Fernandez and Herlings 10th. Not a lot happening with the front guys, as the lead by Coenen remained at 14.6 seconds on lap seven.

Some changes in the top ten was Vlaanderen passed Gajser and Herlings passed Bogers. Top ten on lap eight was Coenen with a 14.2 second lead by Febvre, then Guadagnini, Jonass, Vlaanderen, Gajser, Geerts, Fernandez, Herlings and Coldenhoff.

Fernandez passed Geerts for seventh place as Coenen continued to be too strong for everyone today. The Belgian teenager winning from Febvre and Guadagnini.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 23:36.321; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:21.099; 3. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Ducati), +0:27.959; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:31.357; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:34.883; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:38.518; 7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:40.752; 8. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:41.456; 9. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.057; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:47.258; 11. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:48.599; 12. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), +0:52.526; 13. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +0:54.504; 14. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Fantic), +0:58.607; 15. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +0:59.954; 16. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:22.163; 17. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Honda), +1:27.054; 18. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:30.469; 19. Tom Koch (GER, Beta), +1:31.622; 20. Zac Watson (AUS, Triumph), -1 lap(s); 21. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 22. Hugh McKay (AUS, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 23. Cooper Holroyd (AUS, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 24. Cody O'loan (AUS, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 25. Jacob Sweet (AUS, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 26. Levi Rogers (AUS, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 27. Connar Adams (AUS, Triumph), -2 lap(s); 28. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -9 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 938 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 892 p.; 3. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 665 p.; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 604 p.; 5. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 586 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 567 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 527 p.; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, FAN), 508 p.; 9. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 470 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 368 p.; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 314 p.; 12. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 300 p.; 13. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 292 p.; 14. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 290 p.; 15. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 263 p.; 16. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 251 p.; 17. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 243 p.; 18. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, DUC), 233 p.; 19. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HON), 191 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 168 p.

Full results soon

JP/KTM image