Five-time World motocross champion Tim Gajser of the HRC factory team, started his Turkish challenge with victory in the Saturday qualification race. The man with the red plate, the winner of the last Grand Prix in Switzerland and really showing who the boss is in the MXGP class. Defending champion Jorge Prado finished second and Jeffrey Herlings third. The points lead by Gajser over Prado goes to 19 points.

Tim Gajser: I mean, I had a lot of fun, the track doesn’t have a lot of traction or lines and I saw I was faster than Jeffrey and I made a pass. Jorge came with me, but at the end I could get a gap and control the race. Looking forward to tomorrow.

MXGP Qualification Race

Herlings finally a holeshot ahead of Gajser, Febvre, Prado, Renaux, Pancar, Seewer, Bonacorsi, Fernandez, Gilbert, and Forato. Prado moved past Febvre for third and once again the big three are first, second and third, and with Febvre and Renaux next, we also have a bunch of former or present World champions in the top five,15 titles between them.

Herlings and Gajser very close and Prado not letting these two get away and Gajser doing a nice block on Prado, who tried to ride around the outside. Gajser ran off the track and came close to going down, but regained composure and the second position. Prado also pushing hard and looking a little ragged.

Amazing how close these three are in speed and Febvre dropped off the pace in fourth place. Herlings blocked a pass by Gajser, but the Dutchman looks like he might be struggling a little with arm pump. A lot of pressure coming from Gajser and Prado.

Gajser looking very calm behind Herlings and Prado losing a little ground on the front two champions. Top ten on lap three was Herlings, Gajser, Prado, Febvre, Renaux, Fernandez, Seewer, Pancar, Guadagnini and Bonacorsi in 10th. Prado back behind Gajser again and Herlings a little gap now between himself and the HRC man.

Suddenly Febvre getting himself back in the picture as he closed up on Prado and a pass for him and for Gajser over Herlings sure would help the points for the HRC man. Gajser into the lead in a beautiful pass on Herlings.

Lap six it was Gajser, Herlings, Prado, Febvre within three seconds of eachother, then Renaux some 16 seconds behind the leader, followed by Fernandez, Seewer, Pancar, Guadagnini, and Bonacorsi in 10th. Gajser quickly put two seconds on Herlings and also clocked the best lap of the moto. Prado into second as he passed Herlings, who looks to be struggling again with his arms. Gajser the quickest lap again and Prado bettered it.

Three laps remaining and Prado gets within a second of Gajser, and again the Spaniard clocked the best lap of the race, but Gajser responded and remained with a two second lead. Gajser the great takes the win and remains with the momentum as we head into Sunday. Prado second and Herlings third.

MXGP - RAM Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 24:54.298; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:05.431; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:07.933; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.750; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:24.779; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:25.408; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:35.921; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:38.486; 9. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:39.965; 10. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:41.564; 11. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +0:42.921; 12. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:44.041; 13. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +0:44.897; 14. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:46.081; 15. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Beta), +0:54.272; 16. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), +0:56.184; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +0:57.232; 18. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), +1:05.915; 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +1:11.506; 20. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:15.376; 21. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, TM), -1 lap(s); 22. Ata Kuzu (TUR, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 23. Batuhan Demiryol (TUR, GASGAS), -2 lap(s); 24. Nikolaj Skovgaard (DEN, KTM), -4 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 870 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 851 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 826 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 592 p.; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 550 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 534 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 514 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 386 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 329 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 295 p.; 11. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 274 p.; 12. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 270 p.; 13. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 263 p.; 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 219 p.; 15. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 197 p.; 16. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 192 p.; 17. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 166 p.; 18. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 110 p.; 19. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 104 p.; 20. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 99 p

Bavo Swijgers image