HRC factory rider, Jeffrey Herlings has won the Saturday MXGP qualification race with a near flag-to-flag performance. While it was Isak Gifting with the early lead, Herlings moved into the top spot quickly and was followed by Kay De Wolf, and those two Hollanders just took off. Third was Andrea Adamo on the KTM factory machine.

Jeffrey Herlings: You know, this crash shouldn't have happened. An okay start, second or third and managed to do my own speed and control the race. Pulled the win and looking forward to tomorrow.

Kay De Wolf: It is going to an extra 10 minutes tomorrow and I was playing it smart and then Jeffrey fell in the final lap. I felt comfortable being behind Jeffrey and I will try and get a tow to the finish line tomorrow.

Championship points are Jeffrey Herlings 625 points, Lucas Coenen 566pts, Romain Febvre 545pts, Tim Gajser 496pts, and Andrea Adamo 419 pts. A 59 points lead for Herlings leading into tomorrow.

MXGP Qualification race

Gifting with the lead in the MXGP qualification race, then Herlings, De Wolf, Vialle, Adamo, Gajser, Bonacorsi, Febvre, Van De Moosdijk, Elzinga and Fernandez. Herlings into the lead and De Wolf also passed Gifting and chasing after Herlings. Febvre a mistake and dropped back into ninth place.

Herlings got away from De Wolf, who got away from Adamo, who had passed Gifting and Vialle also passed the Swedish rider. Then came Gajser, Bonacorsi, Fernandez, Febvre and Van De Moosdijk.

De Wolf a little closer to the leader, but Adamo lost a lot of ground on the two Dutchmen, who were 10 seconds ahead, and Vialle five seconds behind Adamo. Gajser still fifth, but 20 seconds behind Herlings, then came Gifting, Bonacorsi, Fernandez, Febvre and Van De Moosdijk.

Febvre maybe in trouble as his bike started to smoke and he didn’t look comfortable. Herlings and De Wolf look spectacular in front and Vialle closing up on Adamo for third place. Top ten on lap seven was Herlings, De Wolf, Adamo, Vialle, Gajser, Gifting, Febvre, Bonacorsi, Fernandez and Van De Moosdijk.

Herlings still in control on lap eight, but de Wolf not giving up as he lost a little ground, with the gap between the two Dutchmen now 4.2 seconds, with Adamo 30 seconds back, and Vialle 32 back. The lead grew to 6.2 seconds, and de Wolf probably struggling with condition, after being out for some time.

Gajser catching Vialle and Febvre getting closer to Gifting. Herlings still way out front now, with nearly 10 seconds over de Wolf. Gifting a crash and Febvre into sixth position. Herlings despite a last lap slip up and hit the deck, wins it from De Wolf and Adamo.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 24:25.951; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:14.080; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:36.879; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:39.911; 5. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +0:41.219; 6. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +0:56.865; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:07.257; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:10.487; 9. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Ducati), +1:14.031; 10. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:14.777; 11. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:16.234; 12. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), +1:18.498; 13. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), +1:31.108; 14. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, Fantic), +1:40.697; 15. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:50.956; 16. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KTM), +1:52.891; 17. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), +2:01.367; 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +2:04.907; 19. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +2:05.168; 20. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Cato Nickel (GER, Honda), -1 lap(s); 22. Thomas Vermijl (BEL, GASGAS), -1 lap(s); 23. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), -5 lap(s); 24. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), -9 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 625 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 566 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 545 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 496 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 419 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 417 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 408 p.; 8. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 373 p.; 9. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 301 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 273 p.; 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 245 p.; 12. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 219 p.; 13. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 204 p.; 14. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 200 p.; 15. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 187 p.; 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 134 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 130 p.; 18. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 102 p.; 19. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KTM), 75 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 73 p.; 21. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 22. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 55 p.; 23. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 43 p.; 24. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 43 p.; 25. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 40 p.; 26. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 37 p.; 27. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 33 p.; 28. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 29 p.; 29. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, FAN), 22 p.; 30. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 21