Team HRC’s Tim Gajser took over the lead in the 2024 MXGP World Championship after one-ten results in treacherous conditions at the Agueda track in Portugal sees him leave this weekend with a 14-point advantage over his nearest competitor.

“Of course,” Gajser said. “It is great to get the red-plate after all the work we’ve put in. Even getting the podium position after that second moto was a surprise but those conditions it can be a lottery. I made far too many mistakes, which is frustrating as I had a really good start before that first mistake and from there on it was just survival. It was also a shame because the first moto was a really good one for me. I got the holeshot and had a good battle for the lead and eventually won in really difficult conditions. Overall though, to get on the podium, winning two of the three motos over the weekend and to get the red-plate I have to be happy with that.

Gajser put his Honda CRF450R in prime position on Saturday, after taking an impressive victory in the MXGP of Portugal qualification race, held in what were extremely muddy conditions at the Agueda circuit.

“Very happy with today’s race in what were very difficult conditions. The rain hit the circuit and although it wasn’t actually raining for our race, it really changed the track from the morning session. It was nice to get a good start and although I went a bit wide, I made a double-pass early-on to get into the lead and from there I controlled the race. Lappers slowed my momentum midway through and allowed the riders behind to close up but I was able to keep my lead and win another qualification race and close the gap at the top of the championship a bit more. Tomorrow could be worse conditions but I’m feeling good and looking forward to it.”

It was dry in free practice when Gajser hit the track for the first time, but by the time they were trying to put in their hotlaps for qualification gate-pick, rain was already starting to affect the surface. In the end, the Slovenian was sixth which still gave him a chance of a good start, and after a heavy rain deluge that turned the loamy conditions into deep mud, he took full advantage by powering around everyone and taking the qualifying race holeshot. Unfortunately, he did run a little wide in the second corner, where the mud was still a bit deep and let a couple of riders through but after three more bends, he put on an impressive move to pass both the riders in front and re-take the lead.

From there, he put in a couple of fast laps to breakaway from the field and open up a nice gap, in what were treacherous, rutted conditions. Everything was going well but midway through the race he got caught behind lappers and the gap closed right up again. It was unfortunate because he was riding so comfortably, but he kept his cool, put in a couple of really fast laps to hold onto the lead and took the chequered flag in celebratory mood.

The victory not only gives him first gate-pick for the two motos on Sunday, but it also gives him the maximum 10 points and has closed the gap in the championship table to just seven points. While there is still a long way to go in the series, it was an important boost for his confidence and he’ll be lining up in what is predicted to be worse weather, determined to take his first GP overall of the season and close up the gap even more.

After taking the qualification race victory yesterday, Gajser used the first gate-pick with maximum effect by taking his first holeshot of the season on the extremely muddy circuit. With the rain falling heavily throughout the moto, Gajser fought hard for every inch, balancing attack and defence, whilst also fighting the mud. In the end he was able to pull out a comfortable win as the track took a number of victims, moving him into a virtual red-plate situation as the points-tally was totalled after the first moto.

Once again, he got a great start in the second moto but as he neared the holeshot line, he slid out in the slippery mud and narrowly avoided getting hit by the rest of the field as they went through. He remounted in last place and then set about trying to dice his way through the field in what were still treacherous conditions. By the end of the first full lap, he had made his way up to 13th, but the risk factor is always high when making passes in the deep mud and unfortunately an off-track excursion cost him a few of spots on lap three. He wasn’t deterred though, gradually moving through the field to get all the way up to 10th by the time he crossed for the chequered flag.

This gave him 36 points from the two motos, which was enough for third spot on the podium – continuing his 100% podium record – and also completed a 27-point swing over the course of the weekend to move the Slovenian 14 points clear at the head of this extremely competitive MXGP title battle. The #243 doesn’t have long to recover from the ordeals of this gruelling event though, because up next is a new round at the Lugo circuit in Spain this coming weekend on May 11-12.