MOTOCROSS MXGP OF Qatar 2017

GP1: Qatar - Double win for Jonass

The 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship kick off this weekend in Losail (Qatar) where Latvian Pauls Jonass claimed his first ever double victory in the MX2 class. Belgians Julien Lieber and Clement Desalle also enjoyed the podiums celebrations in the spotlights of Losail.

With reigning World Champion Herlings moving in the MXGP class, Pauls Jonass is now the leader of the factory KTM team in the MX2 class, and the young Latvian rode perfectly to a double win this weekend. “I didn't expect that I would get two moto wins this weekend as well as qualifying. I had a good gate pick, two good starts, two consistent motos without any big mistakes – which was also a goal coming to this race – and to go home with two wins and my first overall makes me so happy. We still have eighteen GPs to go; it is such a long season. It will be difficult to continue like we were today but I will do my best! Today I really enjoyed my riding. I think I still have a lot of room for improvement but I am so happy with the bike and the team have done so much,” said Jonass who will have the red plate on his bike next weekend in Indonesia. Coming back to the GP’s after a long racing break Belgian Julien Lieber did a strong come back with a third overall on his private KTM.

In the MXGP class Antonio Cairoli also claimed a double win in Losail, where he beats reigning champion Tim Gajser and Belgian Clement Desalle. Injured last year before this GP, Desalle was the best Scott athlete in the main Motocross class. “It’s good to start the season with a podium. I came here with a good feeling on the bike after the pre-season races, and it was good to confirm this at the first GP. The feeling with the track was better today than yesterday; for sure it’s much easier when you start in front. I didn’t get the best starts, but I was in the top five each time. Here it’s very difficult to make the difference; there was one main line and it was very difficult to pass as everyone was taking the same ruts in the corners; in the second moto I was faster than Febvre, but never found a place to pass him,” revealed the Belgian.

The series will now move to a new location in Indonesia, for the second round next weekend.

Results MXGP.

1.Cairoli (ITA, KTM)

2.Gajser (SLO, Honda)

3.Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

8.Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

MXGP World standings:

1.Cairoli, 50

2.Gajser, 42

3.Desalle, 40

8.Tixier, 24

Results MX2.

1.Jonass (LET, KTM), Scott Athlete

2.Paturel (FRA, Yamaha)

3.Lieber (BEL, KTM), Scott Athlete

8.Prado (SPA, KTM), Scott Athlete

10.Ostlund (SUE, Yamaha), Scott Athlete

MX2 World Standings

1.Jonass, 50

2.Paturel, 44

3.Lieber, 40

8.Prado, 24

10.Ostlund, 19