MXGP: Gajser Wins Race Two as Prado Claims First MXGP Overall Win

The second MXGP race of the MXGP of Citta di Faenza would once again be run in the absence of Jeffrey Herlings after his crash in time practice. 

Having taken his first MXGP win in the first race, though, all eyes were on Jeremy seewer to see if he could confirm his first premier class Grand Prix win.

Jorge Prado, once again, made the holeshot. Antonio Cairoli was close, as well, although was passed by Tim Gajser after a remarkable first lap from the #243 that saw him go from seventh to second.

Gajser wasn’t done there, either, and he set on after Prado. At the same time, there was a duel emerging for third, with Cairoli and Mitch Evans. Then there was another gap to fifth place, which was occupied by Glenn Coldenhoff. Behind the factory GASGAS rider was the two factory Kawasakis, and then Jeremy Seewer. 

Whilst the factory Kawasaki riders were engaged in civil war, a mistake from Jorge Prado allowed Tim Gajser to take the lead for the first time in Faenza with 18 minutes left on the clock. 

After Romain Febvre had dealt with his Kawasaki teammate, Clement Desalle, Seewer also found his way through on the Belgian with half the moto gone. The Swiss knew he needed to push to get by Febvre quickly to keep his chances of the overall alive, but as time went on those hopes dwindled. They were finally extinguished with a crash in the final 10 minutes from the #91. He didn’t lose positions, but a lot of time to Febvre was given up. 

At the front, Gajser was clear on his way to the moto win. Prado, as with Seewer in race one, could not match the pace of the #243, who finally won with a gap of four seconds over the Spaniard. 

Prado, though, did not need to worry about Gajser, as the struggles of Seewer in the second moto and his own comparative consistency meant the #61, with a 2-2 scorecard, would take his first ever MXGP class overall win. It is a large milestone in the career of Prado, which has gone from strength to strength, especially since the middle of 2018. 

Gajser’s victory was enough to secure him second in the overall and close to within 26 points of championship leader, Herlings. Also joining Gajser and Prado on the podium was Jeremy Seewer who, after his crash, held onto seventh to take third overall, although he will be frustrated that the GP overall still eludes him. 

Third in the second moto was Antonio Cairoli, whose race was up-and-down. He fought for most of it with Mitch Evans, with the pair exchanging positions multiple times, but it was the #222 who came out on top in the end. The 20 points are important for Cairoli, who is within a moto win of Herlings in the points, 22 down on his teammate. 

Evans was able to keep fourth place in the second race despite pressure coming from Coldenhoff and Febvre behind. It was an impressive performance by the Australian who is missing fitness and bike time after that shoulder reconstruction during the lockdown break, but his form is clearly returning. Behind him, Coldenhoff completed the top five ahead of Febvre, the aforementioned Seewer, Arminas Jasikonis, Clement Desalle and Gautier Paulin who completed the top 10. 

Jeremy van Horebeek was 11th, ahead of Alessandro Lupino, Brian Bogers, Pascal Rauchenecker and Tanel Leok who completed the top 15. In 16th place was Jordi Tixier, ahead of Thomas Covington – his best result in MXGP – Evgeny Bobryshev, Petar Petrov and Dylan Walsh who completed the top 20.