MXGP: Irresistible Prado takes Mantova race one win

The second Mantova round of the 2020 MXGP World Championship season played host to the MXGP of Citta di Mantova. Tim Gajser led the championship coming into this GP and he had first gate pick after qualifying fastest in the morning.

Gajser picked the far inside gate, which turned out to be not a complete disaster for the #243 who came out inside the top 10. It was Jorge Prado, though, who made the holeshot ahead of Antonio Cairoli, although the Italian lost out to Jeremy Seewer in turn four as he missed the inside rut. Cairoli also lost a position and dropped to fourth when Romain Febvre passed him in the switchbacks. 

From there, things stayed almost exactly the same at the front. Indeed, there was not a single position change inside the top four from the moment Febvre passed Cairoli for third on the first lap. Things were tense, as Seewer pressured Prado, as in turn he was under pressure from Febvre, but the cold war never warmed up, and in fact Prado was able to ede away at the end of the race to win by over one second. It was the Spaniard’s second career MXGP race win, and continued his march towards the top of the championship. 

Behind, Jeremy Seewer was once again unable to pass his Spanish rival, who was strong in defense when necessary and finally just out of reach of the Swiss #91. Still, Seewer’s second place keeps him in the mix for the overall, and sees him close to within 12 points of the championship lead. 

Romain Febvre went backwards and forwards throughout the race. There were times when it seemed that he could have the potential to pass Seewer and maybe challenge Prado, and others where it looked like he would be coming under pressure from Cairoli behind. But ultimately, the #3 held on for third place – another solid ride from the Kawasaki rider. 

Antonio Cairoli’s race was rather like Febvre’s. At times, it looked like he could challenge the Frenchman ahead of him, at others it looked like he would be the victim of Tim Gajser behind, but in the end neither materialised and the Italian remained in fourth until the end. It continues Cairoli’s impressive consistency since the beginning of the Faenza triple header, in which time he has only finished outside of the top five on one occasion: when he broke his nose in the second moto at the weekend and finished 15th. Still, finishing ahead of Gajser means Cairoli’s championship deficit is now just three points, and he could reclaim the red plate by the end of the day. 

Fifth for Gajser was by no means a disaster, he still holds the championship lead going into the second moto. However, considering the lack of progress he was able to make after the first turn, perhaps he will see his choice of the inside gate as a mistake. Fortunately for the Slovenian, this is motocross, and he has another chance later today. 

Mitch Evans completed the top six on the #43 HRC Honda, ahead of Glenn Coldenhoff, Jeremy van Horebeek, Clement Desalle and Gautier Paulin who completed the top 10. 

Jordi Tixier was 11th, ahead of Calvin Vlaanderen and Henry Jacobi, the latter going down after contact with the former in the middle of the race. Behind, Monticelli was 14th after a small crash in the swtichbacks, whilst Brian Bogers completed the top 15. 

Samuele Bernardini was 16th, ahead of Tanel Leok, Petar Petrov, Adam Sterry and Dylan Walsh who rounded out the top 20.