Cairoli Rolls!

Cairoli wins his 80th

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Antonio Cairoli has taken control of the MXGP championship with his 80^th Grand Prix victory in Germany today and extended his points lead over second placed man Tim Gajser. The legend went 2-1 and swapped moto wins with MX2 world champion Jeffrey Herlings, who went 1-2 for second overall.

Antonio Cairoli: Yes, its my 80^th GP win, so I am very happy. I am looking forward to France, because I feel good at the moment. Yes, it’s important to get good starts and we worked on it, and this week good starts, so it makes it easier, when you start 15^th or 20^th it’s difficult to come through. First moto I struggled a little bit and Jeffrey had good lines, but I tried to look around for better lines. Second moto I head from the beginning until the end and I have a lot of fans in France, so I look forward to that.

Jeffrey Herlings: I felt like half way that I wasted so much energy to get from 10^th to second and I used so much energy. The speed is there, but I had two bad starts, we need to get it all together and the last piece of the puzzle is the starts. I am looking forward to Ernee and get my starts improved

Gautier Paulin: Actually, both motos I made mistakes in the first corner. First moto I had to pass hard, and Antonio and Jeffrey already made the gap. Second moto I made mistakes and I had a good rhythm in the end and I caught back up to Jeffrey, but some lappers got in the way. I want to thank the team, we did a good job and we work hard.

Cairoli showed quick starts mean everything as he led both moto’s early, and didn’t let the Dutchman get close enough in the second moto to take the overall win. Herlings, who didn’t have brilliant starts, but showed great speed to once again show he is back to his best.

As for Tim Gajser, his weekend was once again full of crashes, and pain, as he finished with 12-10. Herlings is now just 40 points off Gajsers second place in the MXGP points. Amazing when you consider a little over a month ago he was 110 points behind the defending champion.

In a piece of brilliance, Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has won the opening MXGP moto from red plate owner and eight time world champion Antonio Cairoli. The two KTM riders put in a battle for the ages, in a season that just continues to produce the unexpected. Swapping the lead, and racing very close it was exciting for the large crowd in attendance.

“It was a tough race,” Herlings said. “I started well, worked my way into the lead, but Tony is tough, he didn’t give up. Its not my favourite track, but I had to give 100%. It was a good moto, I am very happy with it.”

Cairoli took the holeshot from Desalle, and Herlings. Coldenhoff was fourth, then came Van Horebeek, Paulin, Anstie, Tixier, Butron and Tonus.

Herlings was all over Desalle, who was doing some blocking, and Cairoli got away a little. Herlings made a pass on Desalle, and set out after the leader. Gajser back in 13^th position.

Cairoli still getting away, despite Herlings having a clear track, but as we saw yesterday, Herlings seems to have a lot in the second part of the race. Paulin and Febvre went past Coldenhoff.

Paulin passed Van Horebeek and was all over Desalle, while Herlings gets away from those guys. Febvre was all over Van Horebeek, just as they did in the qualification race on Saturday. Coldenhoff passed Febvre, who made a small mistake, and Tonus was close to Febvre also.

Tonus railed around the outside of Febvre and passed. Herlings catching Cairoli, and you could be sure, the Dutchman would be onto the Italian sooner, rather than later.

Herlings moved even closer to Cairoli and on lap four it looked like we were heading for a nice battle. Herlings clearly the fastest rider on the track. The Bullet is really back. Herlings breezed past the Italian for the lead. It looked easy for the MX2 world champion.

Herlings was gone, and just like he did to the MX2 competition, he was doing with the MXGP riders at this stage. Tonus crashed out, and dropped a few places.

After five laps it was Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Anstie, Tixier and Jasikonis. Tonus down in 12^th and Gajser 13^th.

Tixier crashed and dropped a bunch of position, and that put Nagl into the top ten. Gajser moves to 12^th place.

Not a lot happening as the riders spread out, and Herlings lead opens up to four seconds. After 10 laps its Herlings just three seconds ahead of Cairoli, then Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, COldenhoff, Febvre, Anstie, Jasikonis and Nagl.

Cairoli closing on on the lead, just as he does so often to his opposition. Both riders are fast late, but the Italian has so much experience. Herlings made a few mistakes and the Italian is all over the Dutchman.

Another brilliant end to another MXGP moto. You can’t write this stuff, just amazing. Can’t imagine Herlings isn’t feeling the pressure from the legend. Cairoli having all sorts of problems with lapped riders.

Herlings got away from Cairoli, but with four laps to go you can count on the Italian coming back for more. After 15 laps it was Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Anstie, Jasikonis, and Tonus.

Herlings holding the lead, but massive pressure from the Italian. The battle we all wanted to see, the legend versus the new man on the block. Intense racing from these two.

Probably the race of the season so far, and that is saying something. These two are gone from the others. Three seconds a lap quicker than the other MXGP riders, and the pace hasn’t slowed.

Herlings broke away a little and I think Cairoli had conceded to the younger team-mate. Herlings wins it from Cairoli, WOW, just WOW.

Cairoli holeshot the second MXGP moto from Paulin, Desalle, Van Horebeek, Butron, Coldenhoff, Nagl, Herlings, Ullrich, and Anstie. Herlings quickly moved into fifth place and he was pushing hard.

Cairoli though is looking sharp up front, as he leads two other veterans in Paulin and Desalle. Herlings closing in on Van Horebeek. Herlings easily passes Van Horebeek, and goes after Desalle. This is a repeat of the first moto.

Talkessel isn’t a track to make up time quickly, so its going to be a tough job for the Dutchman. After two laps its Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Herlings, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Butron, Anstie, Nagl and Jasikonis.

Herlings really struggling to find a way past Desalle, as Febvre comes back from a 15^th place start and moves into 10^th place. Gajser back in 15^th spot.

After five laps Cairoli has a three second lead over Paulin, with Desalle next, then Herlings, Van Horebeek, Coldenhoff, Anstie, Nagl, Febvre, and Jasikonis. Herlings clocks his quickest lap of the race.

Herlings goes past Desalle and moved into third spot. He quickly made distance from the Belgian, and will chase down Paulin. Van Horebeek goes down and is struggling to get going again. Herlings moving closer to Paulin, and Febvre up to seventh place.

Herlings all over Paulin and makes a beautiful pass to get past Paulin and move into second place. Cairoli only five seconds ahead with 12 minutes and two laps to go. As he did with Desalle, Herlings has dropped Paulin quickly. Cairoli gets away a little from Herlings as he turned up the wick and extends the lead to seven seconds.

Coldenhoff nearly crashed and went off the track, handing Anstie and Febvre better track position. The lead by Cairoli extends to nine seconds and with six minutes and two laps remaining he is looking safe.

After 13 laps its Cairoli, Herings, Paulin, Desalle, Anstie, Febvre, Coldenhoff, Nagl, Jasikonis, and Gajser 10^th.

The final stages of the second moto didn’t see many changes as Cairoli continued to lead and Herlings rode a just as lonely race in second place. Paulins did get close to Herlings, but couldn’t get close enough.  Cairoli does a nacnac as he crosses the line for victory in the moto and the Grand Prix.

 MXGP – Overall Classification

1 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 22 25 47
2 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 25 22 47
3 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM HUS 20 20 40
4 25 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB KAW 18 18 36
5 461 Febvre, Romain FRA FFM YAM 14 16 30
6 259 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV KTM 15 14 29
7 99 Anstie, Max GBR ACU HUS 13 15 28
8 12 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB HUS 11 13 24
9 27 Jasikonis, Arminas LTU LMSF SUZ 10 12 22
10 89 Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB YAM 16 6 22