As the FIM World Motocross Championship rolled into the classic venue of Maggiora Park for the MXGP of Italy, so too did the rainclouds to make it a muddy start to the weekend, just like we experienced at this circuit last year!

After extensive work to the track, the RAM Qualifying Races served up another tough challenge for the MXGP stars to master, and once more dealing with the mud was a necessary skill to gain some serious Championship points!

In MXGP it was a fifth RAM Qualifying Race win for Team HRC’s Tim Gajser, who enjoyed utter domination with a near 34-second victory over Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star Jeffrey Herlings.

The MX2 battle went right down to the final lap, as Liam Everts took the win for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing with a late move past Simon Laengenfelder, who still moves back up to second in the Championship for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing!

Tim Gajser had a perfect start to the day with the fastest lap in both Free Practice and Time Practice sessions. His speed was amazing in the second session as he was over four seconds faster than second-placed rider Brian Bogers, who took the inside start gate on his Fantic Factory Racing machine.

At the start, Gajser rocketed into the lead as Herlings carved across the front of Bogers to claim second place, although he had to deal with Andrea Bonacorsi on the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP bike to make sure of the position.  Bogers pulled an amazing move through the second and third corners to fire from sixth into third!  The Dutchman would chase his record-holding countryman Herlings, right to the flag, but the leading three positions would not change from there.

Bonacorsi got cross-rutted up the first big hill, and Team Ship to Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR rider Kevin Horgmo could not avoid him!  The two riders did get up and charged back to an eventual ninth and tenth, deserving their small points haul with brilliant riding through the pack.

One rider who didn’t get a good start, for once, was Red Bull GASGAS Factory Rac