The steep slopes of the Glimminge Motorstadion near Uddevalla began a three-week run of racing for the MXGP World Motocross Championships today, with the RAM Qualifying Races producing some more stunning action in both classes as the amazing 2024 season continues!

The day began on a high note with an amazing and thrilling airplane show that captivated the fans and set the perfect tone for the action-packed event ahead.

The MXGP class saw a closely-fought victory for red plate holder Tim Gajser, who not only extended his Championship lead for Team HRC, but advanced to seven wins in RAM Qualifying Races this season, meaning that he is close to winning the RAM Driving Experience for the most Saturday wins on the year.  His main title challenger, reigning World Champion Jorge Prado, was right on his tail across the finish line for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing.

MX2 was witness to a brilliant battle at the front between Championship leader Kay de Wolf, who took his sixth RAM Qualifying Race victory of the year for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, and Dane Mikkel Haarup, who was close to his first race win for Monster Energy Triumph Racing.

Problems for Championship challengers Jeffrey Herlings and Lucas Coenen mean they have work to do to make up ground in tomorrow’s MXGP of Sweden!

Jeffrey Herlings showed his intent by topping the times for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in both Free Practice and Time Practice, leaving Gajser with the second gate pick ahead of Prado.

However, disaster struck for Herlings in the first corner, as he started on the fringe of the top ten but was unable to avoid a falling Calvin Vlaanderen, who slid to the floor on his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP machine just as Fantic Factory Racing star Brian Bogers took the holeshot ahead of the warring Gajser and Prado, who swapped places twice on the first lap!

Herlings had to fight from way outside the top twenty, and started picking off several riders at a time to break into the top ten on lap six.  Gajser, meanwhile, passed Bogers for the lead on lap four with a committed downhill leap, and Prado followed past a few turns later on the first cambered corner!

On a hard-packed, slippery circuit, Bogers then lost third to Kawasaki Racing Team star Romain Febvre, who would finish in that position.  Bogers only kept fourth after a spirited attack from Isak Gifting, who wore a viking hat and Swedish flag on the sighting lap to stir up the crackling atmosphere, fell short as the home hero clipped the Fantic’s back wheel on the face of the finish line jump and hit the ground hard! The Swede did well to salvage two points for JK Yamaha Racing in ninth, just ahead of Bogers’ teammate Glenn Coldenhoff.

Herlings advanced to a respectable seventh after passing TEM JP253 Racing’s Jan Pancar, earning himself 4 points to keep him within 44 points of Gajser i