Evgeny Bobryshev wins the qualifying race at the FIM Motocross World Championship opener in Losail, Qatar.
Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev claimed the win in today’s MXGP qualifying race at the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship opener, the GP of Qatar, at Losail, in Qatar today.
Boberyshev pulled the holeshot in the race and led every lap of the 20-minute moto, crossing the finish line 1.8 seconds ahead of reigning MX2 World Champion Tim Gajser, the latter making his MXGP debut for Gariboldi Honda. Reigning MXGP World Champion Romain Febvre finished third on his Monster Energy Yamaha in the qualifying race, 6.7 seconds behind Bobryshev. The results from the qualifying race determine the gate pick for tomorrow’s GP.
“I’m really happy with today” Bobryshev said. “We’ve been working really hard these last weeks on starts, and today the start was good. In the race I felt a little tight on the bike because I haven’t ridden for the last five days so I was getting a little bit of arm pump, and I made a few mistakes and lost some seconds to Gajser. I had good speed, though, and I could control the race until the end, so I’m really happy. It’s just qualifying, but it’s a good way to start the season.”
After posting the fastest lap time during in the timed practice session held earlier in the evening, Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin got off to a poor start in the qualifying race and had to battle his way through the pack. The Frenchman worked his way up to sixth place, behind Red Bull KTM teammates Antonio Cairoli and Glenn Coldenhoff by the finish.
“I wanted to start on the first gate, and actually under my gate there was a little hole so I lost traction,” Paulin said. “From that point it made my race really hard, but here sixth on the gate will be enough. It was slippery because they watered the track a lot, so at the start to get out of the line to pass was really muddy. It’s funny–a muddy race in the desert. But anyway the speed is good and I’m feeling okay.”
Team HRC General Manager Roger Harvey characterized the team’s results as “really good.”
“Everybody’s worked hard in the winter on everything, and the riders on the physical preparation, so we’re happy,” Harvey said. “Okay, it’s qualifying, but if you’re going to start the season one way, then that’s a good way to start it. Bobby [Bobryshev] showing exactly what Bobby can do is great to see. GP [Paulin] just missed the start and then had to fight back through some traffic, but sixth will be fine for him tomorrow, and we saw in the timed practice that his speed is good. Tim [Gasjer] also rode very well, but we expected him to mix it from the start.”
The GP of Qatar takes place tomorrow under the lights at Losail.
2016 FIM Motocross World Championship
MXGP of Qatar
Losail Motocross Track
Losail, Qatar
Qualifying Race Results: February 26, 2016 (Round 1 of 18)
MXGP
1. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS)-Hon
2. Tim Gasjer (SLO)-Hon
3. Romain Febvre (FRA)-Yam
4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA)-KTM
5. Glen Coldenhoff (NDL)-KTM
6. Gautier Paulin (FRA)-Hon
7. Max Nagl (GER)-Hus
8. Shaun Simpson (GBR)-KTM
9. Tommy Searle (GBR)-Kaw
10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL)-Suz
11. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL)-Yam
12. Valentin Guillod (SWI)-Yam
13. Jose Burton (SPA)-KTM
14. Alessandro Lupino (ITA)-Hon
15. Tanel Leok (EST)-Kaw
16. Milko Potisek (FRA)-Yam
17. Ben Townley (NZL)-Suz
18. Christophe Charlier (FRA)-Hus
19. Alex Snow (GBR)-Yam
20. Kei Yamamoto (JPN)-Hon
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