Pirelli dominates the Grand Prix of Portugal of Motocross at Agueda
Double victory for Jeffrey Herlings in MXGP who continues to lead the Championship; Jorge Prado wins both races in MX2 but the red plate still belongs to Pauls Jonass
The Grand Prix of Portugal, at the Agueda circuit, hosted the fifth round of 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship. The scenic Portuguese track was particularly difficult due to heavy rains falls in the build-up to the event but, thanks to excellent preparation work, it was in pretty good condition for racing. The soil had been ripped to dry faster and the soft terrain meant the majority of Pirelli’s riders relied on the SCORPION™ MX32™ Mid Soft front and the SCORPION MX™ SOFT for the rear and the tyres have proved once again to be the more competitive product in the Pirelli range.
Jeffrey Herlings won both races in the MXGP class – as he did the previous weekend in Italy - and extended his championship lead to 16 points. Antonio Cairoli went 2-2 on the day and was the only rider capable to keep pace with the fast Dutchman. Third place meant a first podium appearance of the season for Tim Gajser who headed Romain Febvre, Glenn Coldenhoff and Jeremy Van Horebeek.
Portugal saw an excellent performance by Jorge Prado who took victory in qualifying and in the two races of the MX2 class. The Spaniard cut the gap in the championship standings to teammate Pauls Jonass to 14 points. The World Champion was fifth overall in Agueda. Thomas Kjer Olsen finished second ahead of surprising Australian Jed Beaton.
Pirelli also won the second round of the EMX250 European Championship thanks to the great double success obtained by Team Red Moto’s rider Mathys Boisrame.In two weeks time MXGP will move to Orlyonok, on the shores of the Black Sea, for the Grand Prix of Russia.
Race results (Pirelli riders in bold):
MXGP race 1
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)
2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)
3. GAJSER Tim (SLO)
4. PAULIN Gautier (FRA)
5. FEBVRE Romain (FRA)
MXGP race 2
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)
2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)
3. DESALLE Clement (BEL)
4. FEBVRE Romain (FRA)
5. GAJSER Tim (SLO)
MX2 race 1
1. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)
2. JONASS Pauls (LAT)
3. BEATON Jed (AUS)
4. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)
5. WATSON Ben (GBR)
MX2 race 2
1. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)
2. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)
3. WATSON Ben (GBR)
4. BEATON Jed (AUS)
5. BRYLYAKOV Vsevolod (RUS)
GP Overall:
MXGP
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)
2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA)
3. GAJSER Tim (SLO)
4. FEBVRE Romain (FRA)
5. COLDENHOFF Glenn (NED)
MX2
1. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)
2. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)
3. BEATON Jed (AUS)
4. WATSON Ben (GBR)
5. JONASS Pauls (LAT)
Championship overall:
MXGP
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED) p.241
2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA) p.225
3. FEBVRE Romain (FRA) p.169
4.DESALLE Clement (BEL) p.165
5. PAULIN Gautier (FRA) p.147
6. COLDENHOFF Glenn (NED) p.140
MX2
1. JONASS Pauls (LAT) p.216
2. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA) p. 202
3. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN) p.185
4.WATSON Ben (GBR) p.141
5. BEATON Jed (AUS) p.129
6. BRYLYAKOV Vsevolod (RUS) p.115
