Press Release | October 1, 2018
Jeffrey Herlings Dominates the Last Race of the Season in the MXGP Class. Jorge Prado Wins both Races and Grabs the MX2 Title
This is a press release from Pirelli…
Imola, Italy (October 1, 2018) – The Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola hosted the last round of the 2018 FIM World Motocross Championship; the Grand Prix of Italy. The beautiful and spectacular track built across the final part of the historic Italian facility that in 1948 hosted the first international motocross competition held in Italy was constructed from hard-packed terrain and rocky soil. In the conditions Scorpion MX32 Mid Soft front and rear tires were the winning choice of Pirelli-equipped riders who achieved victories and podium placements in both classes. Plenty of Italian fans filled the natural landscape of Rivazza’s hillside throughout the weekend.
Freshly crowned at Assen two weeks ago, Jeffrey Herlings was unstoppable at Imola; dominating the qualifying race and both motos. Tim Gajser was runner-up in both motos of MXGP and finished the season strong after beginning the year with an injury. Good positions also for Gautier Paulin and Jeremy Van Horebeek, who took fifth and sixth overall positions, respectively. Antonio Cairoli suffered some bad luck and was forced out of the race due to a crash on Saturday.
Jorge Prado confirmed a great season for KTM by claiming the MX2 title. The Red Bull KTM rider and Claudio De Carli’s latest protege arrived in Imola with the title already in his pocket thanks to Pauls Jonass’s absence due to a knee injury and took a double victory, owning the Grand Prix overall. Husqvarna factory riders Thomas Olsen and American Thomas Covington finished second and third overall. Thanks to today’s result the Olsen confirmed third place in the championship standings.
To close the motocross season the RedBud circuit in the United States of America will host the 71st edition of the Motocross of Nations that will bring the curtain down on a full year of successes for Pirelli and their riders.
Race results (Pirelli riders in bold):
MXGP race 1
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)
2. GAJSER Tim (SLO)
3. DESALLE Clement (BEL)
4. PAULIN Gautier (FRA)
5. LIEBER Julien (BEL)
MXGP race 2
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)
2. GAJSER Tim (SLO)
3. DESALLE Clement (BEL)
4.LIEBER Julien (BEL)
5. VAN HOREBEEK Jeremy (BEL)
MX2 race 1
1. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)
2. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)
3. JACOBI Henry (GER)
4. CERVELLIN Michele (ITA)
5. WELTIN Marshal (USA)
MX2 race 2
1. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)
2. LAWRENCE Hunter (AUS)
3. COVINGTON Thomas (USA)
4. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)
5. RODRIGUEZ Anthony (VEN)
GP Overall:
MXGP
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED)
2. GAJSER Tim (SLO)
3. DESALLE Clement (BEL)
4.LIEBER Julien (BEL)
5. PAULIN Gautier (FRA)
MX2
1. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA)
2. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN)
3. COVINGTON Thomas (USA)
4. CERVELLIN Michele (ITA)
5. JACOBI Henry (GER)
Championship overall:
MXGP
1. HERLINGS Jeffrey (NED) p.933
2. CAIROLI Antonio (ITA) p.782
3. DESALLE Clement (BEL) p.685
4. GAJSER Tim (SLO) p.669
5. PAULIN Gautier (FRA) p.574
6. FEBVRE Romain (FRA) p.544
MX2
1. PRADO GARCIA Jorge (SPA) p.873
2. JONASS Pauls (LAT) p.777
3. KJER OLSEN Thomas (DEN) p.673
4.WATSON Ben (GBR) p.602
5. COVINGTON Thomas (USA) p.599
6. VLAANDEREN Calvin (RSA) p.543