Cycle News Staff | June 14, 2021
2021 MXGP Of Russia Results From Orlyonok. The 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship got underway in Orlyonok, Russia, June 12-13, with the MXGP of Russia. And firing the first shot was defending champion Tim Gajser (Honda) who topped both MXGP motos.
Tim Gajser won both moths at the MXGP opener in Russia.
Gajser led all laps in moto one but had to come from behind after running off the track in the first turn at the start of moto two. He was ninth after the first lap and was already up to second by the sixth lap of what would be a 19-lap race. After passing former champ Jeffrey Herlings (Red Bull KTM) for second place, Gajser then set his sights on leader Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) and, on lap 12, got around the former champ, who would later go down, damaging his bike enough that he couldn’t finish.
“I’m really happy to be back racing, it’s been a long period without races,” Gajser said. “In the first race, I took a good start and my riding was good. In the second one, again my jump out of the gate was good and then someone from the inside pushed us completely off the track, I even jumped off the bike. I then searched for some lines for the first couple of laps and tried to make as many passes as possible and managed to get to Tony [Cairoli], then took a couple of laps to see what he was doing and then I made a pass for the win, so I’m happy.
“Defending the title is always the same pressure but I try to put that to the side,” he added. “It’s a new season, everybody is starting from zero and I just need to stay consistent, be smart as it’s a long season.”
Herlings was awarded second overall with a 4-2, while Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) filled out the MXGP podium with 2-6 motos.
“I felt a little off the pace,” said Herlings who has been recovering from injury. “I haven’t raced GPs for nine months, my fitness is not there yet, but I just need to get back in the groove. Obviously, [the foot] is not like new, but I don’t have any pain.”
Alessandro Lupino, Jeremy Seewer, Thomas Kjer Olsen, Jorge Prado, Pauls Jonass, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Cairoli rounded out the top 10 overall.
Tom Vialle also aced the MX2 class. Photo: Ray Archer
In MX2, Red Bull KTM’s Tom Vialle never missed a beat. The Frenchman led every lap of both motos for the overall victory.
“I had a really good day and I’m really happy with both races,” Vialle said. “This morning I couldn’t do any better than ninth position in timed practice but in the races, I had two good starts, leading both races. It was a good weekend and I’m really happy because I’ve been working really hard in the winter. We have been working on the bike also with KTM, so everything was good. My goal is to win at the end of the championship, so the goal was to be consistent like I was last year, and it was working pretty good today.”
Spanish rider Ruben Fernandez (Honda) was second overall with a 2-3, and Frenchman Mathys Boisrame (Kawasaki) completed the podium with a 4-2.
The Netherlands’ Roan Van De Moosdijk (Kawasaki) and Austria’s Rene Hofer (KTM) rounded out the top five overall.
No American riders were entered in the race. CN
2021 FIM Motocross World Championship
Round 1
MXGP of Russia
Orlyonok, Russia
RESULTS (June 13, 2021)
MXGP
| 1. |
Tim Gajser |
(Hon) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Jeffrey Herlings |
(KTM) |
4-2 |
| 3. |
Romain Febvre |
(Kaw) |
2-6 |
| 4. |
Alessandro Lupino |
(KTM) |
5-4 |
| 5. |
Jeremy Seewer |
(Yam) |
6-5 |
MX2
| 1. |
Tom Vialle |
(KTM) |
1-1 |
| 2. |
Ruben Fernandez |
(Hon) |
3-2 |
| 3. |
Mathys Boisrame |
(Kaw) |
2-3 |
| 4. |
Roan Van De Moosdijk |
(Kaw) |
5-4 |
| 5. |
Rene Hofer |
(KTM) |
4-5
|
