2022 MXGP of Portugal Results

Cycle News Staff | April 5, 2022

Round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship produced more close racing at the MXGP of Portugal, April 3. After several battles, GasGas Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado and KTM’s Tom Vialle won their respective MXGP and MX2 classes.

Photos by Ray Archer

MXGP of Portugal

Prado put himself in the lead after only two turns in moto one. His main challenger and points leader, Tim Gajser, suffered a poor start and had to work his way through the field for a chance at a podium. Prado controlled the lead for the entire race, while Brian Bogers (Husqvarna) worked his way into second place. Gajser eventually climbed up to third. At the line Prado claimed race one by just 1.02 seconds over Bogers.

Prado got the start again in race two, but this time with Gajser hot on his heels. Gajser waited seven laps before he pulled the trigger and passed Prado for the race lead. He went on to win after leading the second half of race two. Gajser’s 3-1 finishes earned him second overall.

Prado fended off a charging Glenn Coldenhoff to the line and took his first overall of the 2022 season.

Both Bogers and Coldenhoff fought hard in race two for the final spot on the podium.

Gajser continues to lead the championship, 21 over Prado, and 42 over Maxime Renaux.

MX2 of Portugal

The opening MX2 race kicked off with a huge crash by Mattia Guadagnini (GasGas) just after the holeshot line. This handed first over to Denmark’s Mikkel Haarup (Kawasaki) who led over Andrea Adamo (GasGas) and Jago Geerts (Yamaha). Tom Vialle (KTM) got through the first turn inside the top five and made quick work of Geerts for third.

Tom Vialle at MXGP of Portugal — **Tom Vialle leads Mikkel Haarup en route to the MX2 overall victory.**

The battle up front was a close one between the top four riders until Geerts crashed in one of the tricky step-up turns. He fell way back in the pack but picked himself up to score points in the overall championship. Geerts eventually finished ninth.

Vialle made the pass on Haarup and controlled the lead to take the checkers in race one. Harrup was a close second with Kay De Wolf (Husqvarna) coming home third.

Norway’s Kevin Horgmo (Kawasaki) holeshot race two with Geerts and Vialle closely behind. Vialle again got around Geerts in the opening laps and set his sights on the race leader.

On lap eight Vialle made the move around Horgmo for first, but Geerts was not letting the race-one winner get away. The points leader quickly passed Horgmo and stalked Vialle eventually taking the win and vitory and third overall.

Vialle’s 1-2 gave him the overall victory. Haarup finished fourth in race two, good enough for second overall and back-to-back podiums for the Kawasaki rider.

Geerts leads the MX2 Championship by 16 over Vialle. Haarup is third overall, 42 down from Geerts. CN