The 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship got underway this weekend with the MXGP of Qatar at Losail – the same venue that also hosts the opening round of another popular FIM series, MotoGP.
And the man who recently became a father – Max Nagl – dominated round one of 18, placing his Red Bull IceOne Husqvarna Factory Racing FC450 in the number-one spot. How dominate? Nagl won both MXGP races, leading all 36 laps in both events.
The German Nagl was joined on the MXGP overall podium by Rockstar Energy Suzuki’s Clement Desalle and Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin, respectively.
MXGP cited three vital things about Nagl’s dominance – he won both Fox Holeshots, giving him the advantage; he led all laps in both 18-lap races; and he is a “solid part of Husqvarna’s re-rise to FIM Motocross World Championship glory;” and he is humble.
Desalle equally impressed, the Belgium rider quickly pulling away from MXGP’s quickest riders, including the reigning MXGP Champion, Red Bull KTM’s Antonio Cairoli, and Paulin.
Following his pair of second-place finishes, Desalle said “I am really happy with my riding at the moment, I feel good in my body and also on the bike. In the morning I will go home because I think it will benefit me more to do this than it will to stay over in Thailand.”
As for the Frenchman Paulin, he finished third overall after a 4-3 race wins. Following the race, the Fox rider – who was easily observed due to his use of bright colors, said. “I’m really happy to start the season like this, it is always good to be on the box, actually on the top, but it is still a long season, so it is good to start with a third”.
Surprisingly, Cairoli didn’t make the podium. He didn’t finished fourth overall after a 4-3 effort. The Italian tied with Paulin for third but was knocked off the box with Paulin achieving the better result in the final race. Despite only finishing up the weekend in fourth, MXGP says Cairoli knows it is a long championship and already looking fast and aggressive.
Taking fifth overall was Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek, who accomplished the position after finishing 5-5: “I want to do better than I did last year, and there is only one place more” was content with fifth today as he knows better than anyone, it CAN get better. Just look at last year’s eleven round podium streak.
Also representing Yamaha Factory Racing and more than worthy of a mention is MXGP class rookie Romain Febvre. The young Frenchman caught our attention as one to watch after footing it with some of the most seasoned riders in both MXGP races, MXGP reports.
All eyes were also on four-time AMA Supercross Champion Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing’s Ryan Villopoto, who had to settle for seventh overall after 9-8 finishes during his debut in MXGP.
Following the race, Villopoto said: “I haven’t raced since May last year, and it wasn’t a good day but we scored points and that’s definitively something we have to work on. I never had a schedule like that one for a long time, but I’ve got to get used to that and all the rest, including how the gate drops, how they do everything.
“We struggled a little bit with the start today, a little me and a little the bike, but we came back and got points. We’ve definitively some work to do, but that’s part of it. We learned a lot this weekend and will be stronger at the next GP; we have to work on setup stuff, which make thinks a little bit easier. For me every time I went on the track this weekend things went better; in the second race I had some issues as my rear brake felt strange; I don’t know if it’s a rock or what, but it’s part of the deal. We can make some stuff this week, even if the team doesn’t go back home, and we will be better next weekend.”
The MXGP series heads to Thailand next week for round two.
2015 Qatar MXGP Results, Race 1: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), 34:52.985; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:01.221; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:18.550; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:24.809; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:34.810; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:42.395; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:47.295; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:56.052; 9. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:59.609; 10. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +1:03.179
2015 Qatar MXGP Results, Race 2: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), 35:00.295; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), +0:06.023; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:08.752; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:12.787; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:17.740; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:24.676; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:36.357; 8. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:40.816; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:03.294; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Suzuki), +1:07.182
2015 MXGP Overall Point Standings: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 50 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, SUZ), 44; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 38; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 38; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 32; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 29; 7. Ryan Villopoto (USA, KAW), 25; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 25; 9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, SUZ), 24; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 21
2015 MXGP Manufacturer: 1. Husqvarna, 50 points; 2. Suzuki, 44; 3. Honda, 38; 4. KTM, 38; 5. Yamaha, 32; 6. Kawasaki, 25; 7. TM, 17
