German Ken Roczen raced to pole position on Saturday in Sweden.

Under overcast skies and in front of a small spectator attendance 17-year-old Ken Roczen has once again shown the advantage he has over his MX2 rivals by coming from behind to win the Saturday qualification race in Sweden.

The Red Bull Teka KTM Factory rider started in third place behind Jeffrey Herlings and Gautier Paulin and was quickly into first place.

Once in the lead Roczen pulled a four second lead and pretty much raced a mellow pace, eventually winning over Paulin and Herlings.

“I didn’t have the focus to have the good reaction on the start today,” Roczen said. “I was second into the corner and was third after being passed, then I passed Jeffrey for the lead and just rode a smart race to save some energy for tomorrow.

“I was riding safe, and there was a lapper in between, a win is a win and it doesn’t matter by how much. I don’t have problems with my injury while riding, but after the races I feel a little sore.”

The race action wasn’t that intense as Paulin was quickly into second and remained there, while Herlings rode most of the race in third place. Tommy Searle was fourth for the complete races.

In the MX1 qualifier it was Antonio Cairoli and Max Nagl who showed why the KTM machines are as helpful in good race results as they went first and second in the first corner. It wasn’t the same story for Clement Desalle who crashed in the first corner.

“I am really happy about pole position it is nice and important to have a good start,” Cairoli said. “The track was not the best of last years, this year it was a bit hard, maybe from rain or something and that is why they didn’t rip it as much, it is still one of my favorite tracks.

“For sure it’s not the best way to get the red plate – we want everyone to fight with the same condition. I am close to the red plate and I just look at each race.”

After one lap it was Cairoli, Nagl, Bobryshev, De Dycker, Frossard, Philippaerts, Leok, Simpson, Boissiere and in 10th place Boog.

Desalle was way back in the pack. Not a lot changed as Cairoli continued to lead with Nagl a couple of bike lengths back.

Frossard passed both De Dycker and Bobryshev, although with a couple of minutes left in the race De Dycker repassed the Frenchman for third place.

Bobryshev dropped back to eighth place and Desalle worked his way into 18th place, before dropping back a spot when passed by Kevin Strijbos with two laps to go.