Source: MXGP.

Team HRC’s Evgeny Bobryshev has claimed Honda’s first MXGP qualifying heat win of the 2015 season at the MXGP of Trentino, to start out of pole position on Sunday.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli took the holeshot, which typically results in a check-out performance, except when you have the likes of Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Ryan Villopoto and Team HRC’s Gautier Paulin hot on your tail.

While initially Cairoli appeared to be in control, Paulin, who was feeling the pressure from his Team HRC teammate Bobryshev surprisingly dropped the hammer on Villopoto and took over second.

While our attention shifted to the impressiveness of Paulin’s speed, Cairoli crashed. The crowd, being Italians went nuts and as we all turned to see Cairoli peeling himself out of the mud, we also lost Paulin who had also made a mistake a few turns earlier.

In the matter of a lap Villopoto had the lead and flashbacks of Thailand were being spoken of. He started picking up the pace, putting in that relentless charge he has become known for, while Bobryshev was dealing with Cairoli and Paulin.

As Villopoto begun to distance himself over Bobryshev ever so slightly, he then threw it away in exactly the same rut that had caught Cairoli out earlier.

With Villopoto hitting the deck, Bobryshev found himself in the lead and managed to control it for the few laps that remained.

Bobryshev qualified on pole for the first time in his career as Cairoli managed to bounce back for a narrow second over Paulin and Villopoto.

Meanwhile Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Romain Febvre put in another impressive ride for fifth after passing the early red plate holder Red Bull Husqvarna IceOne Factory Racing’s Max Nagl, who ended up coming home in sixth.

As for the actual red plate holder, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Clement Desalle, he collided with Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tyla Rattray on lap one which resulted in Rattray receiving medical attention.

Desalle did manage to remount, but was so far back, 22nd place was the best he could do. Todd Waters was top of the Aussies in 12th, with Dean Ferris crossing the line 17th.

As the rain lashed down right before the MX2 qualifying heat race, curiosity started to mount. The Pietramurata circuit is rock based, and with the circuit drying out over the morning, the blue groove and marbley base became greasy providing the riders with an extra challenge.

When the gates dropped it was Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Aleksandr Tonkov who was eager to avoid getting showered in pebbles, and took the holeshot.

While the Russian led the first lap it wasn’t long before Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings went by, which was a move that was later replicated by Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser.

With Tonkov dropping back to third and appearing to tire, the defending MX2 world champion Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jordi Tixier pushed through.

Meanwhile a duo of stoney hard-pack track specialists, Monster Energy Kawasaki Kawasaki Racing Team’s Dylan Ferrandis and Standing Construct Yamaha Yamalube’s Valentin Guillod, were on missions of their own.

Both riders had had horrible starts but managed to pick off a decent amount of riders to finish fourth and fifth respectively while Tonkov managed to hold on to finish sixth.

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