Source: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli and Jorge Prado have claimed Saturday qualifying victories at the 16th round of the FIM World Motocross Championship at Assen in The Netherlands.

Cairoli proved why he is a multi-time World Champion, negotiating the sandy conditions with class to win a convincing victory by 14.120s.

Fellow Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Glenn Coldenhoff held Belgium’s Clement Desalle (Monster Energy Kawasaki) at bay for the duration of the qualifying race, narrowly edging him out by a margin of 0.657s.

Jeremy Van Horebeek (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing) and Jordi Tixier (Monster Energy Kawasaki) rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.

Championship leader Tim Gajser (Honda Garibaldi) seemingly struggled with the Assen circuit, placing outside of the top 10 in timed practice and concluding the qualifying race in seventh behind Estonia’s Tanel Leok (KTM).

The MX2 category saw 15-year-old Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) capture victory on debut, leading every lap to edge out local Dutch rider Calvin Vlaanderin (HSF Logistics Motorsports).

Brian Bogers (HSF Logistics Motorsports) finished in a distant third, followed by Thomas Kjer Olsen (Husqvarna) and Suzuki World Racing’s Jeremy Sewer.

Championship favourite Jeffrey Herling’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) returned to Assen following injury, however a bike malfunction forced the former MX2 World Champion to retire from the race just eight laps in.