Image: Supplied.

Nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has dominated Valkenswaard’s third round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship in The Netherlands, boosting his points lead in the series classification.

The Italian ace pieced together a stellar 1-1 scorecard for top honours, comfortably defeating runner-up Clement Desalle (Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory Racing) in the day’s overall points tally.

Former champion Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) was third overall, challenging Cairoli for victory in the final encounter, while the top five was rounded out by Jeremy van Horebeek (Honda SR Motoblouz) and Arminas Jasikonis (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).

In the MX2 category, reigning world champion Jorge Prado returned from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of round two in exceptional fashion, dominating the day with a pair moto victories to earn the overall win.

Points leader Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) was second ahead of Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Jago Geerts, while Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda HRC) and Henri Jacobi (F&H Kawasaki) were fourth and fifth respectively.

Australian contenders Jed Beaton (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) and Mitch Evans (Team Honda 114 Motorsports) wound up 12th and 15th overall.

The Dutch grand prix also marked round on the Women’s Motocross World Championship, which saw Amandine Verstappen (Yamaha) emerge victorious over Nancy Van de Ven (Yamaha) and Larissa Papenmeier (MXFONTA Racing Yamaha). Aussies Meghan Rutledge (Kawasaki) and Tahlia O’Hare (KTM) were eighth and 13th overall respectively.

The MXGP World Championship now heads to Trentino in Italy this weekend for round four of the series.

Detailed results