Image: Supplied.

Team Netherlands topped qualifying in the 2021 Monster Energy Motocross of Nations (MXoN) at Mantova on Saturday, the defending champions led by Jeffrey Herlings.

While Herlings won the Open heat, third position for Glenn Coldenhoff in MXGP was what sealed P1 in qualifying, while Roan van de Moosdijk was ninth in MX2.

It was the retiring home hero Antonio Cairoli (ITA – KTM) who won the MXGP head after working his way by longtime leader Ben Watson (GBR – Yamaha), with Coldenhoff also moving forward to claim third.

Next up was MX2, where world champion Tom Vialle (FRA – KTM) won ahead of Rene Hofer (AUT – KTM) and Conrad Mewse (GBR – KTM), before in the Open class, Herlings charged forward to head Henry Jacobi (GER – HON) and Arminas Jasikonis (LTU – Husqvarna).

Those results enabled pre-event favourites Netherlands to set the tone ahead of tomorrow with a four-point score, qualifying ahead of France, with Italy third and Great Britain fourth – each of those nations scoring five points on day one.

Detailed results