Image: Supplied.

MXGP rookie Maxime Renaux has won Saturday’s qualifying heat at Matterley Basin, the Monster Energy Yamaha rider starring on debut as Simon Langenfelder led the way in MX2.

Much of the qualifying race was a battle between Renaux and Tim Gajser (Team HRC), with the Slovenian making several attempts to get by the young Frenchman, but his attempts never came to fruition.

In the end it was Renaux who won, leading Gajser by 1.473s, with the fast-starting Jeremy Seewer (Monster Energy Yamaha) third, followed by Jorge Prado (Red Bull GasGas) and Ruben Fernandez (Team Honda 114 Motorsports).

Of the Australians, premier class newcomer Jed Beaton rode to ninth position with F&H Kawasaki, as countryman Mitch Evans (Team HRC) made his anticipated return to competition and crossed the line in P18.

Image: Supplied.

The MX2 class saw Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing’s Simon Langenfelder emerge on top in the qualification heat, marking the first of his career.

Langenfelder led from the outset and eventually topped Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM) by 2.555s, with Monster Energy Yamaha-mounted Jago Geerts claiming third on the podium.

Next in line came Roan Van De Moosdijk (Nestaan Husqvarna) in fourth position, the top five filled by teammate Kay De Wolf (Nestaan Husqvarna), who had crashed while running second in the earlier stages.

Detailed results