In the woodland tree lined sandy track of Lierop Max Nagl and Gautier Paulin were the fastest riders in the MX1 and MX2 respectively at this weekend’s round of the Motocross World Championship.

For both young talents is their second Lovemytime Pole Position Award of the season and both are confident to be at the top of the rostrum after tomorrow’s races.

After taking the holeshot, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Nagl dominated the qualifying race from beginning to end. No rider could follow his rhythm and achieved his second MX1 Lovemytime Pole Position Award, being in the first round in Bulgaria his maiden Award.

The German feels fully fit for tomorrow’s races and is confident to obtain his second Grand Prix victory of the season.

Second classified Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross’ Philippaerts was one of the most regular riders of the qualifying race but could not close the gap with Nagl and take the lead.

The Italian started fourth after Gonçalves and Ramon but managed to pass them already in the third lap of the race. Though Nagl had already gone with the lead.

The third place of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Gonçalves is the best result the Portuguese has obtained this season. Gonçalves was second last year while riding in the MX2 class and he is definitely one of the riders to take into account for tomorrow’s races.

Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1’s Ramon finished fourth just before 2010 FIM MX1 World Champion Cairoli. The Belgian did a really good start and managed to ride second until the third lap when Gonçalves overtook him.

Ramon could not keep the rhythm of the leading riders but he is a sand specialist, so he has high hopes to finish among the top three riders after tomorrow’s races.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Cairoli, who was proclaimed World Champion in the previous GP in Brazil, could only finish fifth.

The Italian crashed at the very beginning of the race and when he had climbed up to the fourth position he did another mistake and was down to fifth place.

His compatriot Guarneri finished sixth and rode really close throughout the race with seventh classified Pourcel. Home rider De Reuver did not have a good start in Lierop but moved from 14th position to eighth finishing in front of GP winner Leok.

Completing the top 10 was the Spaniard Barragán, who seemed to be still recovering from his leg injury.

Coppins, who announced his retirement this afternoon in Lierop, was eleventh followed by Church and De Dycker. Eighth classified in the championship Boog crashed in the beginning of the race and was just 22nd.

Desalle crashed twice during the qualifying race and could not finish. He was taken straight to the hospital as broke three teeth and his lower lip was badly ripped.

Team manager Eric Geboers could not give any further information but admitted that the rider asked the team to set up the bike for tomorrow’s races.

Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross’ Paulin took his second qualifying moto victory of an injury plagued 2010 at the end of an eventful day for what concerns the MX2 class.

After Musquin took the holeshot, he made a mistake at the opening lap and crashed, passing the lead to fellow Frenchman Frossard. The latter led for the first three laps then Roczen moved past to take first.

In the meantime Gautier had worked his way up to second behind Roczen and exploited the German’s crash to snatch the lead and storm to the chequered flag in first place.

Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2’s Roczen was a positive second ahead of this penultimate Grand Prix of 2010.

After crashing and losing the first spot, the 16 year old managed to close the gap with Paulin in the last laps but could not find a way to move past as the flag came too early for the youngster.

Though Roczen remains positive for tomorrow as he reckons the second place is still a good starting position.

Moving past Frossard in the second half of the race, Nestaan JM Racing KTM’s Roelants took a valuable third place on the sand – his favourite ground – while the Kawasaki CLS representative settled for an eventual fourth.

Completing the top five was other Kawasaki CLS man Van Horebeek, who took his first season’s podium two weeks ago in Brazil.
Simpson was sixth while Championship leader Musquin recovered to seventh after his crash at the opening lap.

Leading the Championship 72 points in front of runner up Roczen, Musquin just needs to score three more points than the latter in the opening moto of this Grand Prix if he wants to be crowned World Champion for the second consecutive year.

Teillet, Karro and Tonus completed the top ten. Osborne instead was a disappointed 16th after going down with Charlier right after the first corner.

Click here for detailed results