Image: Ray Archer.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli locked down the 2014 MXGP World Championship upon crossing the line in MXGP race one at the MXGP of Goias, while Team HRC’s Max Nagl was in a league of his own this weekend, dominating both races for his first victory since 2010.

The jump-riddled circuit in Trindade is the ultimate playground for a rider like Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Gautier Paulin, who enjoyed every moment of air-time as he made his way to second overall and his third podium finish of the season.

It’s hard to say which fans are the most passionate about Cairoli; the Italians or the Brazilians? Other than Italy, or a neighboring country, there is no better place for Tony to have claimed his eighth FIM Motocross World Championship title than in Brazil.

Today was the second time the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star has picked up a world title on Brazilian turf, the first time was back in 2010 at the circuit of Campo Grande. Although the thousands of screaming fans were able to cheer him up slightly, the Italian legend battled blurred vision all day after getting dirt in his eye yesterday.

With the irritation in his eye clearly bothering him, he battled on to finish fifth and third for third overall and his 13th podium finish of the season.

Meanwhile Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Steven Frossard let a little beam of podium potential shine through today with his impressive performance in race one which saw him come home for second.

Because luck, or having two good races, is hard to come by for the Frenchman, any shot of the podium was thrown away when he lost the front end on a slick spot early on in race two. Nevertheless, he managed to bank fourth.

As for CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Tommy Searle, two solid performances allowed him to take home his third top five finish of the season in fifth.

In other news, Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jeremy Van Horebeek showed his true grit when toughed out race one with his swollen ankle to tie up second overall in the MXGP championship. With his position of vice world champion secure, the Belgian didn’t line up for the second race today in order to let his injury heal.

Also, Red Bull Ice One Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Dean Ferris startled everyone with his speed today, but unfortunately while on his way to what could have been his first MXGP podium finish, he had an ugly crash which made those that saw it cringe. The Australian was taken to hospital with a suspected broken femur.

Meanwhile, in MX2 the racing and dynamic has never been better. With Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings out, a multitude of riders line up with a legitimate chance of winning their first MX2 race or races as well as the potential grand prix.

This weekend both Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Romain Febvre and Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser took, and devoured, their first slices of the MX2 race win pie, while it was Romain Febvre who dug the deepest this weekend to reach his second career milestone in one day, with his first-ever victory.

It has taken almost an entire season but Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s gritty Frenchman Febvre has finally done it. Despite battling illness, Febvre was impressive this weekend, particularly in race one when he sealed the deal on his first race victory.

Race two was not so straightforward as he was forced to battle an overwhelming sense of queasiness that saw him vomit while riding, but nonetheless, he kept looking forward and fought to the finish to be rewarded with his first overall.

Everyone loves a good rivalry, and the number one rivalry this year is definitely between the three Frenchman; Febvre, CLS Kawasaki Monster Energy’s Dylan Ferrandis and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jordi Tixier.

With no easy pick which of the three will be the best on any given day, today it was Febvre who finished with one point more than the flamboyant Ferrandis who took two seconds for second.

After ringing his bell in qualifying yesterday, Honda Gariboldi’s Tim Gajser hit a career milestone today with his impressive victory in race two. The 17-year-old sensation has impressively notched his first ever MX2 race win to his belt and has also made history as the first Slovenian to ever win an MX2 race. Despite crashing in race one and only taking seventh, his win in race two was enough to land him on the podium for the fourth time this year.

With the MX2 title still in his sights, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jordi Tixier did enough to take valuable points today with a fourth and fifth for fourth overall.

While rounding out the top five, Standing Construct KTM’s Valentin Guillod was running a blistering pace all day as he and his new teammate Julien Lieber blew the socks off a lot of people when they ran in second and third for the majority of the first race.

Despite their speed, a few costly errors in both races deprived them of better results. Guillod ended up coming home in fifth, while Lieber on his Standing Construct KTM debut was forced back to ninth.

2014 MXGP World Championship
Round 16 – Trindade, Brazil

MXGP overall results:
1. Maximilian Nagl 50
2. Gautier Paulin 40
3. Antonio Cairoli 36
4. Steven Frossard 36
5. Tommy Searle 32
6. Kevin Strijbos 32
7. Davide Guarneri 25
8. Milko Potisek 24
9. David Philippaerts 24
10. Matiss Karro 20
11. Dean Ferris (AUS) 19

MXGP championship standings:
1. Antonio Cairoli 705
2. Jeremy Van Horebeek 596
3. Kevin Strijbos 530
4. Clement Desalle 484
5. Steven Frossard 392
6. Shaun Simpson 382
7. Maximilian Nagl 357
8. Gautier Paulin 315
9. Davide Guarneri 270
10. David Philippaerts 258
23. Todd Waters (AUS) 107
24. Dean Ferris (AUS) 101

MX2 overall results:
1. Romain Febvre 45
2. Dylan Ferrandis 44
3. Tim Gajser 39
4. Jordi Tixier 34
5. Valentin Guillod 33
6. Arnaud Tonus 33
7. Jeremy Seewer 27
8. Christophe Charlier 27
9. Julien Lieber 25
10. Max Anstie 21

MX2 championship standings:
1. Jeffrey Herlings 594
2. Jordi Tixier 571
3. Romain Febvre 534
4. Dylan Ferrandis 511
5. Tim Gajser 487
6. Arnaud Tonus 422
7. Valentin Guillod 412
8. Aleksandr Tonkov 384
9. Jose Butron 345
10. Jeremy Seewer 328
22. Luke Styke (AUS) 80

Click here for detailed results