Today’s qualifying definitely delivered some incredible racing and close battles between the World’s best. Team USA looks good after day 1, taking two of three qualifying moto wins, but it will inevitably be anyone’s game come tomorrow…
MX1 QUALIFIER
The racing action jumped off today at 2:30pm local time as each class of riders lined up for qualifying. The MX1 class lined up first; all eyes on USA’s Ruyan Dungey and Italy’s Antonio Cairoli. It was Cairoli who jumped out front with the early lead, France’s Gautier Paulin and Australia’s Brett Metcalfe in tow. Cairoli wasted no time pilling away from the rest of the field, but Metcalfe and Paulin kept the excitement level high for the crowd, exchanging the second-place position turn after turn in the early laps. Metcalfe, however, took it away from Paulin and set his sights on Cairoli. Spaniard Jonathan Barragan held down the fourth place spot while Belgium’s Steve Ramon did his best to hold off the advances of Ryan Dungey, who had suffered a mediocre start. Dungey eventually made his way around the Belgian rider and began reeling in Barragan.
As time ticked down, Cairoli remained comfortably out front. Ryan Dungey, though, continuously put down the fastest lap; but Barragon managed to defend his position. With less than five minutes left, Cairoli led Metcalfe, Paulin, Barragan, and Dungey.
Just before the 2-lap board came out, Dungey made his move on Barragan, setting himself up to reel in Paulin in the final two laps. Dungey nearly got around the Frenchman, but Paulin closed the door on the number one plate holder. Metcalfe held on for second, and Paulin third.
RESULTS
1. Antonio Cairoli – Italy
2. Brett Metcalfe – Australia
3. Gautier Paulin – France
4. Ryan Dungey – USA
5. Jonathan Barragan – Spain
6. Steve Ramon – Belgium
7. Tanel Leok _ Estonia
8. Rui Goncalves – Portugal
9. Jake Nocholls – Great Britain
10. Jeremy Medaglia – Canada
Page One: MX1 Page Two: MX2 Page 3: Open
