Lucas Coenen (KTM) wins MXGP motocross qualifying race in Johannesburg

MXGP qualifying race for the Grand Prix of South Africa in Johannesburg: World Championship leader Lucas Coenen (Red Bull KTM) had already clocked the fastest lap time in free practice and started the qualifying race from pole position.

MXGP Qualifying

1. Lucas Coenen (B), KTM, 1:53.416

2. Tim Gajser (SLO), Yamaha, +0.115

3. Romain Febvre (F), Kawasaki, +0.374

4. Jeffrey Herlings (NL), Honda, +0.442

5. Pauls Jonass (LV), Kawasaki, +0.461

6. Tom Vialle (F), Honda, +0.753

Jeffrey Herlings gambled wrongly at the start

HRC works rider Jeffrey Herlings secured fourth place on the grid, whilst Lucas Coenen, Romain Febvre and Pauls Jonass started the race from positions in the middle of the grid. Herlings apparently gambled on taking the lead on the outside line, but his plan backfired. He collided with Oriol Oliver and was forced to drop back at the end of the start straight, leaving him stuck in mid-field during the early stages of the race. Much like Sacha Coenen in the MX2 qualifying race, he was unable to make a breakthrough to the front and ultimately had to settle for sixth place.

Lucas Coenen unbeatable

Red Bull-KTM factory rider Lucas Coenen took the holeshot just ahead of Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) and local hero Calvin Vlaanderen (Ducati). Febvre launched an attack on the first lap, but Coenen held his ground and eventually took the lead, which he never relinquished until the end. Coenen ultimately won with a 4.3-second lead over the two Kawasaki factory riders, Romain Febvre and Pauls Jonass.

Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez crashed

Both HRC works rider Ruben Fernandez and Yamaha works rider Tim Gajser crashed. On lap 3, Fernandez dropped from 7th to 12th place and eventually finished in 10th. Tim Gajser dropped from 6th to 9th place on lap 10.

Standings at the top of the table

With his fifth qualifying win of the season and Jeffrey Herlings in sixth place, Lucas Coenen was able to extend his lead at the top of the standings, increasing his advantage by five points from 57 to 62.

MXGP Qualifying Race:

1. Lucas Coenen (B), KTM, 24:59.212

2. Romain Febvre (F), Kawasaki, +4.335

3. Pauls Jonass (LV), Kawasaki, +19.979

4. Tom Vialle (F), Honda, +22.984

5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NL), Ducati, +26.155

6. Jeffrey Herlings (NL), Honda, +26.984

7. Andrea Adamo (I), KTM, +37.232

8. Maxime Renaux (F), Yamaha, +39.772

9. Tim Gajser (SLO), Yamaha, +45.437

10. Ruben Fernandez (E), Honda, +57.224

World Championship standings:

1. Lucas Coenen (B), KTM, 516

2. Jeffrey Herlings (NL), Honda, 454, (-62)

3. Romain Febvre (F), Kawasaki, 403, (-113)

4. Tim Gajser (SLO), Yamaha, 373, (-143)

5. Maxime Renaux (F), Yamaha, 337, (-179)

6. Andrea Adamo (I), KTM, 317, (-199)