Tim Gajser & Jan Pancar in the MXGP: “Almost a Slovenian championship”

Tim Gajser and his compatriot Jan Pancar made a big impression on Saturday afternoon in the MXGP qualifying race as the Motocross World Championship returned to Montevarchi. On the narrow and tough track, the two Slovenians pulled away from the rest of the field right from the start and were never within reach of their rivals.

Pancar, who had competed in a number of preparatory races in Italy earlier in the spring, secured second place – the best qualifying result of his Grand Prix career. The 26-year-old KTM privateer, whose father manages all his affairs, made a tongue-in-cheek comparison. “You could almost have said there was a Slovenian Championship race going on out there,” laughed the man from near Ljubljana after the race in the heat. “I’m happy to be so far up the field – I even managed the holeshot. I’ve always said that I need a good start and then I can ride at the front – I managed that. My riding performance was good too.”

A first for Tim Gajser

It was also a first for Tim Gajser, as the five-time champion was finally able to secure a qualifying race win for his new employer, Yamaha. And this came after the past few weeks of heavy crashes and several serious injuries. As a reward, he enjoyed a cosy barbecue on Saturday evening at the motorhome with friends such as Jaka Peklaj and his Italian manager Giampiero Canetti.

Gajser also congratulated his compatriot Pancar and praised the privateer on his holeshot immediately after crossing the finish line. For the 29-year-old Yamaha star, it was also a milestone: “My first qualifying win with Yamaha is something special, not least because I achieved it in Italy. I felt good all day long. The track wasn’t the easiest, so the start was extremely important. My start was quite solid and I managed to overtake quite quickly. Jan rode strongly. But once I’d got past him, I put in a few fast laps and then controlled the gap.”