Tim Gajser showed again what he is made of today to score a second podium in as many races amid very difficult conditions in Thailand that reached 37 degrees Celsius and with 58 per cent humidity.
Calling it the toughest race of the year, the Slovenian nevertheless continued to amaze on the CRF450RW since stepping up to the MXGP class just at the start of the year. With a third position in race one, he was shaping up to be right at the front again until his start was compromised in turn one, but never one to back down he fought back to an eventual fifth, securing second overall from the MXGP of Thailand.
Over in MX2, Jorge Zaragoza was also one of the fast starters today, very nearly getting the holeshot on the CRF250RW in race two. Emerging from turn one in third, the Spaniard ran in the top five for much of his first racing visit to Thailand, until ultimately the heat sapped his energy and he fell to eleventh at the finish.
After such a punishing Grand Prix, the paddock will face a very different challenge in the sands of Valkenswaard in three weeks, on March 28th.
Tim Gajser, no.243:
“I think now the toughest race of the year is behind us and I’m really happy with our weekend. In the second moto I didn’t have the best start because Toni stalled in the corner in front of me and I almost hit his bike, but to come back to finish fifth was still good. I’m really pleased with a second podium and I want to thank all the guys on the team and at HRC because the bike is just amazing, and to my Dad because we worked so hard together over the winter and now all that work is paying off. It’s been a good weekend. Not quite like Qatar, but I was feeling good and happy on the bike. It’s another good result and two races and two podiums is a great way to start the season.”
Jorge Zaragoza, no.101:
“I had a really good start in the second race, and then riding almost all the moto in the top five which I’m happy with. But then at the end I was just so tired with the heat and conditions here. I’m also not always in that position so that made it even more hard. At the end I was so tired I got confused and I was thinking that the last lap was the finish but there was one lap more, so I lost from seventh to eleventh positions. Every race I’m improving so we hope to continue like this – the position we were running in today is where I want to finish.”
Giacomo Gariboldi, Team Principal:
“We are really very happy with this weekend in MXGP because Tim managed the two races with a great maturity and when in the second race he nearly hit Cairoli when he stalled his bike in the first turn, it was really hard to come back. I think he rode without taking any risks, just focusing on finishing the race in a good position, so with that we can’t be happier really with another podium. Last year we had a bad GP here, and ok the heat is the same for everybody and you have to manage carefully, but Tim showed he has no problem with this and finished in good condition in both races.
“For Jorge, he had a very good start in the second race and managed to stay in the top five for most of the race, even fourth at one point, which was great. We knew that for him it was the first time he was racing in Thailand, and we knew that he could struggle a bit at the end of the race with the heat. Then he made also a little mistake in the last lap so he lost a few positions, but we saw him improving from the last race in Qatar and with more racing I think he should continue improve some more.”