It was a disappointing end to what had the potential to be a very positive day for the Honda Gariboldi Racing squad today.
On the lone CRF250RW, Tim Gajser posted a stunning first lap of the Timed Practice session that was never bettered, giving him the first gate pick for the qualifying race. Choosing to start with a wide line into the first corner, from the eighth gate, Gajser was however embroiled in the midfield and crashed in turn one.
Restarting from the back, he pushed hard to recover ground but, on the Mantova track’s sandy ground, made a few mistakes that each time undid his progress. Settling into more of a rhythm as the race progressed, a personal best time with only two laps remaining, which put him as the fastest man on track, elevated the Slovenian to twelfth at the finish.
This means his start position tomorrow will be wider than it was today, so a good gate jump and a clean turn one will be crucial in seeing him clear of the midfield clashes at this crucial time of the season.
Giacomo Gariboldi, Team Principal
“The race today was a big disappointment. Tim was fastest in timed practice which was very positive, but then I think made a gate pick that was too wide for the qualifying race and got caught up in the midfield at the start and crashed. After that he made two more mistakes pushing to come back and finished 12. He will now have a big task tomorrow to get out of the gate well, and I think if he’s not in the top five by the first corner it will be another difficult race. Still, we have seen he can do it before, and tomorrow is a new day, so we must be hopeful.”
Tim Gajser, no.243
“I messed up a little at the start because I tried to jump the gate too much and went too much to the rear so had to back off. Turn one is tight, so then I was hit and crashed. Many riders crashed in the opening turns so I could make a few places back, and to come to 12 from last is not so bad, but I’m a little disappointed. Today was not the best, but tomorrow we’ll ride smarter and just try to make the best from this.”
Overall results
| 1 | Max Anstie | Kawasaki | 24:41.942 |
| 2 | Valentin Guillod | Yamaha | +3.859 |
| 3 | Jeremy Seewer | Suzuki | +4.528 |
| 4 | Pauls Jonass | KTM | +7.489 |
| 5 | Harri Kullas | Husqvarna | +8.702 |
| 6 | Damon Graulus | Yamaha | +19.491 |
| 7 | Benoit Paturel | Yamaha | +22.579 |
| 8 | Brian Hsu | Suzuki | +24.295 |
| 9 | Adam Sterry | KTM | +36.879 |
| 10 | Ivo Monticelli | KTM | +42.096 |
| 12 | Tim Gajser | HONDA | +47.921 |