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The Mexican Grand Prix started today at Nicolas España’s track in Guadalajara and Rodolfo Fernández and Michael Leib won the MX1 and MX2 qualifying races respectively. The big crowd present today were not only locals, but people from different parts of Mexico and even South America, as having the FIM Motocross World Championship in Mexico is a unique opportunity for them to see the best motocross riders in the world.
MX1
Rodolfo Fernández, who was born in the USA but he moved to Guatemala since he was five, took an excellent start in the qualifying race and he managed to lead the heat until the chequered flag with almost ten minutes difference from second qualified Martin García. Fernández is very excited to taking part in the Mexican GP and he expects to do a good result tomorrow during the main heats.
Home rider Martin García was able to finish second but he admitted that he made several mistakes during the race and regretted not having been able to follow Fernández. García has been twice the national champion and he is the current leader of the Mexican series, so he is looking forward to tomorrow’s races to finish among the top 10 or top 15 best MX1 riders.
Raynear Mejia from the Dominican Republic made a solid race and managed to keep his third initial position until he crossed the finish line. Mejia explained that so far he is enjoying a lot his experience in the World Championship and he was very grateful to his team to have offered him to take part in the fourth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
Mexicans Mario Farfan and Donovan García completed the top five of the MX1 qualifying race.
The following MX1 riders decided not line up for the qualifying race: Leok, Barragán, De Dycker, Sebastién Pourcel, Philippaerts, Paulin, Strijbos, Simpson, Desalle, Guarneri, Parker, Tiainen, Karro, Ferris, Boog, Frossard, Cairoli, Christophe Pourcel, Evgeny Bobryshev and Rui Gonçalves.
The MX1 staring list for tomorrow will be as follows: Fernández, Martin García, Mejia, Farfan, Donovan Garcia, Vázquez, Rodríguez, Mendoza, Rosales, Guzman, Cairoli, Boog, Christophe Pourcel, Desalle, Simpson, Philippaerts, De Dycker, Leok, Frossard, Paulin, Guarneri, Barragán, Sebastien Pourcel, Karro, Strijbos, Gonçalves, Ferris, Parker and Tiaien.
Evgeny Bobryshev is almost recovered from his thumb injury but he is now also battling with a cough he picked up at the beginning of the week, which has developed into an illness that will prevent him from riding the Mexican Grand Prix.
MX1 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Rodolfo Fernandez (USA, Yamaha), 24:12.213; ; 2. Martin Garcia (MEX, KTM), +0:09.853; 3. Raynear Mejia (DOM, Kawasaki), +0:12.443; 4. Mario Farfan (MEX, Honda), +1:26.855; 5. Donovan Garcia (MEX, Honda), +1:39.405; 6. Giuzepe Vazquez (MEX, Yamaha), +1:51.534; 7. Samir Rodriguez (MEX, Yamaha), +1:51.827; 8. Diego Mendoza (MEX, Honda), +2:07.279; 9. Jesus Rosales (MEX, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 10. Jose Luis Guzman (MEX, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s);
MX2
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Leib won his maiden MX2 qualifying race today in Guadalajara and he will be the first one to choose the starting position tomorrow before the main races. The American rode safe today and he is looking forward to repeating a top three result this weekend as he did in Fermo two weeks ago.
Second in the qualifying race was Honda Gariboldi – Esta’s Anstie, who rode a solid race from beginning to end. Anstie enjoyed racing the qualifying heat and he is looking forward to racing tomorrow.
Third qualified was Peruvian Jetro Salazar, who admitted that he is not used to the demanding FIM Motocross World Championship tracks, but that it has been a really good experience so far. He was very satisfied with the third position in the qualifying race, but he knows that it is going to be more difficult tomorrow, but he is looking forward to racing tomorrow in Guadalajara.
Mexicans Ruelas and Oros completed the top five of the MX2 qualifying race.
The following MX2 riders decided not line up for the qualifying race: Butrón, Ferrandis, Charlier, Coldenhoff, Lieber, Roelants, Teillet, Nicholls, Lupino, Herlings, Van Horebeek, Searle, Kullas, Petrov, Guillod, Larsen, Tixier.
The MX2 staring list for tomorrow will be as follows: Leib, Anstie, Salazar, Ruelas, Oro, Vieyra, Aguilar, Sanchez, Nungaray, Mejia, Herlings, Searle, Van Horebeek, Teillet, Ferrandis, Petrov, Lupino, Roelants, Tixier, Nicholls, Coldenhoff, Charlier, Butron, Kullas, Guillod, Larsen, Lieber.
MX2 Qualifying Race top ten: 1. Michael Leib (USA, Yamaha), 25:29.932; ; 2. Max Anstie (GBR, Honda), +0:18.980; 3. Jetro Salazar (PER, KTM), +0:42.938; 4. Luis Ruelas (MEX, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 5. Carlos Oros (MEX, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 6. Brandon Vieyra (MEX, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 7. Alvaro Aguilar (MEX, KTM), -1 lap(s); 8. Pablo Sanchez (MEX, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 9. Erick Nungaray (MEX, Suzuki), -2 lap(s); 10. Javier Mejia (MEX, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 11. Ruben Alanis (MEX, KTM), -12 lap(s);
Quotes from the qualifying winners:
MX1 qualifying winner Rodolfo Fernández: “I’m very happy to be here and be able to take part in this race. In Guatemala we don’t have this track layout but I usually go to the States to take part in the Nationals, so there they have big jumps and I’m used to them, and I’ve also taken part in a couple of Motocross of Nations for Guatemala. From what I’ve heard the riders did not want to race because of the track conditions were not good, my opinion is that the track was ok to race and this is why I lined up. The organization builds the track safe and I thought that the track was in perfect conditions to be honest.”
MX2 qualifying race Michael Leib: “I can understand a little more the decision of the riders but at the same time the track was not absolutely wrong. I didn’t race really hard today but I have a good pick up tomorrow, so I hope to be on the podium as I did in Fermo.”
Two Time FIM Motocross World Champion and member of the Mexican Grand Prix Organizing Committee Sebastien Tortelli : “The riders took a decision not to race as a group, so it was their choice. I think the track was not as bad as they were saying. We are all professionals and I think that was not an entire professional choice, we’ve been working really hard to organize this GP and it is one of the best tracks in Mexico in these days. In the end it’s a question of communication, if they don’t want to race I can understand, but we need to find a solution, but the solution that happened today I don’t think it was the best one. We’ll do our best for tomorrow, as we have more material coming in to make it better. I’m also surprised because yesterday everybody when they saw the track they liked it, and then they came to me today saying that the lay out was not good, so that’s a big change in only one day.”
