Image: Supplied.

Words: Jeremy Hammer

The opening round of the 2021 MXGP World Championship at Orlyonok in Russia was dominated by reigning champions Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) and Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Gajser was unstoppable throughout the season-opener, putting on a commanding display across both motos to record a perfect start to his MXGP championship defense with a 1-1 scorecard.

Former multi-time world champion Jeffrey Herlings (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had a consistent outing to wind up second overall, notching up 4-2 race results, while it was Romain Febvre (Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory Racing) was third with a 2-6 scorecard.

The top five was completed by Allesandro Lupino (MRT Racing Team) and Jeremy Seewer (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing), while the top 10 was rounded out by Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing), Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Pauls Jonass (Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing), Jeremy Van Horebeek (Beta SDM Corse MX Team), and Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who was third in moto one before crashing out of race two.

In the MX2 category, defending champion Vialle emerged with a pair of strong moto victories to secure the overall win convincingly, while it was Ruben Fernandez (Honda 114 Motorsport) and Mathys Boisrame (F&H Kawasaki Racing) who concluded the podium.

Roan Van De Moosdijk (F&H Kawasaki Racing) was fourth overall after P3 in moto one, followed by Rene Hofer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in fifth. Sixth through to 10th was completed by Maxime Renaux (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing), Australian Jed Beaton (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing), Mattia Guadagnini (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Simon Laengenfelder(GasGas) and Jan Pancar (KTM).

The MXGP World Championship now heads to Matterley Basin in Great Britain for round two of the series, scheduled for 27 June.

Detailed results