In the MXGP class it was Team HRC’s Tim Gajser who took his Honda CRF450R to a podium finish in race one after recovering from an average start. Gajser took time to build his speed in the moto and towards the race end he posted the fastest sector and lap times, bringing down a seemingly unassailable deficit in the early laps to just 2.5 seconds at the finish. The Slovenian finished the moto in third place, adding valuable points to his championship lead.
Team Honda 114 Motorsport’s Rubén Fernández had a brave ride in race one, completing lap one in tenth place and pushing hard throughout the moto to earn the Spaniard sixth at the finish.
In race two Gajser took a better start and dropped immediately into second place. The 25-year-old showed patience and maturity on the challenging Portuguese circuit and close to the halfway point in the race easily took the lead, going not win by a comfortable five seconds. Gajser has now extended his MXGP lead to 21 points and the championship leader’s red plate stays on Team HRC’s #243 CRF450R for another GP.
Rubén Fernández had a tougher outing in race two. Although he had a slightly better start, he struggled to settle into a rhythm and was suffering with pain after Saturday’s crashes. He eventually finished the race in ninth after holding onto eighth for a number of laps.
Team HRC’s Mitch Evans finished the day in 12th overall after some luckless early laps in both motos making it hard work to cut through the disorder and roost further down the field. The likeable Australian went 15-12 in the races respectively as he continues his recovery from a 2020 wrist injury forcing him out of the entire 2021 season.
In the MX2 class frenchman Stephen Rubini took his Shiptocycle Honda SR Motoblouz Honda CRF250R to a great result in race one. He started in sixth place and pushed up to fifth by lap two, eventually finishing the race in sixth.
In race two Rubini was tangled up in an early incident and started the race from last place. Within a lap he’d pushed up to 19th place and continued to pick off positions to eventually finish in 13th. A disappointment for the overall result, but showing good speed and potential to break into the top five as he looks for future podium results.
Round five of the 2022 FIM World Motocross Championship will take place at another beautiful location high in the mountains of Trentino, northern Italy next weekend. All Honda riders will reset and regroup as the gate drops again on another Grand Prix and an opportunity for Honda teams to showcase their race-winning motorcycles at the highest level of motocross competition.
