2023 MXDN PRELIMINARIES: TO BE IN THE MXDN, EACH COUNTRY HAS TO RACE A QUALIFIER

On Oct 8, 2023 Last updated Oct 8, 2023

SATURDAY QUALIFYING FOR THE 450 CLASS

Jorge Prado.

In the 450 RAM Qualifying Race, new 450 world Champion and leader of Team Spain, did what he does best; a thunderous holeshot. Prado gave Team Slovenia’s Tim Gajser, who was second at the start of the race, no chance of catching him. The Slovenian, already trying to fend off Team Switzerland’ Jeremy Seewer, tried to defend his position, but on lap 2 the Swiss rider passed Gajser and German Ken Roczen took the opportunity to sneak into the top 3 by passing Gajser also.

Jett Lawrences was second in the 450 Qualifier.

Halfway through the race, the Frenchman Romain Febvre thriilled the home crowd by passing Gajser, who was instantly under attack from Australian Jett Lawrence. Jett then overtook Romain Febvre and put a move on. Ken Roczen with two laps to go.Jett wasn’t done yet, as he got Jeremy Seewere for second before the flag

Jeremy Seewer put Switzerland on the 450 qualifier podium.

Aaron Plessinger was 8th in the 450 qualifier.

But it was Jorge Prado first, Jett Lawrence second. Jeremy Seewer third, Ken Roczen fourth and Romain Febvre got fifth overall.

450 QUALIFYING MOTO TOP TEN RESULTS

1. Jorge Prado…(ESP)…GasGas
2. Jett Lawrence…(AUS)…Hon
3. Jeremy Seewer…(SUI)…Yam
4. Ken Roczen…(GER)…Suz
5. Romain Febvre…(FRA)…Kaw
6. Tim Gajser…(SLO)…Hon
7. Jago Geerts…(BEL)…Yam
8. Aaron Plessinger…(USA)…KTM
9. Pauls Jonass…(LAT)…Hon
10. Ben Watson..(GBR)…Beta

SATURDAY QUALIFYING FOR THE 250 CLASS

Tom Vialle was right at home in France and took the 250 qualifier victory.

In the 250 Qualifier Tom Vialle started second behind Team USA’s R.J. Hampshire, but Vialle got passed by Simon Laegenfelder. Vialle moved into second when R.J. Hampshire crashed. Vialle closed back up on Laegenfelder, while Australian Hunter Lawrence was five seconds back in third.

Tom Vialle (5) chases German Simon Laegenfelder (23) past the partisan French crow.

It wasn’t until the last lap of the 250 moto that Tom Vialle made a very tricky inside pass on the German and put Team France into the lead of the 250 class with Simon Laengenfelder second, and Hunter Lawrence third. Kay de Wolf fourth and R.J. Hampshire recovered to finish fifth.

Kay De Wolf just missed making the podium for Holland with a 4th.

R.J. Hampshire almost put his Husqvarna on the podium in the 250 class, but an early crash, followed by a hard charge netted him 5th.

250 QUALIFYING MOTO TOP TEN RESULTS

1. Tom Vialle…(FRA)…KTM
2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER)…Gas
3. Hunter Lawrence (AUS)… Hon
4. Kay de Wolf (NED)…Hus
5. R.J. Hampshire (USA)…Hus
6. Camden McLellan (RSA)…Hon
7. Jan Pancar (SLO)…KTM
8. Oriol Oliver (ESP)…KTM
9. Jack Chambers (PUR)…Kaw
10. Andrea Adamo (ITA)…KTM

SATURDAY QUALIFYING FOR THE OPEN CLASS

Maxime Renaux helped France get a one point advantage over Spain in Saturday qualifying.

In the Open class qualifier, Frenchman Maxime Renaux got to the first corner head of Christian Craig, Harri Kullas, Jere Haavisto and Fabio Santos.
As the Open moto progressed, Team USA’s Craig, Estonia’s Kullas and Australian Dean Ferris battled it out for second and third place, but Team’s Spain Ruben Fernandez was the man to watch. Fernandez passed Christian Craig at the end of the first lap Craig would lose another place to Team Belgium’s Liam Everts.

Liam Everts stepped up to a 450 to race in the Open class for Belgium. He finished an impressive third.

But Ruben Fernandez, now third in the Open race, took second away from Kullas and even had time to throw in a quick crash without losing the runner-up spot. Liam Everts then passed Kullas to push the Estonian off the podium, which was made up of Maxima Renaux, Ruben Fernandez and Liam Everts. Harri Kullas was fourth and Christian Craig fifth.

Christian Craig was 5th in Saturday qualifying and even had time to throw in a crash.

OPEN CLASS QUALIFYING MOTO TOP TEN RESULTS

1. Maxime Renaux…(FRA)…Yam
2. Ruben Fernandez…(ESP)…Hon
3. Liam Everts…(BEL)…KTM
4. Harri Kullas…(EST)…Yam
5. Christian Craig…(USA)…Hus
6. Valentin Guillod…(SUI)…Hon
7. Andrea Bonacorsi…(ITA)…Yam
8. Tom Koch…(GER)…KTM
9. Fabio Santos…(BRA)…Yam
10. Hamish Harwood…(NZL)…KTM

2023 MXDN QUALiFYING RESULTS BY NATIONS

(Best two out of three scores)
1. France…2
2. Spain…3
3. Australia…5
4. Germany…6
5. Switzerland…9
6. USA…10
7. Belgium…10
8. Slovenia…13
9. Holland…15
10. Italy…17
11. Estonia…18
12. Norway…23
14. Latvia…24
15. Great Britain…27