HRC factory rider, Jeffrey Herlings has convincingly won the Saturday MXGP qualification race in France this afternoon. The five-time world champion, who has nine GP wins in France looks as solid as any time in his career. Second was Kay de Wolf and third Lucas Coenen. Championship points gap is now two points. Bavo Swijgers image

Jeffrey Herlings: It was hot, like 33 today. The track got rough and that is good, I hope they leave it like that as there are some good lines. I managed to pass Tom my team-mate early and controlled the race. I am looking forward to tomorrow.

Kay De Wolf: Felt really good. Lucas gave some pressure and it was a fun moto. I want to battle with these guys and we had clean racing and I am sure he will try and get me back tomorrow, but its all good.

Lucas Coenen: I didn't feel good, 8th or something in the start and they both took the good starts, its important to take a good start here. I saw my speed is there and I reeled Kay in. It is a qualifcation race and I will try and rip the start and try and win.

Championship points are now Lucas Coenen 239 points, Jeffrey Herlings 237pts, Tom Vialle 206 p.; 4. Tim Gajser 203pts, and Romain Febvre 197pts.

MXGP Qualification race

Vialle with a huge holeshot ahead of Herlings, de Wolf, Adamo, Fernandez, Gajser, Renaux, Coenen, Febvre and Jonass. Herlings into the lead and looking very determined. Adamo dropped to sixth as Fernandez and Gajser moved past. HRC riders, first, second and fourth.

Coenen into sixth place as he also passed Adamo, and Vialle a big mistake as Herlings lead was 1.6 seconds, but Vialle looked a little erratic and then a huge crash and way back in near last. De Wolf now into second and Fernandez third.

The lead by Herlings over de Wolf was 3.2 seconds, with Fernandez 5.4 back in third spot. Vlaanderen into the top ten in 10th place. De Wolf closing on Herlings as the gap was 2.3 seconds. Coenen into fourth spot with a pass on Gajser.

Coenen into third with a pass on Fernandez and the Belgian 7.3 seconds behind Herlings. The “old dog” Herlings not letting these youngsters get to him just yet as the lead was suddenly 3.1 seconds. Herlings looking splendid. Top ten on lap six was Herlings, de Wolf, Coenen, Fernandez, Gajser, Renaux, Febvre, Adamo and Jonass.

Herlings continued to get away with the lead on lap five being 4.6 seconds, with Coenen 8.5 back. Gotta love Herlings form at the moment. Vialle up to 15th place. Lap seven and the lead by Herlings was 5.5 seconds, with Coenen closing up on de Wolf, with the gap between those two just two seconds.

Lap nine and the lead was five second, with Coenen now on the back wheel of de Wolf for second place. Gajser moved past Fernandez and Renaux did the same. Top ten on lap nine was Herlings, de Wolf, Coenen, Gajser, Renaux, Fernandez, Febvre, Adamo, Jonass and Vlaanderen. Vialle was still 14th.

Coenen all over de Wolf for second place, with Herlings 6.4 second ahead of those two former MX2 rivals. Top ten on lap 12 was Herlings, de Wolf, Coenen, Gajser, Renaux, Febvre, Fernandez, Adamo, Jonass and Benistant. Vialle 13th. Herlings wins it from de Wolf and Coenen.

MXGP - Qualifying Race - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 24:57.638; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:03.846; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:03.921; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:13.973; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:15.345; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:17.317; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:24.802; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:34.445; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Honda), +0:37.718; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:41.049; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:52.100; 12. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:54.376; 13. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +1:00.640; 14. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +1:03.692; 15. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:12.564; 16. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Yamaha), +1:15.002; 17. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:16.468; 18. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:17.956; 19. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), +1:20.637; 20. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Ducati), +1:23.685; 21. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:25.018; 22. Brian Hsu (GER, Honda), +1:39.630; 23. Bogdan Krajewski (FRA, Yamaha), +1:42.991; 24. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 25. Federico Tuani (ITA, Honda), -1 lap(s); 26. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 27. Shaun Vinel (FRA, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 28. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), -5 lap(s); 29. Brice Maylin (FRA, Yamaha), -10 lap(s); 30. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -14 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 239 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 237 p.; 3. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 206 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 203 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 197 p.; 6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 185 p.; 7. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 153 p.; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 150 p.; 9. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 141 p.; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 110 p.; 11. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 96 p.; 12. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 95 p.; 13. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 72 p.; 14. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 15. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 69 p.; 16. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 47 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 44 p.; 18. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 40 p.; 19. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 39 p.; 20. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 35 p.; 21. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 29 p.; 22. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 28 p.; 23. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 8 p.; 24. Enzo Lopes (BRA, HON), 7 p.; 25. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 7 p.; 26. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 6 p.; 27. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, YAM), 5 p.; 28. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 5 p.; 29. Joaquin Poli (ARG, KAW), 5 p.; 30. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), 4 p.; 31. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 4 p.; 32. Lars van Berkel (NED, FAN), 3 p.; 33. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 2 p.;