HRC factory rider, Tom Vialle has won a very dramatic opening MXGP moto in Switzerland today. The two-time world MX2 champion took the lead on the first corner and was never put under too much pressure. Behind him, it was chaos, as first Lucas Coenen exited the raced with a derailed chain and outside assistance and then Jeffrey Herlings has a similar situation while running second behind the Frenchman.

Bavo Swijgers image

Second in the moto was Maxime Renaux of the Monster Energy Yamaha team, with another HRC rider, Ruben Fernandez in third place. The championship points were now Tom Vialle 114 points, Lucas Coenen 111pts, Jeffrey Herlings 104pts, Maxime Renaux 103pts and Romain Febvre 97pts. Just 17 points between the top five in the championship.

Tom Vialle: Feel really good after yesterday. I was P8 from the start, but I had a good drive to the first corner and I had good lines. Hopefully we can do the same in the second moto.

MXGP Moto One

Vialle with the lead in the opening MXGP moto, with Coenen, Herlings, Renaux, Febvre, Fernandez, de Wolf, Adamo, Jonas and Seewer the top ten. Gajser was 11th, but quickly into eighth place. Coenen a big crash and in last place. Coenen unable to get his bike going and the chain is off the bike.

Vialle 1.8 ahead of Herlings, with Febvre third, then Renaux, Fernandez, Adamo, de Wolf, Gajser, Jonass and Seewer. Coenen back in the moto, but he did get outside assistance, so maybe disqualified? Vialle two seconds ahead of Herlings, with Febvre 4.1 back.

Vialle getting away from the field with a three second lead over Herlings and Febvre 4.6 back. Gajser into 8th place with a pass on Jonass. Febvre not letting Herlings get away and Renaux a few seconds back from these two. Coenen excluded with outside assistance.

Lap three and the lead was 5.1 seconds. Horrible conditions and while not super muddy, its pretty cold and wet out there. Coenen again in trouble and a mistake. Poor old Ducati struggling again with Seewer and Vlaanderen in 12th and 13th.

Lap five and the lead still around five seconds with Febvre staying close to Herlings in second. Top ten on lap six was Vialle, Herlings, Febvre, Renaux, Fernandez, Adamo, de Wolf, Gajser, Forato and Jonass in 10th. Herlings also out of the race with a lost chain and outside assistance.

Crazy now in the championship chase, with anything likely this season. Lap nine it was Vialle with a one second lead over Febvre, then Renaux third, followed by Fernandez, Adamo, de Wolf, Forato, Jonass, Horgmo and Gajser 10th. Coenen, despite being disqualified, is still doing laps and into 16th place.

Febvre off the bike and Renaux moved into second place. Vialle now with a seven second lead over Renaux and the top ten was Vialle, Renaux, Fernandez, Febvre, de Wolf, Adamo, Forato, Jonass, Horgmo, and Gajser still in 10th. Adamo also out of the top ten with a chain problem.

Top ten on lap 15 was Vialle, Renaux, Fernandez, Febvre, de Wolf, Forato, Jonass, Horgmo, Gajser and Vlaanderen. Coenen an amazing ride, up to 11th, but all for nothing. Vialle wins it from Renaux and Fernandez.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), 35:18.303; 2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:10.335; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:13.705; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:29.134; 5. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:38.988; 6. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +0:46.149; 7. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:55.826; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:57.854; 9. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +1:00.958; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), +1:11.499; 11. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:45.567; 12. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), +1:50.370; 13. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +2:02.735; 14. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), +2:04.639; 15. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), -1 lap(s); 17. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Rick Elzinga (NED, Beta), -1 lap(s); 23. Cato Nickel (GER, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Nico Greutmann (SUI, Honda), -2 lap(s); 25. Nicolas Bender (SUI, Husqvarna), -2 lap(s); 26. Loris Freidig (SUI, Fantic), -3 lap(s); 27. Robin Scheiben (SUI, Triumph), -4 lap(s); 28. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), -9 lap(s); 29. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -10 lap(s); 30. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), -11 lap(s); 31. Nico Häusermann (SUI, Triumph), -11 lap(s); 32. Ramon Keller (SUI, KTM), -14 lap(s); 33. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), -16 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 114 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 111 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 104 p.; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 103 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 97 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 94 p.; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 84 p.; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 72 p.; 9. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 60 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 57 p.; 11. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 45 p.; 12. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 45 p.; 13. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 44 p.; 14. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 42 p.; 15. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 28 p.; 16. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 24 p.; 17. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 24 p.; 18. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 23 p.; 19. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 22 p.; 20. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 20 p.; 21. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 20 p.; 22. Enzo Lopes (BRA, HON), 7 p.; 23. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 6 p.; 24. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 5 p.; 25. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 5 p.; 26. Joaquin Poli (ARG, KAW), 5 p.; 27. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), 4 p.; 28. Lars van Berkel (NED, FAN), 3 p.; 29. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 2 p.;