2019 MXGP Of France | GoPro Onboard & Analysis
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2019 MXGP OF FRANCE | COMPLETE COVERAGE
The 2019 MXGP of France reminded everyone that anything can happen in the 2019 Monster Energy FIM Motocross World Championship. Through the two days at Saint-Jean-d’Angely, Team HRC Tim Gajser took advantage of the issues Red Bull KTM’s Antonio Cairoli experienced in the Saturday qualifying race and Sunday’s second moto. There’s no denying that Gajser has the speed to run at the front of the pack, but repeat crashes in early rounds this year while Cairoli clicked off motos win put a good amount of points between the two in just six rounds. Gajser closed that margin in France from 34-points to just 10, and we’re very eager to see what transpires when the series picks up in two-weeks time at the 2019 MXGP of Russia.
Since Cairoli is a GoPro-sponsored racer, the camera company had a HERO7 on the top of his helmet and uploaded the footage from Sunday’s MXGP Moto One for all to enjoy. We decided to follow our format from Fox Raceway, which was to watch, make notes, and point things out. Here’s what we noticed in Cairoli’s clips…
ANTONIO CAIROLI | MXGP MOTO ONE
The MXGP series was the first full championship to make use of the metal grids behind the starting gate and that paired with the holeshot device, start map in the ignition, and Cairoli’s quick reactions allowed the 450 SX-F to rocket away the moment the gate fell. An inside gate pick gave Cairoli the most direct line to the first turn, but his quick glances to the left at Arnaud Tonus indicated that he wasn’t going to make it to the holeshot stripe first.
A small mistake on the opening lap allowed Gajser to show a wheel, and from there, the Slovenian got around and went after Tonus for the top spot. Watch the way the different line choices of Tonus, Gajser, and Cairoli all intersect; although the three are going at full-speed, there is a delicate balance they were able to maintain that kept it from being the risky cross-jumps that riders hate. Some of this was a way to dodge to brutal hard pack roost of the French track and you can see how Cairoli moved over a bit to avoid the deluge when they went by the mechanic’s signal area (we know the roost broke a few GoPro lenses over the weekend). When Gajser does make the move on Tonus, Cairoli took it as his chance to go for the pass, too. Unfortunately for AC, a small ankle injury he sustained on Saturday kept him from full health on Sunday and he eventually settled into second place as Gajser built on a sizeable gap.
Damn these dudes look fast!
I hope Gajser wins the title! It would be cool to see a interview or podcast with him.