The Oriental Beauty Valley MXGP of China, marking Round 19 of the MXGP World Motocross Championships, unfolded under intense heat at the Shanghai International Off-Road Circuit. This penultimate event in the season played a crucial role in shaping the Championship's final stages, with both classes experiencing decisive movements. As the racing intensified, the battle for championship medals became clearer, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.
Jorge Prado emerged as the new leader in the MXGP World Championship, securing his 48th career Grand Prix win for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing despite battling illness and the challenging weather conditions. His win was crucial as Team HRC's Tim Gajser faced difficulties in the first race, allowing Prado to take the red plate heading into the final round in Spain. Meanwhile, in the MX2 class, Lucas Coenen secured his eighth GP victory of the year for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, overtaking his teammate Kay de Wolf, who is also his championship rival.
The first race saw major twists, with Jeremy Seewer securing his seventh Fox Holeshot of the year for Kawasaki Racing Team, while Prado and Team HRC’s Ruben Fernandez closely followed. However, Gajser’s race took a dramatic turn when he collided with Glenn Coldenhoff, leading to a heavy fall and further troubles as he later crashed again with Andrea Bonacorsi. Despite the setbacks, Gajser managed to finish the race, though in 17th place. Meanwhile, Romain Febvre took the lead in the later stages, overtaking Fernandez and Prado, eventually securing the win ahead of Herlings and Coldenhoff.
In the second race, Prado secured his 16th Fox Holeshot of the season, quickly establishing dominance. Gajser, determined to make up for his earlier struggles, pushed hard but was unable to surpass Prado, who held onto his lead despite the exhausting conditions. Febvre finished third, securing second overall in the round, with Herlings and Fernandez following behind. The final showdown in Cozar is set to be a dramatic conclusion to the season, with just seven points separating Prado and Gajser in the championship standings.
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