Maxime Renaux rode a fantastic race to hold off a determined Tim Gajser all moto long to take the qualifying race win at the spectacular Maggiora circuit. Every corner was a search for traction but Gajser and Renaux set a hot pace and they brought Seewer and Fernandez with them for the first 15 minutes but, in the last five, it was Renaux and Gajser really throwing down as Gajser tried hard again to find a way by the MX2 world champ. Renaux however showed great mental fortitude to hold on and even pulled away slightly on the last lap to take a big win.
Christophe Charlier in his return to motocross having been in Enduro for the last half a decade took a highluy credible tenth place.
