Qatar set to kick off 2017 MXGP season at Losail

Top notch action is on the cards as Qatar is set to kick off the 2017 MXGP season with top riders ready for the action for today’s qualifying stage at the Losail International Circuit.
The prestigious event has seen a different winner each year in the premier class. In 2013, when MXGP first tore up the hard packed soil of Qatar, it was Clement Desalle on the top step of the podium.
Then in 2015 it was dominated by Max Nagl who rode at an untouchable level, and last year the soon to be Champion of Tim Gajser started his season in winning form at Qatar.
The defending MXGP world champion, Team HRC's Gajser who put together an amazing and surprising rookie season last year, will be a top contender this year.
The young Slovenian set the world on notice in his debut appearance in the MXGP class here in Losail last year. While everyone seems eager for the first gate drop of the season, a media opportunity was held at the Al Shaqab yesterday where top riders including Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle and Jordie Tixier, Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos, Suzuki World MX2’s Jeremy Seewer, Hunter Lawrence, and Bas Vaessen among others were in attendance to look around and interact with the horses inside the center.
Later, Youthstream President Giuseppe Luongo, Losail Circuit Sports Club Vice-President and General Manager Khalid Al Remaihi, QMMF President Abdulrahman Al Mannai, FIM/CMS Director Tony Skillington, and FIM Europe President Wolfgang Srb along with some of the biggest names for this year’s racing season spoke to the media.
The QMMF president welcomed all the participants of the spectacle.  “We are very excited to have the opening round for the MXGP series. The MXGP is always exciting, it is always a show. We had Tim Gajser and Herlings win here last year and go on to win the championship, we hope this year’s winners will have the same luck,” Al Mannai said.
Luongo praised the arrangements by the QMMF.   
 “I want to thank the Losail Circuit for welcoming us here once again, and to the QMMF for the great organisation of this race, everything is perfect, everything is clean, the track is prepared very well, and we are set to have another fantastic opening to the season,” he said.
Skillington was itching to have a glimpse of the action.
 “I’m really excited for this season, I can feel the energy already and its very unpredictable, if I were a betting man I would know where to place my money, I think that we will be in for a fantastic season…I just can’t wait to see it started,” he said.
Gajser hoped his team will come victorious in the contest.
“We had a really good winter, we had a new bike from Honda and we tested a lot. I’m looking to do my best here just try to forget about the pressure and ride like I know how to and we will see come Saturday (tomorrow),” he said.
 “We had a perfect run in off season, riding was good, we really dialed in the bike, I was super comfortable with bike feeling I could make a run for the championship my rookie year.”